I knew this was one way they had of finding out where they were, for they examined the sand or mud on the tallow, and so knew what sort of a bottom they were going over; and all the different kinds of bottom were marked out on their charts.
As Mr.Randall passed us, Rectus sung out to him, and asked him where we were now.
"Off Hatteras," said he, quite shortly.
I didn't think Rectus should have bothered Mr.Randall with questions when he was so busy; but after he went into the captain's room, the men did not seem to have much to do, and I asked one of them how deep it was.
"About seventeen fathoms," said he.
"Can we see Cape Hatteras ?" I said, trying to get a good look landward as the vessel rolled over that way.
"No," said the man.

"We could see the light just before day-break, but the weather's gettin' thick now, and we're keepin' out." It was pretty thick to the west, that was true.

All that I could see in the distance was a very mixed-up picture of wave-tops and mist.

I knew that Cape Hatteras was one of the most dangerous points on the coast, and that sailors were always glad when they had safely rounded it, and so I began to take a good deal of interest in what was going on.

There was a pretty strong wind from the south-east, and we had no sail set at all.