Then he slipped down into the bottom of the gig, but as he did so his arm shot out and something bright and shining was knocked from the after locker over the gunwale into the sea, where it fell with a little splash.
"Now you have done it!" cried the captain, standing up and making a vain grab.
"Done it?
Done what ?" asked Mr.Tarbill.
"You've knocked overboard the only compass we had! How we're going to find the island now is more than I can tell! This is a serious loss.".