meanwhile, that confidence with which dick sand's heart filled instinctively, was going to be partly justified.
the next day, march 27th, the column of mercury rose in the barometrical tube. the oscillation was neither sudden nor considerable—a few lines only—but the progression seemed likely to continue. the tempest was evidently going to enter its decreasing period, and, if the sea did remain excessively rough, they could tell that the wind was going down, veering slightly to the west.
dick sand could not yet think of using any sail. the smallest sail would be carried away. however, he hoped that twenty-four hours would not elapse before it would be possible for him to rig a storm-jib.
during the night, in fact, the wind went down quite noticeably, if they compared it to what it had been till then, and the ship was less tossed by those violent rollings which had threatened to break her in pieces.
the passengers began to appear on deck again. they no longer ran the risk of being carried away by some surge from the sea.
mrs. weldon was the first to leave the hatchway where dick sand, from prudent motives, had obliged them to shut themselves up during the whole duration of that long tempest. she came to talk with the novice, whom a truly superhuman will had rendered capable of resisting so much fatigue. thin, pale under his sunburnt complexion, he might well be weakened by the loss of that sleep so necessary at his age. no, his valiant nature resisted everything. perhaps he would pay dearly some day for that period of trial. but that was not the moment to allow himself to be cast down. dick sand had said all that to himself. mrs. weldon found him as energetic as he had ever been.
and then he had confidence, that brave sand, and if confidence does not command itself, at least it commands.
"dick, my dear child, my captain," said mrs. weldon, holding out her hand to the young novice.
"ah! mrs. weldon," exclaimed dick sand, smiling, "you disobey your captain. you return on deck, you leave your cabin in spite of his—prayers."
"yes, i disobey you," replied mrs. weldon; "but i have, as it were, a presentiment that the tempest is going down or is going to become calm."
"it is becoming calm, in fact, mrs. weldon," replied the novice. "you are not mistaken. the barometer has not fallen since yesterday. the wind has moderated, and i have reason to believe that our hardest trials are over."
"heaven hears you, dick. all! you have suffered much, my poor child!
you have done there——"
"only my duty, mrs. weldon."
"but at last will you be able to take some rest?"
"rest!" replied the novice; "i have no need of rest, mrs. weldon. i am well, thank god, and it is necessary for me to keep up to the end. you have called me captain, and i shall remain captain till the moment when all the 'pilgrim's' passengers shall be in safety."
"dick," returned mrs. weldon, "my husband and i, we shall never forget what you have just done."
"god has done all," replied dick sand; "all!"
"my child, i repeat it, that by your moral and physical energy, you have shown yourself a man—a man fit to command, and before long, as soon as your studies are finished—my husband will not contradict me—you will command for the house of james w. weldon!"
"i—i——" exclaimed dick sand, whose eyes filled with tears.
"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.
at last, on that day, at ten o'clock in the morning, the "pilgrim" was sailing under her foresail, her top-sail, and her jib.
dick sand had not judged it prudent to set more sail. the canvas which he carried ought to assure him, as long as the wind did not moderate, a speed of at least two hundred miles in twenty-four hours, and he did not need any greater to reach the american coast before ten days.
the novice was indeed satisfied when, returning to the wheel, he again took his post, after thanking master jack, assistant helmsman of the "pilgrim." he was no longer at the mercy of the waves. he was making headway. his joy will be understood by all those who are somewhat familiar with the things of the sea.
the next day the clouds still ran with the same velocity, but they left large openings between them, through which the rays of the sun made their way to the surface of the waters. the "pilgrim" was at times overspread with them. a good thing is that vivifying light! sometimes it was extinguished behind a large mass of vapors which came up in the east, then it reappeared, to disappear again, but the weather was becoming fine again.
the scuttles had been opened to ventilate the interior of the ship. a salubrious air penetrated the hold, the rear hatchway, the crew's quarters. they put the wet sails to dry, stretching them out in the sun. the deck was also cleaned. dick sand did not wish his ship to arrive in port without having made a bit of toilet. without overworking the crew, a few hours spent each day at that work would bring it to a good end.
though the novice could no longer throw the log, he was so accustomed to estimating the headway of a ship that he could take a close account of her speed. he had then no doubt of reaching land before seven days, and he gave that opinion to mrs. weldon, after showing her, on the chart, the probable position of the ship.
"well, at what point of the coast shall we arrive, my dear dick?" she asked him.
"here, mrs. weldon," replied the novice, indicating that long coast line which extends from peru to chili. "i do not know how to be more exact. here is the isle of paques, that we have left behind in the west, and, by the direction of the wind, which has been constant, i conclude that we shall reach land in the east. ports are quite numerous on that coast, but to name the one we shall have in view when we make the land is impossible at this moment."
"well, dick, whichever it may be, that port will be welcome."
