But the Leopard might as well have been without an engine as without a pilot; for all the men on board were from the interior of the country, and not one of them, not even the officers, knew how to steer the boat.
The marks and figures on the chart of the bay, which Christy had put on the shelf in front of the wheel, were all Greek to them.

Possibly they might get the tug to the shore, or aground on the way to it; but the steamer was practically disabled..