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Chapter 4
For several days things went along in about the same course. I took our position
every morning with my crude sextant; but the results were always most
unsatisfactory. They always showed a considerable westing when I knew that we
had been sailing due north. I blamed my crude instrument, and kept on. Then
one afternoon the girl came to me.
"Pardon me," she said, "but were I you, I should watch this man Benson--
especially when he is in charge." I asked her what she meant, thinking I could
see the influence of von Schoenvorts raising a suspicion against one of my most
trusted men.
"If you will note the boat's course a half-hour after Benson goes on duty," she
said, "you will know what I mean, and you will understand why he prefers a night
watch. Possibly, too, you will understand some other things that have taken
place aboard."
Then she went back to her room, thus ending the conversation. I waited until half
an hour after Benson had gone on duty, and then I went on deck, passing
through the conning-tower where Benson sat, and looking at the compass. It
showed that our course was north by west--that is, one point west of north,
which was, for our assumed position, about right. I was greatly relieved to find
that nothing was wrong, for the girl's words had caused me considerable
apprehension. I was about to return to my room when a thought occurred to me
that again caused me to change my mind--and, incidentally, came near proving
my death-warrant.
When I had left the conning-tower little more than a half-hour since, the sea had
been breaking over the port bow, and it seemed to me quite improbable that in so
short a time an equally heavy sea could be deluging us from the opposite side of
the ship--winds may change quickly, but not a long, heavy sea. There was only
one other solution--since I left the tower, our course had been altered some eight
points. Turning quickly, I climbed out upon the conning-tower. A single glance at
the heavens confirmed my suspicions; the constellations which should have been
dead ahead were directly starboard. We were sailing due west.
Just for an instant longer I stood there to check up my calculations--I wanted to
be quite sure before I accused Benson of perfidy, and about the only thing I came
near making quite sure of was death. I cannot see even now how I escaped it. I
was standing on the edge of the conning-tower, when a heavy palm suddenly
struck me between the shoulders and hurled me forward into space. The drop to
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