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Tracy, Louis, 1863-1928

"The Captain of the Kansas"

So she simply said:
"You will explain to me my part of the undertaking, of course?"
"Certainly. You must first correct the Index Error. Then you subtract
the Dip and the Refraction in Altitude, take the sun's semi-diameter
from the Nautical Almanac, and add the Parallax. Do you follow me?"
"Perfectly; it sounds the easiest thing. But I don't wish to hear the
remarks of the Admiralty when they see the result."
"I am interested in navigation, to the slight extent possible to a mere
yachtsman: may I join you?" interposed Christobal.
"Oh, yes," said the captain off-handedly.
Elsie repressed the smile on her lips. Did the worthy doctor fear
developments if this harmless map-making progressed in his absence?
She imagined, too, that Courtenay's acquiesence in Christobal's desire
to be present was not wholly in accordance with his innermost wish.
She promptly crushed that dangerous fancy. The captain was only
seeking for some excuse to take her away from the rough work of rigging
the extra awnings. How odd that the other thought should have cropped
up first!
"You still think the _Kansas_ will win clear of her difficulties?" she
said rather hurriedly.


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