e steering true east; consequently
if my calculations were accurate, we were at that moment on the exact
parallel of Saint Paul, which--also according to my calculations--then
lay in line with our jibboom, eighty miles distant. This result was
confirmed by a further observation of the sun taken in the course of the
afternoon watch; and a very simple calculation then informed me that, if
I had made no mistake, and there occurred no change in the direction or
strength of the wind, the island ought to be sighted, directly ahead,
fourteen miles distant, at dawn of the next day. This anticipation I
communicated, in my anxiety, to Polson and Tudsbery, the former of whom
remarked:

"Well, Mr Troubridge, we shan't have very long to wait afore we're able
to prove the haccuracy of your calculations; but let me tell ye this,
sir--if you're able to hit off that there bit of a hiland anywhere near
as close as you hopes to, a'ter all the box-haulin' about, breakin' off,
heavin'-to, and driftin' to leeward that we've had these here last few
days--well, all I can say is that you're a good enough navigator to take
a ship anywhere, ay, if 'twas round the world and back."

"Y-e-es," said I, flattered a bit off my balance by the fulsome
character of the compliment, "there will not be much fault to find, I
fancy, after the traverse that we have been working. By the way,
Polson, have you ever sighted Saint Paul? I never have, although this
is my fifth trip in these seas."

"Well, no, sir; I can't say as I have," answered the boatswain. "But,"
he continued, peering through the skylight at the cabin clock, "it's
eight bells. I'll call Chips. I fancies I heard him say that he 'ad
sighted it once or twice. I'll ask him when he comes on deck."

So saying, Polson walked to the bell, where it hung mounted on the rail
that guarded the fore end of the poop, struck "eight bells" upon it, and
then descended to call the carpenter, with whom he presently returned to
the poop.

"Yes, Mr Troubridge," continued the boatswain, as he preceded the
carpenter up the weather poop ladder, "Chips, here, says he've sighted
the hiland twice in his time; but only at a distance."

"Ah!" said I. "Do you think you would recognise it again, Tudsbery?"

"Oh, yes, sir; no fear of that," answered the carpenter confidently.
"It's a peculiar-lookin' spot, not to be very easily mistook. I
remembers that when we last sighted it I heard the mate say to the
skipp