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Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 
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BOOKS BY JULES VERNE. 
 
 Large Crown 8vo . . 
 
 f Containing 350 to 600pp. 
 J and from 50 to 100 
 I full-page illustrations. 
 
 1 Containing the whole of the 
 text with some illustrations. 
 
 
 
 In very 
 
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 WORKS. 
 
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 Twenty Thousand Leagues 
 
 1 
 
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 under the Sea. Part I. 
 
 J 
 
 10 6 
 
 5 
 
 
 
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 2 vols., 
 
 Is. each. 
 
 Ditto Part II. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Hector Servadac . . . 
 
 
 10 6 
 
 5 
 
 
 
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 2 vols., 
 
 Is. each. 
 
 The Fur Country . . . 
 
 
 10 G 
 
 5 
 
 
 
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 From the Earth to the 
 
 1 
 
 r 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Moon and a Trip round 
 
 10 G 
 
 5 
 
 
 
 2 vols., 2s. 
 
 2 vols., 
 
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 each. 
 
 
 
 Michael Strogoff, the 
 Courier of the Czar . . 
 
 i 
 
 10 6 
 
 5 
 
 
 
 3 G 
 
 2 vols., 
 
 Is. each. 
 
 Dick Sands, the Boy 
 
 i 
 
 10 G 
 
 5 
 
 
 
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 2 vols"., 
 
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 Five Weeks in a Balloon . 
 
 
 7 6 
 
 3 
 
 6 
 
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 Adventures of Three En- 
 
 ) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 glishmen and Three 
 
 1 
 
 7 6 
 
 3 
 
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 Around the World in 
 Eighty Days .... 
 
 } 
 
 7 6 
 
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 A Floating City .... 
 
 i 
 
 
 
 
 r 2 
 
 I 2 
 
 1 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 The Blockade Runners 
 
 7 G 
 
 3 
 
 6 
 
 Dr. Ox's Experiment . . 
 
 1 
 i 
 
 
 
 
 Master Zacharius . . . 
 
 
 
 
 \) 2 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 A Drama in the Air . . 
 
 7 6 
 
 3 
 
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 A Winter amid the Tee 
 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 The Survivors of the 
 
 i 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 7 6 
 
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 2 vols. 
 
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 i 
 
 12 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 The Mystekious Island, 
 
 \ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 3 vols. :— 
 
 
 22 G 
 
 10 
 
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 6 
 
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 Vol. I. Dropped from the 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 7 6 
 
 3 
 
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 1 
 
 
 
 Vol. II. Abandoned . . 
 
 
 7 G 
 
 3 
 
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 2 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 Vol. III. Secret of the Is- 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 K 
 
 7 6 
 
 3 
 
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 2 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 The Child of the Cavern . 
 
 
 7 G 
 
 3 
 
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 2 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 The Begum's Fortune . . 
 
 
 7 G 
 
 3 
 
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 The Tribulations of a 
 
 \ 
 
 7 6 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 The SteamHouse,2vo1s.:- 
 
 I 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Vol. I. Demon of Cawnpore 
 
 7 6 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Vol.11. Tigers and Traitors 
 
 ) 
 
 7 G 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 The Giant Raft, 2 vols.: — 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Vol. I. Eight Hundred 
 
 1 
 
 7 6 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Leagues on the Amazon. 
 
 \ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Vol. II. The Cryptogram 
 
 1 
 
 7 6 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Celebrated Travels and Travellers. 3 vols. Demy 8vo, 0U0 pp., upwards of 100 
 full-page illustrations, 12s. 6d. ■ gilt edges, 14s. each : — 
 
 (1) The Exploration of the World. 
 
 (2) The Great Navigators op the Eighteenth Centubt. 
 
 (3) The Great Explorers op the Nineteenth Centubt. 
 
There is no hope. 
 
DICK SANDS 
 
 THE BOY CAPTAIN 
 
 BY 
 
 JULES VERNE. 
 
 PART I. 
 
 
 AUTHOR'S ILLUSTRATED EDITION. 
 
