You'll excuse me, ladies, but the chronometers must be attended to." "In preference to us, Captain Drawlock ?--Fie, for shame!" replied Mrs Ferguson.
"Why, not exactly," replied the captain, "not exactly; but the fact is, that the sun may go in again." "And we can stay out, I presume ?" replied Isabel, laughing.

"I think, Mrs Ferguson, we ought to go in too." "But, my dear young lady, if the sun goes in, I shall not get a _sight!_" "And if we go in, you will not get a sight either," replied Mrs Ferguson.
"Between the two, sir," observed Newton, handing Captain Drawlock his sextant, "you stand a chance of losing both.

There's no time to spare; I'm all ready." Captain Drawlock walked to the break of the gangways, so far concealed from the ladies that they could not perceive that he was looking through his sextant, the use of which they did not comprehend, having never seen one before.

Newton stood at the capstern, with his eyes fixed on the watch.
"Captain Drawlock," said Mrs Ferguson, calling to him, "allow me to observe--" "_Stop_," cried Captain Drawlock, in a loud voice.

Newton, to whom this was addressed, noted the time.
"Good heavens! what can be the matter;" said Mrs Ferguson, with astonishment, to those near her; "how excessively rude of Captain Drawlock;--what can it be ?" continued she, addressing the colonel, who had rejoined them.
"Really, madam, I cannot tell; but it is my duty to inquire," replied the colonel, who, going up to Captain Drawlock, commenced--"Have the ladies already so fallen in your estimation--" "Forty degrees!" cried Captain Drawlock, who was intent upon his sextant.
"Excuse me, sir, just now." "When will you be at leisure, sir ?" resumed the colonel, haughtily.
"Twenty-six minutes," continued the captain, reading off his sextant.
"A little sooner, I should hope, sir," retorted the colonel.
"Forty-five seconds." "This is really quite insufferable! Miss Revel, we had better go in." "Stop!" again cried Captain Drawlock, in a loud voice.
"Stop!" repeated Mrs Ferguson, angrily; "surely we are not slaves." Newton, who heard what was passing, could not repress his laughter.
"Indeed, I am sure there must be some mistake, Mrs Ferguson," observed Isabel.