Page:Dick Sands the Boy Captain.djvu/117

 DICK'S PROMOTION. 91 betrayed the least émotion. Even if he had heard, he had taken no part, nor evinced the faintest interest in Mrs. Weldon's outpouring of prayer. He had made his way to the stem, where Dick Sands was ponderîng over the responsibilîties of his own position, and stood looking towards the apprentice without inter- rupting his rêverie. Catching sight of him, Dick roused himself in an instant, and said,— " You want to speak to me ?" answered the man. " Negoro," said Dick sharply, " you know as well as I do, that they are both drowned." "Then where am I to get my orders from?" asked the feiiow insoiently. " From you ! from a boy of fifteen ?" " Yes, from me," repeated Dick, in a firm and resolute voîce, looking at the man until he recoiled under his gaze. " From me!' Mrs. Weldon had heard what passed. " I wish every one on board to understand," she inter- posed, " that Dick Sands is captain now. Orders must be taken from him, and they must be obeyed." Negoro frowned, bit his lip, sneered, and having muttered something that was unintclligible, made his way back to his cabin. Mcantime, the schooner under the freshening breeze had been carried beyond the shoal of the crustaceans. Dick cast his eyc first at the sails, thon along the deck, and seemed to become more and more alive to the weight of the obligation that had fallcn upon him ; but his heart did not fail him ; he was conscious that the hopes of the pas- sengers centred in himself, and he was determined to let them see that he would do his best not to disappoint them. Although he was satisfied of his capability, with the help of thé negroes, to manipulate the sails, he was conscious ot a defect ol tbe scientiâc Imowledge which was tec^vivsvV.'^ lot
 * I must speak either to the captaîn or the boatswain,"
 * From me," promptly rejoined the apprentice.