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 the triangular deck forward of the
conning-tower might easily have broken a leg for me, or I might have slipped off onto the
deck and rolled overboard; but fate was upon my side, as I was only slightly bruised. As I
came to my feet, I heard the conning-tower cover slam. There is a ladder which leads
from the deck to the top of the tower. Up this I scrambled, as fast as I could go; but
Benson had the cover tight before I reached it.
