For three days and nights the Doraine drifted lazily in a calm and rippling sea, always to the southward.

The days were bright and warm, the nights black and chill.

It was the spring of the year in that zone.
Without adequate navigation instruments, Mr.Mott was forced to rely to a great extent on speculation.

He was able to make certain calculations with reasonable accuracy, but they were of little real significance.
It was, of course, possible to determine the general direction in which they were drifting, and the speed.

They were slowly but surely edging into the strong west wind drift.