“Dick,” replied Mrs. Weldon, “you are already our child by adoption, and now, you are our son, the deliverer of your mother, and of your little brother Jack.  My dear Dick, I embrace you for my husband and for myself!”

The courageous woman did not wish to give way while clasping the young novice in her arms, but her heart overflowed.  As to Dick Sand’s feelings, what pen could do them justice?  He asked himself if he could not do more than give his life for his benefactors, and he accepted in advance all the trials which might come upon him in the future.

After this conversation Dick Sand felt stronger.  If the wind should become so moderate that he should be able to hoist some canvas, he did not doubt being able to steer his ship to a port where all those which it carried would at last be in safety.

On the 29th, the wind having moderated a little, Dick Sand thought of setting the foresail and the top-sail, consequently to increase the speed of the “Pilgrim” while directing her course.

“Come, Tom; come, my friends!” cried he, when he went on deck at daybreak; “come, I need your arms!”

“We are ready, Captain Sand,” replied old Tom.

“Ready for everything,” added Hercules.  “There was nothing to do during that tempest, and I begin to grow rusty.”

“You should have blown with your big mouth,” said little Jack; “I bet you would have been as strong as the wind!”

“That is an idea, Jack,” replied Dick Sand, laughing.  “When there is a calm we shall make Hercules blow on the sails.”

“At your service, Mister Dick!” replied the brave black, inflating his cheeks like a gigantic Boreas.

“Now, my friends,” continued the novice, we are to begin by binding a spare sail to the yard, because our top-sail was carried away in the hurricane.  It will be difficult, perhaps, but it must be done.”

“It shall be done!” replied Acteon.

“Can I help you?” asked little Jack, always ready to work.

“Yes, my Jack,” replied the novice.  “You will take your place at the wheel, with our friend Bat, and you will help him to steer.”

If little Jack was proud of being assistant helmsman on the “Pilgrim,” it is superfluous to say so.

“Now to work,” continued Dick Sand, “and we must expose ourselves as little as possible.”

The blacks, guided by the novice, went to work at once.  To fasten a top-sail to its yard presented some difficulties for Tom and his companions.  First the rolled up sail must be hoisted, then fastened to the yard.

However, Dick Sand commanded so well, and was so well obeyed, that after an hour’s work the sail was fastened to its yard, the yard hoisted, and the top-sail properly set with two reefs.

As to the foresail and the second jib, which had been furled before the tempest, those sails were set without a great deal of trouble, in spite of the force of the wind.