 I£ ontfo It : 
 SAMPSON LOW, MARSTON, SEARLE, & RIVINGTOtf, 
 
 CROWN BUILDINGS, 1 88, FLEET STREET. 
 1882. 
 
 \_All rights reserved.'] 
 
LONDON ! 
 
 gilbert and riv1ngton, umited, 
 st. John's square. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 N/wwwn/vw* 
 
 CHAP. 
 
 I. THE PILGRIM .... 
 
 II. THE APPRENTICE .... 
 
 III. A RESCUE 
 
 IV. THE SURVIVORS OF THE " WALDECK 
 
 v. dingo's sagacity 
 
 VI. A WHALE IN SIGHT . 
 VII. PREPARATIONS FOR AN ATTACK 
 VIII. A CATASTROPHE 
 IX. DICK'S PROMOTION 
 
 X. THE NEW CREW .... 
 XI. ROUGH WEATHER 
 
 XII. HOPE REVIVED .... 
 XIII. LAND AT LAST .... 
 
 XIV. ASHORE 
 
 XV. A STRANGER .... 
 
 XVI. THROUGH THE FOREST 
 
 XVII. MISGIVINGS 
 
 XVIII. A TERRIBLE DISCOVERY . . 
 
 PAGE 
 
 5 
 
 17 
 24 
 
 32 
 38 
 49 
 58 
 67 
 78 
 85 
 98 
 108 
 118 
 
 131 
 146 
 
 158 
 169 
 180 
 
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. 
 
 fwwwvwvrf 
 
 PAGE 
 
 there IS NO HOPE Frontispiece 
 
 COUSIN EENEDICT 12 
 
 THE CAPTAIN'S VOICE CAME FROM THE RETREATING BOAT 65 
 THE BOAT WAS WELL-NIGH FULL OF WATER . . .76 
 
 ALL THREE OF THEM FELL FLAT UPON THE DECK . . 88 
 
 THE SEA WAS FURIOUS 127 
 
 SURVEYING THE SHORE I30 
 
 THE ENTOMOLOGIST WAS SEEN MAKING HIS WAY DOWN 
 THE FACE OF THE CLIFF AT THE IMMINENT RISK OF 
 
 BREAKING HIS NECK . 142 
 
 "LOOK HERE! HERE ARE HANDS, MEN'S HANDS!" . . 187 
 
DICK SANDS, 
 
 THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 THE "PILGRIM." 
 
 On the 2nd of February, 1873, the " Pilgrim," a tight little 
 craft of 400 tons burden, lay in lat. 43 57' S. and long. 165 
 19' W. She was a schooner, the property of James W. 
 Weldon, a wealthy Californian ship-owner, who had fitted 
 her out at San Francisco, expressly for the whale-fisheries 
 in the southern seas. 
 
 James Weldon was accustomed every season to send his 
 whalers both to the Arctic regions beyond Behring Straits, 
 and to the Antarctic Ocean below Tasmania and Cape 
 Horn ; and the " Pilgrim," although one of the smallest, 
 was one of the best vessels of its class ; her sailing-powers 
 were splendid, and her rigging was so adroitly adapted that 
 with a very small crew she might venture without risk within 
 sight of the impenetrable ice-fields of the southern hemi- 
 sphere : under skilful guidance she could dauntlessly thread 
 her way amongst the drifting icebergs that, lessened though 
 they were by perpetual shocks and undermined by warm 
 currents, made their way northwards as far as the parallel of 
 
6 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 New Zealand or the Cape of Good Hope, to a latitude cor- 
 responding to which in the northern hemisphere they are 
 never seen, having already melted away in the depths of the 
 Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. 
 
 For several years the command of the " Pilgrim '' had been 
 entrusted to Captain Hull, an experienced seaman, and one 
 of the most dexterous harpooners in Weldon's service. The 
 crew consisted of five sailors and an apprentice. This 
 number, of course, was quite insufficient for the process of 
 whale-fishing, which requires a large crew for manning 
 the whale-boats and for cutting up the whales after they are 
 captured ; but Weldon, following the example of other owners, 
 found it more economical to embark at San Francisco only 
 just enough men to work the ship to New Zealand, where, 
 from the promiscuous gathering of seamen of well-nigh every 
 nationality, and of needy emigrants, the captain had no 
 difficulty in engaging as many whalemen as he wanted for 
 the season. This method of hiring men who could be at 
 once discharged when their services were no longer required 
 had proved altogether to be the most profitable and con- 
 venient. 
 
