Now, having reached Australia, Duncan had about half a mind, more or less, to try his luck at the gold diggings.
He broached the subject to Captain Wilson.
"Well," replied the skipper, "mind, though I should be grieved to part with you, I would rather put another spoke in your wheel than hinder you, if I thought there was the ghost of a chance of your making your fortune. But I don't think there is."
"Then we shall be advised by you," said Duncan.
So after a very pleasant time spent in Australia the Ocean's Pride spread her wings once more to the breeze and sailed for distant Japan.
Thence homewards round stormy Cape Horn. It took them six weeks to weather the Cape, so close was the ice.
But worse was to befall them, alas! than this.
They were now bearing up for home. Right cheerily too, for they had caught the trades, and finally fell into the doldrums in crossing the equator.
Here they tumbled about for no less than three weeks, not a breath of wind blowing all this time to help them along.
But it came at last, and they were free.