"You will take your place at the wheel, with our friend Bat, and you will help him to steer." If little Jack was proud of being assistant helmsman on the "Pilgrim," it is superfluous to say so.
"Now to work," continued Dick Sand, "and we must expose ourselves as little as possible." The blacks, guided by the novice, went to work at once.

To fasten a top-sail to its yard presented some difficulties for Tom and his companions.

First the rolled up sail must be hoisted, then fastened to the yard.
However, Dick Sand commanded so well, and was so well obeyed, that after an hour's work the sail was fastened to its yard, the yard hoisted, and the top-sail properly set with two reefs.
As to the foresail and the second jib, which had been furled before the tempest, those sails were set without a great deal of trouble, in spite of the force of the wind.
At last, on that day, at ten o'clock in the morning, the "Pilgrim" was sailing under her foresail, her top-sail, and her jib.
Dick Sand had not judged it prudent to set more sail.

The canvas which he carried ought to assure him, as long as the wind did not moderate, a speed of at least two hundred miles in twenty-four hours, and he did not need any greater to reach the American coast before ten days.
The novice was indeed satisfied when, returning to the wheel, he again took his post, after thanking Master Jack, assistant helmsman of the "Pilgrim." He was no longer at the mercy of the waves.

He was making headway.