Page:Dick Sands the Boy Captain.djvu/166

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140 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. time over the chart ; "how far îs this from the coast of America?" " Thirty-five degrees," answered Dick ; " somewhere about 2500 miles." " What ever do you mean ?" rejolned the lady astonished ; "if the 'Filgrim' is still 2500 miles from shore, she has posittvely made no progress at ail. Impossible I" In thoughtful perplexity, Dick passed his hand across his brow. He did net kaow what to say. After an ioter- val of silence, he said, — " I hâve no account to give for the strange delay. It is inexplicable to myself, except upon that one hypothesis, which I cannot resist, that the readings of the compass, somehow or othfer, hâve been wrong." He relapsed into silence; Then, brightening up, he added, — " But, thank God ! at least we hâve now the satisfaction of knowing where we really are ; we are no longer lest upon the wide Pacifie ; if only this hurrîcane will cease, long as the distance seems, we are on our proper course to the shores of America." The tone of confidence wîth which the youthful captain spoke had the effect of inspiring new hope into ail who heard him ; their spirits rose, and to theîr sanguine mood it seemed as if they were approaching to the end of ail their troubles, and had hardly more to do than to await the tuming of a tide to bring them into a glad proximity toport Easter Island, of which the true name is Vai-Hoo, was discovered by David in 1686 and vîsîted by Cook and Lapérouse. It lies in lat 27° S., and long. 112 E.; conse- quently, it was évident that during the raging of the bur- ricane the schooner had been driven northwards no less than fifteen degrees. Far away, however, as she was from shore, the wïnd could hardly fail within ten days to cany ber within sight of land ; and then, if the storm had wom itself out, (as probably it would,] the " Pîlgrim " would again hoist saîl, and make her way into some port with safety. Anyhow, the discovery of his true position