During the day they had sighted three vessels, but at such distances
that signaling was useless, each being hull down on their limited
horizon. Moreover, they had to be cautious. The cruiser, trusting to
her speed, might try a long cast north and south of the launch's
supposed path. She alone, among passing ships, would be scouring the
sea with incessant vigilance, and it behooved them, now as ever, not to
attract her attention. They were burning wood, so there was no smoke,
and the mast was unstepped. Yet the hours of daylight were tortured by
constant fear. Even Iris was glad when the darkness came and they were
hidden.
At midnight a curious misfortune befell them. The compass had been
smashed during the fight, and not a sailor among them owned one of the
tiny compasses that are often worn as a charm on the watchchain. This
drawback, of little consequence when sun or stars could be seen,
assumed the most serious importance when a heavy fog spread over the
face of the waters. The set of the current was a guide of a sort, but,
as events proved, it misled them. Man is ever prone to over-estimate,
and such a slight thing as the lap of water across the bows of a small
craft was sure to be miscalculated; they contrived to steer west, it is
true, but with a southerly inclination.
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