Dick Sands, the Boy Captain Part 14

After studying it attentively for a few minutes, he said,-

"There, Mrs. Weldon; the land we have just pa.s.sed, I should suppose must be that little speck in the midst of the Pacific. It must be Easter Island. At least, there seems to be no other land which possibly it could be."

"And do you say," inquired Mrs. Weldon, "that we have left it quite behind us?"

"Yes, entirely; almost to windward."

Mrs. Weldon commenced a searching scrutiny of the map that was outspread before her.

"How far is this," she said, after bending a considerable time over the chart; "how far is this from the coast of America?"

"Thirty-five degrees," answered d.i.c.k; "somewhere about 2500 miles."

"What ever do you mean?" rejoined the lady astonished; "if the 'Pilgrim' is still 2500 miles from sh.o.r.e, she has positively made no progress at all. Impossible!"

In thoughtful perplexity, d.i.c.k pa.s.sed his hand across his brow. He did not know what to say. After an interval of silence, he said,-

"I have no account to give for the strange delay. It is inexplicable to myself, except upon that one hypothesis, which I cannot resist, that the readings of the compa.s.s, somehow or other, have been wrong."

He relapsed into silence. Then, brightening up, he added,-

"But, thank G.o.d! at least we have now the satisfaction of knowing where we really are; we are no longer lost upon the wide Pacific; if only this hurricane will cease, long as the distance seems, we are on our proper course to the sh.o.r.es of America."

The tone of confidence with which the youthful captain spoke had the effect of inspiring new hope into all who heard him; their spirits rose, and to their sanguine mood it seemed as if they were approaching to the end of all their troubles, and had hardly more to do than to await the turning of a tide to bring them into a glad proximity to port.

Easter Island, of which the true name is Vai-Hoo, was discovered by David in 1686 and visited by Cook and Laperouse. It lies in lat. 27 S., and long. 112 E.; consequently, it was evident that during the raging of the hurricane the schooner had been driven northwards no less than fifteen degrees. Far away, however, as she was from sh.o.r.e, the wind could hardly fail within ten days to carry her within sight of land; and then, if the storm had worn itself out, (as probably it would,) the "Pilgrim" would again hoist sail, and make her way into some port with safety. Anyhow, the discovery of his true position restored a spirit of confidence to d.i.c.k Sands, and he antic.i.p.ated the time when he should no longer be drifting helplessly before the storm.

To say the truth, the "Pilgrim" had suffered very little from the prolonged fury of the weather. The damage she had sustained was limited to the loss of the topsail and the small jib, which could be easily replaced. The caulking of the seams remained thoroughly sound, and no drop of water had found its way into the hold. The pumps, too, were perfectly free. d.i.c.k Sands did not fear for the stability of his ship; his only anxiety was lest the weather should not moderate in time. Only let the wind subside, and the schooner once more would be under his control; but he never forgot that the ordering of the winds and waves were in the hands of the Great Disposer of all.

CHAPTER XIII.

LAND AT LAST.

It was not long before d.i.c.k's sanguine expectations were partially realized, for on the very next day, which was the 27th, the barometer began to rise, not rapidly, but steadily, indicating that its elevation would probably continue. The sea remained exceedingly rough, but the violence of the wind, which had veered slightly towards the west, had perceptibly diminished. The tempest had pa.s.sed its greatest fury, and was beginning to wear itself out.

Not a sail, however, could yet be hoisted; the smallest show of canvas would have been carried away in an instant; nevertheless d.i.c.k hoped that before another twenty-four hours were over, the "Pilgrim" might be able to carry a storm-jib.

In the course of the night the wind moderated still more and the pitching of the ship had so far diminished that the pa.s.sengers began to reappear on deck. Mrs. Weldon was the first to leave her enforced imprisonment. She was anxious to speak to d.i.c.k, whom she might have expected to find looking pale and wan after his almost superhuman exertions and loss of sleep. But she was mistaken; however much the lad might suffer from the strain in after-years, at present he exhibited no symptoms of failing energy.

"Well, Captain d.i.c.k, how are you?" she said, as she advanced towards him holding out her hand.

d.i.c.k smiled.

"You call me captain, Mrs. Weldon," he answered, "but you do not seem disposed to submit implicitly to

[Ill.u.s.tration: "You have acquitted yourself like a man."]

captain's orders. Did I not direct you to keep to your cabin?"

