92 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. properly controlling the ship's course. He felt the want of a few more years' expérience. If only he had had longer practice he would, he thought, hâve been as able as Captaîn Hull himself, to use the sextant, to take the altitude of the stars, to read the time from his chronometer ; sun, moon, and planets, should hâve been his guides ; from the firma- ment, as from a dial-plate, he would hâve gathered the teachings of his true position ; but ail this was beyond him as yet ; his knowledge went no further than the use of the log and compass, and by thèse alone he must be content to make hîs reckonings. But he kept up his courage, and did not permit himself for one moment to despair of ultimate success. Mrs. Weldon needed little pénétration to recpgnîze the thoughts which were passing in the mind of the resolute youth. " I see you havô come to your décision, Dîck," she said. " The command of the ship is in your hands ; no fear but that you will do your duty ; and Tom, and the rest of them, no doubt, will render you every assistance in their power." " Yes, Mrs. Weldon," rejoîned Dick brightly ; " and before long I shall hope to make them good seamen. If only the weather lasts fair, everything will go on well enough ; and if the weather turns out bad, we must not despond ; we will get safe ashore." He paused a moment and added reverently, — " God helping us." Mrs. Weldon procceded to inquire whether he had any means of ascertaining the ** Pilgrim's " présent position. He replied that the ship's chart would at once settle that. Captain Hull had kept the reckoning accurately right up to the preceding day. "And what do you propose to do next ?" she asked. "Of course you understand that in our présent circum- stances we are not in the least bound to go to Valparaiso if there is a nearer port which we could reach." " Certainly not," replied Dick ; " and therefore it is my Intention to saii due east, as by (oWovfltv^ that course we
