Then they both laughed , for naturally when one end of a straight compass-needle points to the North , the other must point to the South . ` Té , ' said Sir Richard , clicking his tongue . ` There can be no sorcery if a child carries it . Wherefore does it point South -- or North ? ' ` Father says that nobody knows , ' said Una . Sir Richard looked relieved . ` Then it may still be magic . It was magic to us . And so we voyaged . When the wind served we hoisted sail , and lay all up along the windward rail , our shields on our backs to break the spray . When it failed , they rowed with long oars ; the Yellow Man sat by the Wise Iron , and Witta steered . At first I feared the great white-flowering waves , but as I saw how wisely Witta led his ship among them I grew bolder . Hugh liked it well from the first . My skill is not upon the water ; and rocks and whirlpools such as we saw by the West Isles of France , where an oar caught on a rock and broke , are much against my stomach . We sailed South across a stormy sea , where by moonlight , between clouds , we saw a Flanders ship roll clean over and sink . Again , though Hugh laboured with Witta all night , I lay under the deck with the Talking Bird , and cared not whether I lived or died . There is a sickness of the sea which for three days is pure death ! When we next saw land Witta said it was Spain , and we stood out to sea . That coast was full of ships busy in the Duke 's war against the Moors , and we feared to be hanged by the Duke 's men or sold into slavery by the Moors . So we put into a small harbour which Witta knew .
At XXXXX men came down with loaded mules , and Witta exchanged amber out of the North against little wedges of iron and packets of beads in earthen pots .
Hugh Man Richard Una Witta first harbour night oar oars