 The " Pilgrim '■' had now just completed her annual voyage 
 to the Antarctic circle. It was not, however, with her proper 
 quota of oil-barrels full to the brim, nor yet with an ample 
 cargo of cut and uncut whalebone, that she was thus far on 
 her way back. The time, indeed, for a good haul was past ; 
 the repeated and vigorous attacks upon the cetaceans had 
 made them very scarce ; the whale known as " the Right 
 whale," the " Nord-kapper " of the northern fisheries, the 
 ,( Sulpher-boltone" of the southern, was hardly ever to be 
 seen ; and latterly the whalers had had no alternative but to 
 direct their efforts against the Finback or Jubarte, a gigantic 
 mammal, encounter with which is always attended with con- 
 siderable danger. 
 
 So scanty this year had been the supply of whales that 
 Captain Hull had resolved next year to push his way into 
 
THE "PILGRIM." 7 
 
 far more southern latitudes ; even, if necessary, to advance 
 to the regions known as Clarie and Addlie Lands, of which 
 the discovery, though claimed by the American navigator 
 Wilkes, belongs by right to the illustrious Frenchman 
 Dumont d'Urville, the commander of the "Astrolabe'' and 
 the " Zelee." 
 
 The season had been exceptionally unfortunate for the 
 " Pilgrim.'' At the beginning of January, almost in the 
 height of the southern summer, long before the ordinary time 
 for the whalers' return, Captain Hull had been obliged to 
 abandon his fishing-quarters. His hired crew, all men 
 of more than doubtful character, had given signs of such 
 insubordination as threatened to end in mutiny ; and he had 
 become aware that he must part company with them on the 
 earliest possible opportunity. Accordingly, without delay, 
 the bow of the "Pilgrim" was directed to the north-west, 
 towards New Zealand, which was sighted on the 15th of 
 January, and on reaching Waitemata, the port of Auckland 
 in the Hauraki Gulf on the east coast of North Island, the 
 whole of the gang was peremptorily discharged. 
 
 The ship's crew were more than dissatisfied. They were 
 angry. Never before had they returned with so meagre a 
 haul. They ought to have had at least two hundred barrels 
 more. The captain himself experienced all the mortification 
 of an ardent sportsman who for the first time in his life 
 brings home a half-empty bag ; and there was a general 
 spirit of animosity against the rascals whose rebellion had so 
 entirely marred the success of the expedition. 
 
 Captain Hull did everything in his power to repair the 
 disappointment ; he made every effort to engage a fresh 
 gang ; but it was too late ; every available seaman had long 
 since been carried off to the fisheries. Finding therefore 
 that all hope of making good the deficiency in his cargo 
 must be resigned, he was on the point of leaving Auckland 
 alone with his crew, when he was met by a request with 
 which he felt himself bound to comply. 
 
8 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 It had chanced that James Weldon, on one of those jour- 
 neys which were necessitated by the nature of his business, 
 had brought with him his wife, his son Jack a child of five 
 years of age, and a relation of the family who was generally 
 known by the name of Cousin Benedict. Weldon had of 
 course intended that his family should accompany him on 
 his return home to San Francisco ; but little Jack was taken 
 so seriously ill that his father, whose affairs demanded his 
 immediate return, was obliged to leave him behind at Auck- 
 land with his wife and Cousin Benedict. 
 
