That was truly inexplicable.
On February 10th, the wind from the northeast, which, till then, had always succeeded those long and overwhelming calms, during which the "Pilgrim" was stationary, began to abate perceptibly.

Captain Hull then could hope that a change in the direction of the atmospheric currents was going to take place.

Perhaps the schooner would finally sail with the wind.

It was still only nineteen days since her departure from the port of Auckland.

The delay was not yet of much account, and, with a favorable wind, the "Pilgrim," well rigged, would easily make up for lost time.