The captain was taken aback by the question, all his breeding and training was not enough to help him hide it. He stared at the young lady, and honestly debated ignoring the question. But she'd drawn too much attention to herself. That, and a strong sense of duty made him feel obligated to reply. "We have been having difficulty with our compass." he replied, diplomatically. "It has become somewhat less than reliable. But anyone can tell direction by the sun."