ertificate; but, after all, I don't
really understand it properly. I can take the sun at noon, of course,
and work out the ship's latitood; but, even at that, I've got no very
great faith in myself; and as to the longitood--well, there; I always
feels that I may be right or I may be wrong. I never was much of a hand
at figures. So, if you've no objections, I'd take it very kind of you
if you'd lend me a hand at this job while the skipper's on his
beam-ends. He's got a real dandy sextant in his cabin that I'll take it
upon me to let you have the use of; and the chronometer's in there too.
We might as well have them things out of there too, then we shan't have
to disturb the young lady every time we wants 'em."

Leslie quite agreed as to the desirability of this, and he also
cheerfully undertook to check and assist Purchas in his navigation. The
latter therefore went below to make the necessary transfer, and
presently returned to the deck, carrying Potter's sextant--a very
handsome and valuable instrument--in his hand. This he handed to
Leslie; and as the time was now drawing well on towards noon, the two
men betook themselves to the forecastle--the sun being over the jib-boom
end--and proceeded to take the meridian altitude of the luminary. This
done, "eight bells" was struck, the watch called, and Leslie and the
mate returned aft to work out their calculations. As a result, there
proved to be a difference of two miles between them; nothing very
serious, but enough to prove that Purchas's doubts of himself were fully
justified.

Upon being called by Leslie, the mate had looked in upon Potter for a
moment on his way up on deck, but had failed to discover any improvement
in his condition. He now suggested that they should both go below and
subject their patient to a closer examination--which they did.

As Purchas had already remarked, there was no apparent improvement in
Potter's condition; on the contrary, when Leslie felt his pulse it
seemed to him that it was weaker. This, however, might be accounted for
by the fact that the man had taken no nourishment from the moment that
he had sustained his injury, and owing to his absolute helplessness, it
seemed impossible to administer any to him. A further study of the book
of directions accompanying the medicine-chest, however, instructed them
how to overcome this difficulty; and, summoning the steward, the mate
forthwith gave him instructions to kill a chicken and