I should not call it anything more than mathematical certainty." "Strain!" he snorted.

"Simple as A, B, C! Mathematical certainty!" He seemed to brace himself up and lean backward against the air as he stared at me.

"How about this here tide that's rushin' out through the Golden Gate ?" he demanded, or bellowed, rather.

"How fast is she ebbin'?
What's the drift, eh?
Listen to that, will you?
A bell-buoy, and we're a-top of it! See 'em alterin' the course!" From out of the fog came the mournful tolling of a bell, and I could see the pilot turning the wheel with great rapidity.

The bell, which had seemed straight ahead, was now sounding from the side.