Meanings of struck northward in English

Thence he struck northward in the direction of the Rito.

But I did not go home, I turned westward and walked for a long way, and then struck northward aimlessly.

Waiting then for a clear day, Mendez struck northward, on the passage, which was long for such frail craft, to San Domingo.

They were being swept westward towards the rocks, but swept also outwards, beyond them; they struck northward and northward and were carried always south.