Zach was a whimperin', fidgetin' old woman, Lafayette and Emulous was prayin' in the scuppers--and that ain't an exercise they're used to, neither--and even 'Bije was mighty shook up and worried--he says he was himself.

But Nat Hammond was as cool and refreshin' as the bottom of my well up home.
"'Better clear away that mess aloft, hadn't you ?' he says to the skipper.
"Zach said he guessed so; he wa'n't sure of nothin'.

However, they cleared it away, and incidentally 'Bije yanked the prayer meetin' out of the scuppers and set 'em to work.

Then Nat suggests gettin' the spare compass and, lo and behold you! there wa'n't any.

Compasses cost money and money's made to keep, so Zach thinks.
"So there they was.