Mrs. Weldon pressed the young man's hand.
Then, fatigued with all the emotions of that last hour, she sought her cabin, and fell into a sort of painful drowsiness, which was not sleep.
The new crew remained on the schooner's deck, watching on the forecastle, and ready to obey Dick Sand's orders—that is to say, to change the set of the sails according to the variations of the wind; but so long as the breeze kept both that force and that direction, there would be positively nothing to do.
During all this time what had become of Cousin Benedict?
Cousin Benedict was occupied in studying with a magnifying glass an articulate which he had at last found on board—a simple orthopter, whose head disappeared under the prothorax; an insect with flat elytrums, with round abdomen, with rather long wings, which belonged to the family of the roaches, and to the species of American cockroaches.
It was exactly while ferreting in Negoro's kitchen, that he had made that precious discovery, and at the moment when the cook was going to crush the said insect pitilessly.
Thence anger, which, indeed, Negoro took no notice of.
But this Cousin Benedict, did he know what change had taken place on board since the moment when Captain Hull and his companions had commenced that fatal whale-fishing?
Yes, certainly. He was even on the deck when the
"Pilgrim" arrived in sight of the remains of the whale-boat.
The schooner's crew had then perished before his eyes.
To pretend that this catastrophe had not affected him, would be to accuse his heart.
That pity for others that all people feel, he had certainly experienced it.
He was equally moved by his cousin's situation.
He had come to press Mrs. Weldon's hand, as if to say to her:
"Do not be afraid.
I am here.
I am left to you."
Then Cousin Benedict had turned toward his cabin, doubtless so as to reflect on the consequences of this disastrous event, and on the energetic measures that he must take.
But on his way he had met the cockroach in question, and his desire was—held, however, against certain entomologists—to prove the cockroaches of the phoraspe species, remarkable for their colors, have very different habits from cockroaches properly so called; he had given himself up to the study, forgetting both that there had been a Captain Hull in command of the "Pilgrim," and that that unfortunate had just perished with his crew.
The cockroach absorbed him entirely. He did not admire it less, and he made as much time over it as if that horrible insect had been a golden beetle.
The life on board had then returned to its usual course, though every one would remain for a long time yet under the effects of such a keen and unforeseen catastrophe.
During this day Dick Sand was everywhere, so that everything should be in its place, and that he could be prepared for the smallest contingency.
The blacks obeyed him with zeal.
The most perfect order reigned on board the "Pilgrim."
It might then be hoped that all would go well.
On his side, Negoro made no other attempt to resist Dick Sand's authority.
He appeared to have tacitly recognized him.
Occupied as usual in his narrow kitchen, he was not seen more than before.
Besides, at the least infraction—at the first symptom of insubordination, Dick Sand was determined to send him to the hold for the rest of the passage.
At a sign from him, Hercules would take the head cook by the skin of the neck; that would not have taken long.
In that case, Nan, who knew how to cook, would replace the cook in his functions.
Negoro then could say to himself that he was indispensable, and, as he was closely watched, he seemed unwilling to give any cause of complaint.
The wind, though growing stronger till evening, did not necessitate any change in the "Pilgrim's" sails.
Her solid masting, her iron rigging, which was in good condition, would enable her to bear in this condition even a stronger breeze.
During the night it is often the custom to lessen the sails, and particularly to take in the high sails, fore-staff, top-sail, royal, etc.
That is prudent, in case some squall of wind should come up suddenly.
But Dick Sand believed he could dispense with this precaution. The state of the atmosphere indicated nothing of the kind, and besides, the young novice determined to pass the first night on the deck, intending to have an eye to everything.
Then the progress was more rapid, and he longed to be in less desolate parts.
It has been said that the log and the compass were the only instruments which Dick Sand could use, so as to estimate approximately the way made by the
"Pilgrim."
During this day the novice threw the log every half-hour, and he noted the indications furnished by the instrument.
As to the instrument which bears the name of compass, there were two on board. One was placed in the binnacle, under the eyes of the man at the helm.
Its dial, lighted by day by the diurnal light, by night by two side-lamps, indicated at every moment which way the ship headed—that is, the direction she followed.
The other compass was an inverted one, fixed to the bars of the cabin which Captain Hull formerly occupied.
By that means, without leaving his chamber, he could always know if the route given was exactly followed, if the man at the helm, from ignorance or negligence, allowed the ship to make too great lurches.
Besides, there is no ship employed in long voyages which does not possess at least two compasses, as she has two chronometers.
It is necessary to compare these instruments with each other, and, consequently, control their indications.
The "Pilgrim" was then sufficiently provided for in that respect, and Dick Sand charged his men to take the greatest care of the two compasses, which were so necessary to him.
Now, unfortunately, during the night of the 12th to the 13th of February, while the novice was on watch, and holding the wheel of the helm, a sad accident took place.