"yes, mrs. weldon, and you will certainly find there the means to return promptly to san francisco. the pacific navigation company has a very well organized service on this coast. its steamers touch at the principal points of the coast; nothing will be easier than to take passage for california."
"then you do not count on bringing the 'pilgrim' to san francisco?" asked mrs. weldon.
"yes, after having put you on shore, mrs. weldon. if we can procure an officer and a crew, we are going to discharge our cargo at valparaiso, as captain hull would have done. then we shall return to our own port. but that would delay you too much, and, though very sorry to be separated from you——"
"well, dick," replied mrs. weldon, "we shall see later what must be done. tell me, you seem to fear the dangers which the land presents."
"in fact, they are to be feared," replied the novice, "but i am always hoping to meet some ship in these parts, and i am even very much surprised at not seeing any. if only one should pass, we would enter into communication with her; she would give us our exact situation, which would greatly facilitate our arrival in sight of land."
"are there not pilots who do service along this coast?" asked mrs.
weldon.
"there ought to be," replied dick sand, "but much nearer land. we must then continue to approach it."
"and if we do not meet a pilot?" asked mrs. weldon, who kept on questioning him in order to know how the young novice would prepare for all contingencies.
"in that case, mrs. weldon, either the weather will be clear, the wind moderate, and i shall endeavor to sail up the coast sufficiently near to find a refuge, or the wind will be stronger, and then——"
"then what will you do, dick?"
"then, in the present condition of the 'pilgrim,'" replied dick sand, "once near the land, it will be very difficult to set off again."
"what will you do?" repeated mrs. weldon.
"i shall be forced to run my ship aground," replied the novice, whose brow darkened for a moment. "ah! it is a hard extremity. god grant that we may not be reduced to that. but, i repeat it, mrs. weldon, the appearance of the sky is reassuring, and it is impossible for a vessel or a pilot-boat not to meet us. then, good hope. we are headed for the land, we shall see it before long."
yes, to run a ship aground is a last extremity, to which the most energetic sailor does not resort without fear! thus, dick sand did not wish to foresee it, while he had some chances of escaping it.
for several days there were, in the state of the atmosphere, alternatives which, anew, made the novice very uneasy. the wind kept in the condition of a stiff breeze all the time, and certain oscillations of the barometrical column indicated that it tended to freshen. dick sand then asked himself, not without apprehension, if he would be again forced to scud without sails. he had so much interest in keeping at least his top-sail, that he resolved to do so so long as it was not likely to be carried away. but, to secure the solidity of the masts, he had the shrouds and backstays hauled taut. above all, all unnecessary risk must be avoided, as the situation would become one of the gravest, if the "pilgrim" should be disabled by losing her masts.
once or twice, also, the barometer rising gave reason to fear that the wind might change point for point; that is to say, that it might pass to the east. it would then be necessary to sail close to the wind!
a new anxiety for dick sand. what should he do with a contrary wind? tack about? but if he was obliged to come to that, what new delays and what risks of being thrown into the offing.
happily those fears were not realized. the wind, after shifting for several days, blowing sometimes from the north, sometimes from the south, settled definitely in the west. but it was always a strong breeze, almost a gale, which strained the masting.
it was the 5th of april. so, then, more than two months had already elapsed since the "pilgrim" had left new zealand. for twenty days a contrary wind and long calms had retarded her course. then she was in a favorable condition to reach land rapidly. her speed must even have been very considerable during the tempest. dick sand estimated its average at not less than two hundred miles a day! how, then, had he not yet made the coast? did it flee before the "pilgrim?" it was absolutely inexplicable.
and, nevertheless, no land was signaled, though one of the blacks kept watch constantly in the crossbars.
dick sand often ascended there himself. there, with a telescope to his eyes, he sought to discover some appearance of mountains. the andes chain is very high. it was there in the zone of the clouds that he must seek some peak, emerging from the vapors of the horizon.
several times tom and his companions were deceived by false indications of land. they were only vapors of an odd form, which rose in the background. it happened sometimes that these honest men were obstinate in their belief; but, after a certain time, they were forced to acknowledge that they had been dupes of an optical illusion. the pretended land, moved away, changed form and finished by disappearing completely.
on the 6th of april there was no longer any doubt possible.
it was eight o'clock in the morning. dick sand had just ascended into the bars. at that moment the fogs were condensed under the first rays of the sun, and the horizon was pretty clearly defined.
from dick sand's lips escaped at last the so long expected cry:
"land! land before us!"
at that cry every one ran on deck, little jack, curious as folks are at that age, mrs. weldon, whose trials were going to cease with the landing, tom and his companions, who were at last going to set foot again on the american continent, cousin benedict himself, who had great hope of picking up quite a rich collection of new insects for himself.
negoro, alone, did not appear.
each then saw what dick sand had seen, some very distinctly, others with the eyes of faith. but on the part of the novice, so accustomed to observe sea horizons, there was no error possible, and an hour after, it must be allowed he was not deceived.
