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 I50 DICK SANDS, THE BOT CAPTAIN. "Ah, well ; we will see ail ^bout that in due timV Mis. Weldon said, smiliag ; and, after a short pause, added, " At one time, Dick, you seemed to hâve rather a dread of the shore." "Quite tnie," answered Dick ; " but now I am in hopa we may fall in with some pasaing vessel ; we want to hâve a confirmation as to our tnie position. I cannot tell you how surprised I am that we hâve not corne across a single vesseL But when we near the land we shall be able to get a pilot" " But what will happen if we fail to get a pilot ? " was Mrs. Weldon's inquiry. She was anxîous to leam how lar the lad was prepared to meet any emergency. With unhesitating promptness Dick replïed, — " Why, then, unless the weather takes the control of tiie ship eut of my hands, I must patiently follow the coast until I corne to a harbour of refuge. But if the wind should freshen, I should hâve to adopt other measures." " What then, Dick, what then ? " persisted Mrs. Wéldon. The boy's brow knitted îtself together in resolution, and he said deliberately, — " I should run the ship aground." Mrs. Weldon started. " However," Dick continued, " there is no reason to apprehend this. The weather has mended and is likely to mend. And wby should we fear about finding a pilot? Let us hope ail will be well." Mrs. Weldon at least had satîsfîcd herself on one point. She had ascertained that although Dick did not anticipate disaster, yet he was prepared in the case of emergency to resort to measures from which any but the most experienced se aman would shrînk, But although Dick's equanimity had bcen successful in allaytng any nïîsgîvings on Mrs. Weldon's part, it must be owned that the condition of the atmosphère caused him very serious uneasiness. The wind remained uncomfortably hïgh, and the barometer gave very omtnous indications that it would ère long freshen stîll more. Dick dreaded that the time was