“Do, then, according to your wish,” said Mrs. Weldon to Dick Sand.  “We shall remain here, and you shall depart with old Tom.”

“That is agreed upon,” said Cousin Benedict, in the most tranquil manner in the world.  “As for me, I am going to pay a visit to the insects of the country.”

“Do not go far away, Mr. Benedict,” said the novice.  “We urge you strongly not to do it.”

“Do not be uneasy, my boy.”

“And above all, do not bring back too many musquitoes,” added old Tom.

A few moments after, the entomologist, his precious tin box strapped to his shoulders, left the grotto.

Almost at the same time Negoro abandoned it also.  It appeared quite natural to that man to, be always occupied with himself.  But, while Cousin Benedict clambered up the slopes of the cliff to go to explore the border of the forest, he, turning round toward the river, went away with slow steps and disappeared, a second time ascending the steep bank.

Jack slept all the time.  Mrs. Weldon, leaving him on Nan’s knees, then descended toward the strand.  Dick Sand and his companions followed her.  The question was, to see if the state of the sea then would permit them to go as far as the “Pilgrim’s” hull, where there were still many objects which might be useful to the little troop.

The rocks on which the schooner had been wrecked were now dry.  In the midst of the debris of all kinds stood the ship’s carcass, which the high sea had partly covered again.  That astonished Dick Sand, for he knew that the tides are only very moderate on the American sea-shore of the Pacific.  But, after all, this phenomenon might be explained by the fury of the wind which beat the coast.

On seeing their ship again, Mrs. Weldon and her companions experienced a painful impression.  It was there that they had lived for long days, there that they had suffered.  The aspect of that poor ship, half broken, having neither mast nor sails, lying on her side like a being deprived of life, sadly grieved their hearts.  But they must visit this hull, before the sea should come to finish demolishing it.

Dick Sand and the blacks could easily make their way into the interior, after having hoisted themselves on deck by means of the ropes which hung over the “Pilgrim’s” side.  While Tom, Hercules, Bat, and Austin employed themselves in taking from the storeroom all that might be useful, as much eatables as liquids, the novice made his way into the arsenal.  Thanks to God, the water had not invaded this part of the ship, whose rear had remained out of the water after the stranding.

There Dick Sand found four guns in good condition, excellent Remingtons from Purdy & Co.’s factory, as well as a hundred cartridges, carefully shut up in their cartridge-boxes.  There was material to arm his little band, and put it in a state of defense, if, contrary to all expectation, the Indians attacked him on the way.