at a distance of about four miles to the east stretched a rather low coast, or at least what appeared such. it must be commanded behind by the high chain of the andes, but the last zone of clouds did not allow the summits to be perceived.
the "pilgrim" sailed directly and rapidly to this coast, which grew larger to the eye.
two hours after it was only three miles away.
this part of the coast ended in the northeast by a pretty high cape, which covered a sort of roadstead protected from land winds. on the contrary, in the southeast, it lengthened out like a thin peninsula.
a few trees crowned a succession of low cliffs, which were then clearly defined under the sky. but it was evident, the geographical character of the country being given, that the high mountain chain of the andes formed their background.
moreover, no habitation in sight, no port, no river mouth, which might serve as a harbor for a vessel.
at that moment the "pilgrim" was running right on the land. with the reduced sail which she carried, the winds driving her to the coast, dick sand would not be able to set off from it.
in front lay a long band of reefs, on which the sea was foaming all white. they saw the waves unfurl half way up the cliffs. there must be a monstrous surf there.
dick sand, after remaining on the forecastle to observe the coast, returned aft, and, without saying a word, he took the helm.
the wind was freshening all the time. the schooner was soon only a mile from the shore.
dick sand then perceived a sort of little cove, into which he resolved to steer; but, before reaching it, he must cross a line of reefs, among which it would be difficult to follow a channel. the surf indicated that the water was shallow everywhere.
at that moment dingo, who was going backwards and forwards on the deck, dashed forward, and, looking at the land, gave some lamentable barks. one would say that the dog recognized the coast, and that its instinct recalled some sad remembrance.
negoro must have heard it, for an irresistible sentiment led him out of his cabin; and although he had reason to fear the dog, he came almost immediately to lean on the netting.
very fortunately for him dingo, whose sad barks were all the time being addressed to that land, did not perceive him.
negoro looked at that furious surf, and that did not appear to frighten him. mrs. weldon, who was looking at him, thought she saw his face redden a little, and that for an instant his features were contracted.
then, did negoro know this point of the continent where the winds were driving the "pilgrim?"
at that moment dick sand left the wheel, which he gave back to old tom.
for a last time he came to look at the cove, which gradually opened.
then:
"mrs. weldon," said he, in a firm voice, "i have no longer any hope of finding a harbor! before half an hour, in spite of all my efforts, the 'pilgrim' will be on the reefs! we must run aground! i shall not bring the ship into port! i am forced to lose her to save you! but, between your safety and hers, i do not hesitate!"
"you have done all that depended on you, dick?" asked mrs. weldon.
"all," replied the young novice.
and at once he made his preparations for stranding the ship.
first of all, mrs. weldon, jack, cousin benedict and nan, must put on life-preservers. dick sand, tom and the blacks, good swimmers, also took measures to gain the coast, in case they should be precipitated into the sea.
hercules would take charge of mrs. weldon. the novice took little jack under his care.
cousin benedict, very tranquil, however, reappeared on the deck with his entomologist box strapped to his shoulder. the novice commended him to bat and austin. as to negoro, his singular calmness said plainly enough that he had no need of anybody's aid.
dick sand, by a supreme precaution, had also brought on the forecastle ten barrels of the cargo containing whale's oil.
that oil, properly poured the moment the "pilgrim" would be in the surf, ought to calm the sea for an instant, in lubricating, so to say, the molecules of water, and that operation would perhaps facilitate the ship's passage between the reefs. dick sand did not wish to neglect anything which might secure the common safety.
all these precautions taken, the novice returned to take his place at the wheel.
the "pilgrim" was only two cables' lengths from the coast, that is, almost touching the reefs, her starboard side already bathed in the white foam of the surf. each moment the novice thought that the vessel's keel was going to strike some rocky bottom.
suddenly, dick sand knew, by a change in the color of the water, that a channel lengthened out among the reefs. he must enter it bravely without hesitating, so as to make the coast as near as possible to the shore.
the novice did not hesitate. a movement of the helm thrust the ship into the narrow and sinuous channel. in this place the sea was still more furious, and the waves dashed on the deck.
the blacks were posted forward, near the barrels, waiting for the novice's orders.
"pour the oil—pour!" exclaimed dick sand.
under this oil, which was poured on it in quantities, the sea grew calm, as by enchantment, only to become more terrible again a moment after.
the "pilgrim" glided rapidly over those lubricated waters and headed straight for the shore.
suddenly a shock took place. the ship, lifted by a formidable wave, had just stranded, and her masting had fallen without wounding anybody.
the "pilgrim's" hull, damaged by the collision, was invaded by the water with extreme violence. but the shore was only half a cable's length off, and a chain of small blackish rocks enabled it to be reached quite easily.
so, ten minutes after, all those carried by the "pilgrim" had landed at the foot of the cliff.
