Now it is still . Now it points to the South . ' ` North , ' said Dan . ` Nay , South ! There is the South , ' said Sir Richard . 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 XXXXX all night , I lay under the deck with the Talking Bird , and cared not whether I lived or died .
Dan France Hugh Man South Té Una Witta oars whirlpools