Then we will strike westward to Andros, and after that shape her course due west.

This will take us north of the west end of Cuba, and well out of sight of land; but we must be careful of our navigation, for as you see it is written here: "'Small islands, innumerable, scattered among those marked here; these being the principal.

Many of these islands are low, and show but little above the water.

Sailing is very perilous, and not to be attempted at night.' "You see, in this course we shall have the advantage of being well out of the ordinary line of passage of the Spaniards, who shape their course more to the southward, make Porto Rico their first landfall, and then have the two great islands, Hispaniola and Cuba, lying straight before them; free, as it seems, by the chart, from any dangers to navigation.
"Roger, from this evening we will compare our log books day by day, so that you may learn where it is that you have gone wrong.

But I can guess how it is.