“Mr. Dick,” replied Tom, “my companions and I, we are your sailors.  Our good will shall not be wanting.  All that men can do, commanded by you, we shall do it.”

“Well spoken, old Tom,” said Mrs. Weldon.

“Yes, well spoken,” continued Dick Sand; “but we must be prudent, and I shall not carry too much canvas, so as not to run any risk.  Circumstances require a little less speed, but more security.  I will show you, my friends, what each will have to do in the work.  As to me, I shall remain at the helm, as long as fatigue does not oblige me to leave it.  From time to time a few hours’ sleep will be sufficient to restore me.  But, during those few hours, it will be very necessary for one of you to take my place.  Tom, I shall show you how we steer by means of the mariner’s compass.  It is not difficult, and, with a little attention, you will soon learn to keep the ship’s head in the right direction.”

“Whenever you like, Mr. Dick,” replied the old black.

“Well,” replied the novice, “stay near me at the helm till the end of the day, and if fatigue overcomes me, you will then be able to replace me for a few hours.”

“And I,” said little Jack, “will I not be able to help my friend, Dick, a little?”

“Yes, dear child,” replied Mrs. Weldon, clasping Jack in her arms, “you shall learn to steer, and I am sure that while you are at the helm we shall have good winds.”

“Very sure—­very sure.  Mother, I promise it to you,” replied the little boy, clapping his hands.

“Yes,” said the young novice, smiling, “good cabin-boys know how to maintain good winds.  That is well known by old sailors.”  Then, addressing Tom, and the other blacks:  “My friends,” he said to them, “we are going to put the ‘Pilgrim’ under full sail.  You will only have to do what I shall tell you.”

“At your orders,” replied Tom, “at your orders, Captain Sand.”

* * * * *

CHAPTER X.

THE FOUR DAYS WHICH FOLLOW.

Dick Sand was then captain of the “Pilgrim,” and, without losing an instant, he took the necessary measures for putting the ship under full sail.

It was well understood that the passengers could have only one hope—­that of reaching some part of the American coast, if not Valparaiso.  What Dick Sand counted on doing was to ascertain the direction and speed of the “Pilgrim,” so as to get an average.  For that, it was sufficient to make each day on the chart the way made, as it has been said, by the log and the compass.  There was then on board one of those “patent logs,” with an index and helix, which give the speed very exactly for a fixed time.  This useful instrument, very easily handled, could render the most useful services, and the blacks were perfectly adapted to work it.

A single cause of error would interfere—­the currents.  To combat it, reckoning would be insufficient; astronomical observations alone would enable one to render an exact calculation from it.  Now, those observations the young novice was still unable to make.