Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-12-02
Misesllaaeuas 8saaing.
A PROBLEM FOR NAvIeAToRs
Landsman Puzzled an Expert to a
Standstill.


Standstil.
Describing a voyage to Australia,
Norman Duncan tells Of the way in
which a big Australian puzzled the first
officer of the ship, says Harper's Mag
azine.
1t was at dinner that the big Austria
liam trapped and confounded the chief
officer who had given him offense, the
simple passage being remembered
thereafter as the Revenge of the Big
Australian.
II say, chief" said he, with willy hu-
mility, would you be good enough to
help us with a little problem in nav
igation?"
ITO be sure!"
Quite So" said the big Australian,
his gray eyes glittering. Suppose, then,
that you were at the North Pole"
Il never was, you know!"
"Of course not! But suppose you
were. And suppose you sailed directly
south"
1T couldn't be done!"
"Oh, pshaw, chief! OF course, 1t
couldn't be done. But if possible, sup
pose it could. Suppose you were at the
North Pole-and suppose you sailed d.
rectly south 100 miles-and suppose
you sailed directly east 260 miles"
Pencil? Thank you. Carry on"
What course" the big Australian
gravely propounded, would you steer
to get back to your starting point?"
II am at the North Pole" the chief
officer rehearsed. do l take you?
Quite so. sail south 100 miles-I sail
east 260 miles. Quite so. What course,
then, shall sail to get back to my
starting point? Is there an argument?
Quite so. Let me see II ! can't solve
this for you. Hmm. Quite
so =" =" 1t was pitiful the chief OFF,
cer-and an excellent officer he was
had fairly gulped the big Australians
obvious hook. And the simple fellow
turned over his menu card and gazed
ponderously at it's blank surface, and
put his head on one side, and wrinkled
his brow, and pursed his lips, and drew
a triangle, and described an arc. and
began to calculate like lightening-in-
dulging in addition, subtraction, multi
plication and division, with flights into
those higher mathematics, doubtless,
which have to do with the mysteries OF
oil r.
fully; the rose and blue faded beyond
the rolling port holes-and the yellow
light of the saloon asserted itself above
the failing glow Of evening-and the
merriment all roundabout seemed loud
in contrast with our silence-and the
brown stewards paused in horror OF
this interruption-and the big Austral-
ian twinkled a naughty and merciless
enjoyment-and we all of us, breath
less company, in heathenish amuse-
ment, continued deeply intent upon the
chief officers engagement with his
problem, half dreading the effect OF the
disclosure upon his pride and remark
able dignity.
I'm general terms" the big Austria
liam softly insinuated.
Course in general terms?"
"Quite So"
1t was explicit; the chief officer could
not now take sanctuary in the mag
netic pole and the deviations of the
magnetic needle. "A difficult matter
he complained, scrowling, Ito work
this out offhand."
"Oh, no." scoffed the big Australian
But 1 say it is!" the chief officer
snapped.
I'm general terms?" the big Austria
liam Knocked. Nothing simpler, my
dear chap!"
my dear chap" the chief officer de-
manded, angrily. what course, in gen.
eral terms, would a landsman sail tol
get back to the North Pole?"
North" said the big Australian.
The chief officer was very much an
noyed.