"Then you do not count on bringing the 'Pilgrim' to San Francisco?"
asked Mrs. Weldon.

"Yes, after having put you on shore, Mrs. Weldon. If we can procure an
officer and a crew, we are going to discharge our cargo at Valparaiso,
as Captain Hull would have done. Then we shall return to our own port.
But that would delay you too much, and, though very sorry to be
separated from you----"

"Well, Dick," replied Mrs. Weldon, "we shall see later what must be
done. Tell me, you seem to fear the dangers which the land presents."

"In fact, they are to be feared," replied the novice, "but I am always
hoping to meet some ship in these parts, and I am even very much
surprised at not seeing any. If only one should pass, we would enter
into communication with her; she would give us our exact situation,
which would greatly facilitate our arrival in sight of land."

"Are there not pilots who do service along this coast?" asked Mrs.
Weldon.

"There ought to be," replied Dick Sand, "but much nearer land. We must
then continue to approach it."

"And if we do not meet a pilot?" asked Mrs. Weldon, who kept on
questioning him in order to know how the young novice would prepare for
all contingencies.

"In that case, Mrs. Weldon, either the weather will be clear, the wind