"You did," replied the lady; "but observing how much the storm had abated, I could not resist the temptation to disobey you."

"Yes, madam, the weather is far more promising; the barometer has not fallen since yesterday morning, and I really trust the worst is over now."

"Thank Heaven!" she replied, and after a few moments' silence, she added.-

"But now, d.i.c.k, you must really take some rest; you may perhaps not know how much you require it; but it is absolutely necessary."

"Rest!" the boy repeated; "rest! I want no rest. I have only done my duty, and it will be time enough for me to concern myself about my own rest, when I have seen my pa.s.sengers in a place of safety."

"You have acquitted yourself like a man," said Mrs. Weldon; "and you may be a.s.sured that my husband, like myself, will never forget the services you have rendered me. I shall urge upon him the request which I am sure he will not refuse, that you shall have your studies completed, so that you may be made a captain for the firm."

Tears of grat.i.tude rose to d.i.c.k's eyes. He deprecated the praise that was lavished upon him, but rejoiced in the prospect that seemed opening upon his future. Mrs. Weldon a.s.sured him that he was dear as a son to her, and pressed a gentle kiss upon his forehead. The lad felt that he was animated, if need be, to yet greater hardships in behalf of his benefactors, and resolved to prove himself even more worthy of their confidence.

By the 29th, the wind had so far moderated that d.i.c.k thought he might increase the "Pilgrim's" speed by hoisting the foresail and topsail.

"Now, my men, I have some work for you to-day," he said to the negroes when he came on deck at daybreak.

"All right, captain," answered Hercules, "we are growing rusty for want of something to do."

"Why didn't you blow with your big mouth?" said little Jack; "you could have beaten the wind all to nothing."

d.i.c.k laughed, and said, "Not a bad idea, Jack; if ever we get becalmed, we must get Hercules to blow into the sails."

"I shall be most happy," retorted the giant, and he inflated his huge checks till he was the very impersonation of Boreas himself.

"But now to work!" cried d.i.c.k; "we have lost our topsail, and we must contrive to hoist another. Not an easy matter, I can tell you."

"I dare say we shall manage it," replied Actaeon.

"We must do our best," said Tom.

"Can't I help?" inquired Jack.

"Of course you can," answered d.i.c.k; "run along to the wheel, and a.s.sist Bat."

Jack strutted off, proud enough of his commission.

Under d.i.c.k's directions, the negroes commenced their somewhat difficult task. The new topsail, rolled up, had first of all to be hoisted, and then to be made fast to the yard; but so adroitly did the crew carry out their orders, that in less than an hour the sail was properly set and flying with a couple of reefs. The foresail and second jib, which had been taken down before the tempest, were hoisted again, and before ten o'clock the "Pilgrim" was running along under the three sails which d.i.c.k considered were as much as it was prudent to carry. Even at her present speed, the schooner, he reckoned, would be within sight of the American sh.o.r.e in about ten days. It was an immense relief to him to find that she was no longer at the mercy of the waves, and when he saw the sails properly set he returned in good spirits to his post at the helm, not forgetting to thank the temporary helmsman for his services, nor omitting his acknowledgment to Master Jack, who received the compliment with becoming gravity.

Although the clouds continued to travel all the next day with great rapidity they were very much broken, and alternately the "Pilgrim" was bathed in sunlight and enveloped in vapours, which rolled on towards the east. As the weather cleared, the hatchways were opened in

[Ill.u.s.tration: They both examined the outspread chart.]

order to ventilate the ship, and the outer air was allowed again to penetrate not only the hold, but the cabin and crew's quarters The wet sails were hung out to dry, the deck was washed down, for d.i.c.k Sands was anxious not to bring his ship into port without having "finished her toilet," and he found that his crew could very well spare a few hours daily to get her into proper trim.

Notwithstanding the loss of the log, d.i.c.k had sufficient experience to be able to make an approximate estimate of the schooner's progress, and after having pointed out to Mrs. Weldon what he imagined was the "Pilgrim's" true position, he told her that it was his firm impression that land would be sighted in little more than a week.

"And upon what part of South America do you reckon we are likely to find ourselves?" she asked.

"That is more than I dare venture to promise," replied d.i.c.k; "but I should think somewhere hereabouts."