 Three months had passed away, little Jack was convales- 
 cent, and Mrs. Weldon, weary of her long separation from 
 her husband, was anxious to get home as soon as possible. 
 Her readiest way of reaching San Francisco was to cross to 
 Australia, and thence to take a passage in one of the vessels 
 of the '' Golden Age " Company, which run between Mel- 
 bourne and the Isthmus of Panama : on arriving in Panama 
 she would have to wait the departure of the next American 
 steamer of the line which maintains a regular communication 
 between the Isthmus and California. This route, however, 
 involved many stoppages and changes, such as are always 
 disagreeable and inconvenient for women and children, and 
 Mrs. Weldon was hesitating whether she should encounter 
 the journey, when she heard that her husband's vessel, the 
 "Pilgrim," had arrived at Auckland. Hastening to Captain 
 Hull, she begged him to take her with her little boy, Cousin 
 Benedict, and Nan, an old negress who had been her atten- 
 dant from her childhood, on board the " Pilgrim," and to 
 convey them to San Francisco direct. 
 
 " Was it not over-hazardous," asked the captain, " to veri- 
 iure upon a voyage of between 5000 and 6000 miles in so 
 small a sailing-vessel ? " 
 
 But Mrs. Weldon urged her request, and Captain Hull, 
 confident in the sea-going qualities of his craft, and antici- 
 pating at this season nothing but fair weather on either side 
 of the equator, gave his consent. 
 
THE " PILGRIM." 9 
 
 In order to provide as far as possible for the comfort of 
 the lady during a voyage that must occupy from forty to 
 fifty days, the captain placed his own cabin at her entire 
 disposal. 
 
 Everything promised well for a prosperous voyage. The 
 only hindrance that could be foreseen arose from the circum- 
 stance that the " Pilgrim " would have to put in at Valparaiso 
 for the purpose of unlading ; but that business once accom- 
 plished, she would continue her way along the American 
 coast with the assistance of the land breezes, which ordi- 
 narily make the proximity of those shores such agreeable 
 quarters for sailing. 
 
 Mrs. Weldon herself had accompanied her husband in 
 so many voyages, that she was quite inured to all the make- 
 shifts of a seafaring life, and was conscious of no misgiving 
 in embarking upon a vessel of such small tonnage. She was 
 a brave, high-spirited woman of about thirty years of age, in 
 the enjoyment of excellent health, and for her the sea had no 
 terrors. Aware that Captain Hull was an experienced man, 
 in whom her husband had the utmost confidence, and know- 
 ing that his ship was a substantial craft, registered as one of 
 the best of the American whalers, so far from entertaining 
 any mistrust as to her safety, she only rejoiced in the oppor- 
 tuneness of the chance which seemed to offer her a direct 
 and unbroken route to her destination. 
 
 Cousin Benedict, as a matter of course, was to accompany 
 her. He was about fifty ; but in spite of his mature age it 
 would have been considered the height of imprudence to 
 allow him to travel anywhere alone. Spare, lanky, with a 
 bony frame, with an enormous cranium, and a profusion of 
 hair, he was one of those amiable inoffensive savants who, 
 having once taken to gold spectacles, appear to have arrived 
 at a settled standard of age, and, however long they live after- 
 wards, seem never to be older than they have ever been. 
 
 Claiming a sort of kindredship with all the world, he was 
 universally known far beyond the pale of his own connexions, 
 
IO DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 by the name of" Cousin Benedict." In the ordinary concerns 
 of life nothing would ever have rendered him capable of 
 shifting for himself ; of his meals he would never think until 
 they were placed before him ; he had the appearance of 
 being utterly insensible to heat or cold ; he vegetated rather 
 than lived, and might not inaptly be compared to a tree 
 which, though healthy enough at its core, produces scant foli- 
 age and no fruit. His long arms and legs were in the way of 
 himself and everybody else ; yet no one could possibly treat 
 him with unkindness. As M. Prudhomme would say, "if 
 only he had been endowed with capability," he would have 
 rendered a service to any one in the world ; but helplessness 
 was his dominant characteristic ; helplessness was ingrained 
 into his very nature ; yet this very helplessness made him an 
 object of kind consideration rather than of contempt, and 
 Mrs. Weldon looked upon him as a kind of elder brother to 
 her little Jack. 
 
