The first feeling experienced by those on board the "Pilgrim," after witnessing the terrible disaster was one of grief and horror at the fearful death that had befallen the victims. Captain Hull¹ and his men had been swept away before their very eyes, and they had been powerless to assist. Not one was saved; the schooner² had reached the spot too late to offer the least resistance to the attacks of the formidable sea-monster.  
When Dick and the negroes returned to the ship after their hopeless search, with only the corroboration³ of their sad foreboding that captain and crew had disappeared for ever, Mrs. Weldon sank upon her knees; little Jack⁴ knelt beside her crying bitterly; and Dick, old Nan, and all the negroes stood reverently⁵ around her whilst with great devoutness⁶ the lady offered up the prayer of commendation for the souls of the departing. All sympathized heartily⁷ with her supplications, nor was there any diminution⁸ of their fervour when she proceeded to implore⁹ that the survivors¹⁰ might have strength and courage for their own hour of need.
 
The situation was indeed very grave. Here was the "Pilgrim" in the middle of the Pacific, hundreds of miles away from the nearest land, without captain, without crew, at the mercy of the wind and waves. It was a strange fatality¹¹ that had brought the whale across their path; it was a fatality stranger still that had induced her captain, a man of no ordinary prudence¹², to risk even his life for the sake of making good a deficient¹³ cargo¹⁴. It was an event almost unknown in the annals of whale-fishing that not a single man in the whale-boat should escape alive; nevertheless, it was all too true; and now, of all those left on board, Dick Sands, the apprentice¹⁶-boy of fifteen years of age, was the sole individual who had the slightest knowledge of the management of a ship; the negroes, brave and willing as they were, were perfectly¹⁷ ignorant of seamen¹⁸'s duties; and, to crown all, here was a lady with her child on board, for whose safety the commander of the vessel¹⁹ would be held responsible.
 
Such were the facts which presented themselves to the mind of Dick as, with folded arms, he stood gazing gloomily at the spot where Captain Hull, his esteemed²⁰ benefactor²¹, had sunk to rise no more. The lad raised his eyes sadly; he scanned the horizon with the vain hope that he might perchance descry²² some passing vessel to which he could confide²³ Mrs. Weldon and her son; for himself, his mind was made up; he had already resolved that nothing should induce him to quit the "Pilgrim" until he had exhausted²⁴ every energy in trying to carry her into port.
 
The ocean was all deserted²⁵. Since the disappearance²⁶ of the whale nothing had broken the monotonous²⁷ surface either of sea or sky. The apprentice, short as his experience was, knew enough to be aware that he was far out of the common track alike of merchantmen or whalers; he would not buoy²⁸ himself up with false expectations; he would look his situation full and fairly in the face; he would do his best, and trust hopefully in guidance from the Power above.
 
Thus absorbed in his meditations²⁹ he did not observe that he was not alone. Negoro, who had gone below immediately after the catastrophe³⁰, had again come back upon deck. What this mysterious character had felt upon witnessing the awful calamity³¹ it would be impossible to say. Although with his eye he had keenly taken in every detail of the melancholy³² spectacle, every muscle of, his face had remained unmoved; not a gesture, not a word betrayed the least emotion. 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 stern, where Dick Sands was pondering over the responsibilities of his own position, and stood looking towards the apprentice without interrupting his reverie.
 
Catching³³ sight of him, Dick roused himself in an instant, and said,-
 
"You want to speak to me?"
 
"I must speak either to the captain or the boatswain," 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 fellow insolently³⁴.
 
"From me," promptly³⁵ rejoined the apprentice.
 
"From you! from a boy of fifteen?"
 
"Yes, from me," repeated Dick, in a firm and resolute³⁶ voice, looking at the man until he recoiled³⁷ under his gaze. "From me"
 
Mrs. Weldon had heard what passed.
 
"I wish every one on board to understand," she interposed, "that Dick Sands is captain now. Orders must be taken from............