The captain passed every minute from the binnacle to the standard

compass, taking the bearings of objects on shore. The Matutina had at

first a soldier's wind which was not unfavourable, though she could not

lie within five points of her course. The captain took the helm as often

as possible, trusting no one but himself to prevent her from dropping to

leeward, the effect of the rudder being influenced by the steerage-way.

The difference between the true and apparent course being relative to

the way on the vessel, the hooker seemed to lie closer to the wind than

she did in reality. The breeze was not a-beam, nor was the hooker

close-hauled; but one cannot ascertain the true course made, except when

the wind is abaft. When you perceive long streaks of clouds meeting in a

point on the horizon, you may be sure that the wind is in that quarter;

but this evening the wind was variable; the needle fluctuated; the

captain distrusted the erratic movements of the vessel. He steered

carefully but resolutely, luffed her up, watched her coming to,

prevented her from yawing, and from running into the wind's eye: noted

the leeway, the little jerks of the helm: was observant of every roll

and pitch of the vessel, of the difference in her speed, and of the

variable gusts of wind. For fear of accidents, he was constantly on the

lookout for squalls from off the land he was hugging, and above all he

was cautious to keep her full; the direction of the breeze indicated by

the compass being uncertain from the small size of the instrument. The

captain's eyes, frequently lowered, remarked every change in the waves.

Once nevertheless he raised them towards the sky, and tried to make out

119

The Man Who Laughs