 It must not be supposed, however, that Cousin Benedict was 
 either idle or unoccupied. On the contrary, his whole time 
 was devoted to one absorbing passion for natural history. 
 Not that he had any large claim to be regarded properly as 
 a natural historian ; he had made no excursions over the 
 whole four districts of zoology, botany, mineralogy, and geo- 
 logy, into which the realms of natural history are commonly 
 divided ; indeed, he had no pretensions at all to be either a 
 botanist, a mineralogist, or a geologist ; his studies only 
 sufficed to make him a zoologist, and that in a very limited 
 sense. No Cuvier was he ; he did not aspire to decompose 
 animal life by analysis, and to recompose it by synthesis ; 
 his enthusiasm had not made him at all deeply versed in 
 vertebrata, mollusca, or radiata ; in fact, the vertebrata — 
 animals, birds, reptiles, fishes — had had no place in his re- 
 searches ; the mollusca — from the cephalopoda to the bryozia 
 — had had no attractions for him ; nor had he consumed the 
 midnight oil in investigating the radiata, the echinodermataj 
 acalephas, polypi, entozoa, or infusoria. 
 
Cousin Benedict. 
 
THE "PILGRIM." 13 
 
 No ; Cousin Benedict's interest began and ended with the 
 articulata ; and it must be owned at once that his studies 
 were very far from embracing all the range of the six classes 
 into which " articulata '■' are subdivided ; viz., the insecta, the 
 myriapoda, the arachnida, the Crustacea, the cirrhopoda, and 
 theanelides ; and he was utterly unable in scientific language 
 to distinguish a worm from a leech, an earwig from a sea- 
 acorn, a spider from a scorpion, a shrimp from a frog-hopper, 
 or a galley-worm from a centipede. 
 
 To confess the plain truth, Cousin Benedict was an amateur 
 entomologist, and nothing more. 
 
 Entomology, it may be asserted, is a wide science ; it 
 embraces the whole division of the articulata ; but our friend 
 was an entomologist only in the ftmited sense of the popular 
 acceptation of the word ; that is to say, he was an observer 
 and collector of insects, meaning by " insects " those articu- 
 lata which have bodies consisting of a number of concentric 
 movable rings, forming three distinct segments, each with a 
 pair of legs, and which are scientifically designated as hexa- 
 pods. 
 
 To this extent was Cousin Benedict an entomologist ; and 
 when it is remembered that the class of insecta of which he 
 had grown up to be the enthusiastic student comprises no 
 less than ten x orders, and that of these ten the coleoptera 
 and diptera alone include 30,000 and 60,000 species respec- 
 tively, it must be confessed that he had an ample field for his 
 most persevering exertions. 
 
 Every available hour did he spend in the pursuit of his 
 favourite science : hexapods ruled his thoughts by day and 
 
 1 These ten orders are (1) the orthoptera, e. g. grasshoppers and 
 crickets ; (2) the neuroptera, e. g. dragon-flies ; (3) the hymenoptera, 
 e. g. bees, wasps, and ants ; (4) the lepidoptera, e. g. butterflies and 
 moths ; (5) the hemiptera, e. g. cicadas and fleas ;*(6) the coleoptera, 
 e. g. cockchafers and glow-worms ; (7) the diptera, e.g. gnats and 
 flies; (8) the rhipiptera, e. g. the stylops; (9) the parasites, e.g. the 
 acarus ; and (10) the thysanura, e. g. the lepisma and podura. 
 
14 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 his dreams by night. The number of pins that he carried 
 thick on the collar and sleeves of his coat, down the front of 
 his waistcoat, and on the crown of his hat, defied computa- 
 tion ; they were kept in readiness for the capture of specimens 
 that might come in his way, and on his return from a ramble 
 in the country he might be seen literally encased with a 
 covering of insects, transfixed adroitly by scientific rule. 
 
 This ruling passion of his had been the inducement that 
 had urged him to accompany Mr. and Mrs. Weldon to New 
 Zealand. It had appeared to him that it was likely to be a 
 promising district, and now having been successful in adding 
 some rare specimens to his collection, he was anxious to get 
 back again to San Francisco, and to assign them their proper 
 places in his extensive cabinet. 
 
