"S. V."

           Meanwhile,the"Pilgrim"hadcontinuedhercourse,makingfortheeastasmuchaspossible.ThislamentablecontinuanceofcalmsdidnotceasetotroubleCaptainHull—notthathewasuneasyabouttwoorthreeweeks’delayinapassagefromNewZealandtoValparaiso,butbecauseoftheextrafatiguewhichthisdelaymightbringtohisladypassenger.

           Meanwhile,Mrs.Weldondidnotcomplain,andphilosophicallytookhermisfortuneinpatience.

           Thatsameday,February2d,towardevening,thewreckwaslostsightof.

           CaptainHullwastroubled,inthefirstplace,toaccommodateTomandhiscompanionsasconvenientlyaspossible.Thecrew’squartersonthe"Pilgrim,"builtonthedeckintheformofa"roufle,"wouldbetoosmalltoholdthem.Anarrangementwasthenmadetolodgethemundertheforecastle.Besides,thesehonestmen,accustomedtorudelabors,couldnotbehardtoplease,andwithfineweather,warmandsalubrious,thissleeping-placeoughttosufficeforthewholepassage.

           Thelifeonboard,shakenforamomentfromitsmonotonybythisincident,thenwentonasusual.

           Tom,Austin,Bat,Acteon,andHerculeswouldindeedwishtomakethemselvesuseful.Butwiththeseconstantwinds,thesailsonceset,therewasnothingmoretodo.Meanwhile,whentherewasaveeringabout,theoldblackandhiscompanionshastenedtogiveahandtothecrew,anditmustbeconfessedthatwhenthecolossalHerculeshauledsomerope,theywereawareofit.Thisvigorousnegro,sixfeethigh,broughtinatackleallbyhimself.