steersman

Come sundown between May and October, he boards a boat along with an assistant, a steersman, and about 10 cormorants leashed at the neck and body.

The steersman stands at the back of the boat, handling the rudder.

The steersman leaning on his long sweep turned his head and called, “Sir! is this true land or a witchery?”

“Maybe we shouldn’t say we’re representing the U.S.A. just yet. Maybe we should wait until we see how we actually do,” said Ward, team captain and steersman.

They swung around and above, the tern dæmon keeping close like a child to its mother, and watched the steersman adjust the course slightly as the foghorn boomed again.