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 ascertain¹ 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 fixed² time. This useful instrument, very easily handled, could render the most useful services, and the blacks were perfectly³ adapted to work it.

 

A single cause of error would interfere—the currents. To combat it, reckoning would be insufficient⁴; astronomical⁵ observations alone would enable one to render an exact calculation from it. Now, those observations the young novice⁶ was still unable to make.

 

For an instant Dick Sand had thought of bringing the "Pilgrim" back to New Zealand. The passage would be shorter, and he would certainly have done it if the wind, which, till then, had been contrary, had not become favorable. Better worth while then to steer⁸ for America.

 

In fact, the wind had changed almost to the contrary direction, and now it blew from the northwest with a tendency to freshen. It was then necessary to profit by it and make all the headway possible.

 

So Dick Sand prepared to put the "Pilgrim" under full sail.

 

In a schooner⁹ brig-rigged, the foremast carries four square sails; the foresail, on the lower mast; above, the top-sail, on the topmast; then, on the top-gallant mast, a top-sail and a royal.

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