NORT TO BE SEEN 49 



had gone. We were In an empty waste of black- 

 ness, with only the white wave-tops perking out of 

 it. And after drifting so many hours we didn't 

 know exactly where we were. It was not a thick 

 fog so much as a state of air in which nothing 

 could be seen. It was as if the air, without losing 

 its transparency, had suddenly turned colour and 

 gone black. 



In place of the mainsail we hoisted to the main- 

 mast an old mizzen. 



'Got thy compass?' the 01' Man asked. 

 • 'Aye!' 



'Can 'ee see ort?' 



*No.' 



'Can 'ee hear ort, then?' 



'Nort 'tall!' 



'Thee's better get up for'ard, out the way o' 

 the lamp, an' see if thee ca'st make out Beer light.' 



Not a glimmer could I catch sight of, though I 

 strained my eyes till they saw stars of themselves. 

 I did not even know in which direction to look. 



'Come aft again wi' thy compass,' said the 01' 

 Man, 'an' sit under the lamp an' tell me where I 

 be steering to. Where's west now?' 



'Over the port bow.' 



'Well, I reckon if us steers a little bit south o' 



£ 



