This was supposed to be the "log;" and Octavia, with one or two other girls, pretended to tug with much force in order to draw it in, for the ship was going so fast that the friction against the cord was very great.

Knots had been made in the cotton, over which Emily ran her quick fingers.
"Ten knots an hour," said she.
"Very good speed," returned the captain.

"I do not think we shall be able to take an observation to-day, as it is rather cloudy." Sailors "take observations" at noon, if the sun is out, by means of a sextant, with which they measure the distance from the sun to the southern horizon.

In this way the captain can tell the exact latitude of the ship; but Miss Percival made believe there was a storm coming up; so it was not possible to take an observation.
"It is two bells," said she: "the wind is out; there will be a fearful storm.

I would advise the passengers to turn into their berths." The children lay down upon the floor.