Finding themselves thus hoodwinked, and already excited by drink, the leaders, and as many of the men as could be enticed from the liquor, came once more aft and demanded another interview. The quarter-deck, except for the sentries, the watch, and the men at the guns, was comparatively deserted, the officers having retired below until the hour allowed by the enemy had expired. The senior officer present was Mr Felton. "Quartermaster," said he, as he stepped up to the helmsman, "how does she sail?" "Nor'-east by east, sir. Making ten knots an hour." "Keep her so.--Mr Gamble," said he, turning to a midshipman, "have the goodness to go to my cabin at once and fetch the magnet you will find lying in the drawer of my desk." In a minute Mr Gamble had performed his errand. Mr Felton meanwhile had lifted the cover of the compass-box, into which he now inserted the small magnet, so that it pulled the needle a quarter of the circle round, and made it appear that our course was due north. "That should give us time," said he as he replaced the cover. "The land-lubbers will know no better.--Use your pocket-compass, quartermaster, and keep her as she is.--Now, my man," said he, addressing one of the loyal marines who had been standing sentry, "what is it?" "If you plaze, sir, the hounds beyant there want a word with yez." "Tell them the hour is not yet up, and that Mr Adrian is below." "Sure I told them so, and Callan, he's their talking man, says he must see yourself, or there'll be mischief." "Very good," said Mr Felton. "Pass the word below for all hands on deck; and let every man go quietly to his place.--Marine, allow Callan on the quarter-deck." But Mr Callan was not tipsy enough to fall into such a trap, and insisted on the honours of war and the word of a gentleman that he and three of his followers should be allowed safe-conduct, hinting at the same time that the forward guns were still in position, and that any attempt to break parole would be visited with ugly consequences. Lieutenant Felton gravely gave the necessary assurance, whereupon, ordering their followers to wait below, Callan and three comrades, as tipsy as himself, staggered up the ladder. "Now, sir, what is the matter?" demanded Mr Felton. "Matter? The ship's on the wrong tack. You're sailing her out to sea; and if she's not put round at once, we'll put her about for you." Mr Felton laughed. "Not so easy to sail out to sea in this wind as you think, my lad. I wonder, now, if you really know what direction we are going in." One of the four replied, "Nor'-east," unless he was mistaken. "Bless me," said the officer, "and these are the men who pretend to speak in the name of the British seaman! I should prefer to take the word of the compass against yours in a cap of wind, my fine fellow, any day. Nor'-east, indeed!" "The compass will say the same as us; or maybe we're a point more to eastward."