“As it is only a question of comfort, Mr. Hull,” replied Mrs. Weldon, “that should not stop me.  I am not one of those troublesome passengers who complain incessantly of the narrowness of the cabins, and the insufficiency of the table.”

Then, after looking for a few moments at her little Jack, whom she held by the hand, Mrs. Weldon said: 

“Let us go, Mr. Hull!”

The orders were given to get under way at once, the sails were set, and the “Pilgrim,” working to get out to sea in the shortest time possible, steered for the American coast.

But, three days after her departure, the schooner, thwarted by strong breezes from the east, was obliged to tack to larboard to make headway against the wind.  So, at the date of February 2d, Captain Hull still found himself in a higher latitude than he would have wished, and in the situation of a sailor who wanted to double Cape Horn rather than reach the New Continent by the shortest course.

CHAPTER II.

Dick sand.

Meanwhile the sea was favorable, and, except the delays, navigation would be accomplished under very supportable conditions.

Mrs. Weldon had been installed on board the “Pilgrim” as comfortably as possible.

Neither poop nor “roufle” was at the end of the deck.  There was no stern cabin, then, to receive the passengers.  She was obliged to be contented with Captain Hull’s cabin, situated aft, which constituted his modest sea lodging.  And still it had been necessary for the captain to insist, in order to make her accept it.  There, in that narrow lodging, was installed Mrs. Weldon, with her child and old Nan.  She took her meals there, in company with the captain and Cousin Benedict, for whom they had fitted up a kind of cabin on board.

As to the commander of the “Pilgrim,” he had settled himself in a cabin belonging to the ship’s crew—­a cabin which would be occupied by the second officer, if there were a second one on board.  But the brig-schooner was navigated, we know, under conditions which enabled her to dispense with the services of a second officer.

The men of the “Pilgrim,” good and strong seamen, were very much united by common ideas and habits.  This fishing season was the fourth which they had passed together.  All Americans of the West, they were acquainted for a long period, and belonged to the same coast of the State of California.

These brave men showed themselves very thoughtful towards Mrs. Weldon, the wife of the owner of their ship, for whom they professed boundless devotion.  It must be said that, largely interested in the profits of the ship, they had navigated till then with great gain.  If, by reason of their small number, they did not spare themselves, it was because every labor increased their earnings in the settling of accounts at the end of each season.  This time, it is true, the profit would be almost nothing, and that gave them just cause to curse and swear against those New Zealand scoundrels.