His face brightened.

He opened his oilskin coat, glanced at the compass, and nodded approval.
"That's right," he shouted to the quartermaster at the steam-wheel.
"Keep her steady there, south 15 west." "South 15 west it is, sir," yelled the sailor, impassively watching the moving disk, for the wind alteration necessitated a little less help from the rudder to keep the ship's head true to her course.
Captain Ross ate some sandwiches and washed them down with cold tea.

He was more hungry than he imagined, having spent eleven hours without food.

The tea was insipid.

He called through a speaking-tube for a further supply of sandwiches and some coffee.
Then he turned to consult a chart.