 Besides, it never occurred to Mrs. Weldon to start without 
 him. To leave him to shift for himself would be sheer cruelty. 
 As a matter of course whenever Mrs. Weldon went on board 
 the " Pilgrim," Cousin Benedict would go too. Not that in 
 any emergency assistance of any kind could be expected from 
 him ; on the contrary, in the case of difficulty he would be 
 an additional burden ; but there was every reason to expect 
 a fair passage and no cause of misgiving of any kind, so the 
 propriety of leaving the amiable entomologist behind was 
 never suggested. 
 
 Anxious that she should be no impediment in the way of 
 the due departure of the ''Pilgrim" from Waitemata, Mrs. 
 Weldon made her preparations with the utmost haste, dis- 
 charged the servants which she had temporarily engaged at 
 Auckland, and accompanied by little Jack and the old negress, 
 and followed mechanically by Cousin Benedict, embarked on 
 the 22nd of January on board the schooner. 
 
 The amateur, however, kept his eye very scrupulously upon 
 his own special box. Amongst his collection of insects 
 were some very remarkable examples of new staphylins, a 
 species of carnivorous coleoptera with eyes placed above 
 their head ; it was a kind supposed to be peculiar to New 
 
THE "PILGRIM." IS 
 
 Caledonia. Another rarity which had been brought under 
 his notice was a venomous spider, known among the Maoris 
 as a "katipo ;" its bite was asserted to be very often fatal. 
 As a spider, however, belongs to the order of the araclinida, 
 and is not properly an " insect," Benedict declined to take 
 any interest in it. Enough for him that he had secured a 
 novelty in his own section of research ; the " Staphylin Neo- 
 Zelandus " was not only the gem of his collection, but its 
 pecuniary value baffled ordinary estimate ; he insured his box 
 at a fabulous sum, deeming it to be worth far more than all 
 the cargo of oil and whalebone in the " Pilgrim's" hold. 
 
 Captain Hull advanced to meet Mrs. Weldon and her 
 party as they stepped on deck. 
 
 " It must be understood, Mrs. Weldon," he said, cour- 
 teously raising his hat, " that you take this passage entirely 
 on your own responsibility." 
 
 "Certainly, Captain Hull," she answered; " but why do 
 you ask ? " 
 
 "Simply because I have received no orders from Mr. 
 Weldon," replied the captain. 
 
 " But my wish exonerates you," said Mrs. Weldon. 
 
 " Besides," added Captain Hull, " I am unable to provide 
 you with the accommodation and the comfort that you would 
 have upon a passenger steamer.'' 
 
 " You know well enough, captain," remonstrated the lady, 
 " that my husband would not hesitate for a moment to trust 
 his wife and child on board the ' Pilgrim.' " 
 
 " Trust, madam ! No ! no more than I should myself. I 
 repeat that the ' Pilgrim ' cannot afford you the comfort to 
 which you are accustomed." , 
 
 Mrs. Weldon smiled. 
 
 " Oh, I am not one of your grumbling travellers. I shall 
 have no complaints to make either of small cramped cabins, 
 or of rough and meagre food." 
 
 She took her son by the hand, and passing on, begged 
 that they might start forthwith. 
 
 B 
 
16 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 Orders accordingly were given ; sails were trimmed ; and 
 after taking the shortest course across the gulf, the " Pilgrim" 
 turned her head towards America. 
 
 Three days later strong easterly breezes compelled the 
 schooner to sail on the port tack in order to get to windward. 
 The consequence was that by the 2nd of February the 
 captain found himself in such a latitude that he might 
 almost be suspected of intending to round Cape Horn rather 
 than of having a design to coast the western shores of the 
 New Continent. 
 
 Still, the sea did not become rough. There Avas a slight 
 delay, but, on the whole, navigation was perfectly easy. 
 
THE APPRENTICE. 17 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 THE APPRENTICE. 
 
 There was no poop upon the " Pilgrim's " deck, so that 
 Mrs.Weldon had no other alternative than to acquiesce in the 
 captain's proposal that she should occupy his own modest 
 cabin. 
 
 Accordingly, here she was installed with Jack and old 
 Nan ; and here she took all her meals, in company with the 
 captain and Cousin Benedict. 
 
