In this labyrinth they dodged and worried for eighteen days, until a sudden chop in the wind gave the captain a chance, of which he promptly availed himself; and in forty hours they sighted Terra del Fuego.
During this time the rescued crew, having recovered from the effects of their hardships, fell into the work of the ship, and took their turns with the Yankee seamen.

The brig was short-handed; but now, trimmed and handled by a full crew with the _Proserpine's_ men, who were first-class seamen, and worked with a will, because work was no longer a duty, she exhibited a speed the captain had almost forgotten was in the craft.

Now speed at sea means economy, for every day added to a voyage is so much off the profits.

Slocum was part owner of the vessel, and shrewdly alive to the value of the seamen.

When about three hundred miles south of Buenos Ayres, Wylie proposed that they should be landed there, from whence they might be transshipped to a vessel bound for home.
This was objected to by Slocum, on the ground that, by such a deviation from his course, he must lose three days, and the port dues at Buenos Ayres were heavy.
Wylie undertook that the house of Wardlaw & Son should indemnify the brig for all expenses and losses incurred.
Still the American hesitated; at last he honestly told Wylie he wished to keep the men; he liked them, they liked him.