Dick Sand, A Captain at Fifteen by Jules Verne. Short summary

5 seconds

After the death of the whaling ship’s captain, a fifteen-year-old boy took command of the ship. The crew of the sailing ship had to overcome many difficulties on their way to the shores of America.

1 minute

Captain Goole’s whaling brig sailed from the shores of New Zealand. Beside him on the ship were five brave sailors, twelve-year-old orphan Dick Send, cook Negoreau, the ship owner’s wife, Miss Weldon, her son, a cousin, and a nanny.

The ship was on its way to America. A few days later, the crew picked up shipwrecked black U.S. citizens at sea. A couple more days later, Gul and a crew of five sailors set out in a dinghy to catch a whale. During the fishery, the heroes died.

Dick took command of the sailing boat. The young man’s inexperience was taken advantage of by Negoreau, who was in fact a slave trader. Negoro escaped from prison and, under the guise of a cook, joined the ship.

Negoro became Dick’s counselor. He led the unsuspecting men to the African mainland, where the heroes overcame many difficulties before they were able to continue their voyage. Negoro, on the other hand, was punished in full for his misdeeds. Upon their return to America, the Weldons adopted Dick. At eighteen, the young man became a captain.