"That's the way the cutter headed when we lost her in the night." The other line ran parallel to the first for half an inch, then, turning, bent backward and ran due south.
"This was our course," said Wylie.
General Rolleston looked up, and said, "Why did you desert the cutter ?" The mate looked at old Wardlaw, and, after some hesitation, replied: "After we lost sight of her the men with me declared that we could not reach either Juan Fernandez or Valparaiso with our stock of provisions, and insisted on standing for the sea-track of Australian liners between the Horn and Sydney." This explanation was received in dead silence.

Wylie fidgeted, and his eye wandered round the room.
General Rolleston applied his compasses to the chart.

"I find that the _Proserpine_ was not one thousand miles from Easter Island.

Why did you not make for that land ?" "We had no charts, sir," said Wylie to the merchant, "and I'm no navigator." "I see no land laid down hereaway, northeast of the spot where the ship went down." "No," replied Wylie, "that's what the men said when they made me 'bout ship." "Then why did you lead the way northeast at all ?" "I'm no navigator," answered the man sullenly.
He then suddenly stammered out: "Ask my men what we went through.

Why, sir" (to Wardlaw), "I can hardly believe that I am alive, and sit here talking to you about this cursed business.