 For Cousin Benedict tolerably comfortable sleeping- 
 accommodation had been contrived close at hand, while 
 Captain Hull himself retired to the crew's quarter, occupy- 
 ing the cabin which properly belonged to the chief mate, 
 but as already indicated the services of a second officer were 
 quite dispensed with. 
 
 All the crew were civil and attentive to the wife of their 
 employer, a master to whom they were faithfully attached. 
 They were all natives of the. coast of California, brave and 
 experienced seamen, and united by tastes and habits in a 
 common bond of sympathy. Few as they were in number, 
 their work was never shirked, not simply from the sense of 
 duty, but because they were directly interested in the profits 
 of their undertaking ; the success of their labours always 
 told to their own advantage. The present expedition was 
 the fourth that they had taken together ; and, as it turned 
 out to be the first in which they had failed to meet with suc- 
 cess, it may be imagined that they were full of resentment 
 
 B 2 - -■ 
 
1 8 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 against the mutinous whalemen who had been the cause of 
 so serious a diminution of their ordinary gains. • 
 
 The only one on board who was not an American was a 
 man who had been temporarily engaged as cook. His name 
 was Negoro ; he was a Portuguese by birth, but spoke 
 English with perfect fluency. The previous cook had de- 
 serted the ship at Auckland, and when Negoro, who was out 
 of employment, applied for the place, Captain Hull, only too 
 glad to avoid detention, engaged him at once without in- 
 quiry into his antecedents. There was not the slightest 
 fault to be found with the way in which the cook performed 
 his duties, but there was something in his manner, or per- 
 haps rather in the expression of his countenance, which ex- 
 cited the captain's misgivings, and made him regret that he 
 had not taken more pains to investigate the character of 
 one with whom he was now brought into such close 
 contact. 
 
 Negoro looked about forty years of age. Although he had 
 the appearance of being slightly built, he was muscular ; he 
 was of middle height, and seemed to have a robust constitu- 
 tion ; his hair was dark, his complexion somewhat swarthy. 
 His manner was taciturn, and although, from occasional 
 remarks that he dropped, it was evident that he had received 
 some education, he was very reserved on the subjects both 
 of his family and of his past life. No one knew where he 
 had come from, and he admitted no one to his confidence 
 as to where he was going, except that he made no secret of 
 his intention to land at Valparaiso. His freedom from sea- 
 sickness demonstrated that this could hardly be" his first 
 voyage, but on the other hand his complete ignorance of 
 seamen's phraseology made it certain that he had never been 
 accustomed to his present occupation. He kept himself 
 aloof as much as possible from the rest of the crew, during 
 the day rarely leaving the great cast-iron stove, which was 
 out of proportion to the measurement of the cramped little 
 kitchen ; and at night, as soon as the fire was extinguished, 
 
THE APPRENTICE. 19 
 
 took the earliest opportunity of retiring to his berth and 
 going to sleep. 
 
 It has been already stated that the crew of the " Pilgrim " 
 consisted of five seamen and an apprentice. This apprentice 
 was Dick Sands. 
 
 Dick was fifteen years old ; he was a foundling, his un- 
 known parents having abandoned him at his birth, and he 
 had been brought up in a public charitable institution. He 
 had been called Dick, after the benevolent passer-by who 
 had discovered him when he was but an infant a few hours 
 old, and he had received the surname of Sands as a memo- 
 rial of the spot where he had been exposed, Sandy Hook, a 
 point at the mouth of the Hudson, where it forms an entrance 
 to the harbour of New York. 
 
 As Dick was so young it was most likely he would yet 
 grow a little taller, but it did not seem probable that he 
 would ever exceed middle height, he looked too stoutly and 
 strongly built to grow much. His complexion was dark, but 
 his beaming blue eyes attested, with scarcely room for doubt, 
 his Anglo-Saxon origin, and his countenance betokened 
 energy and intelligence. The profession that he had adopted 
 seemed to have equipped him betimes for fighting the battle 
 of life. 
 
 Misquoted often as Virgil's are the words 
 
 " Audaces fortuna juvat ! " 
 
 but the true reading is 
 
 " Audentes fortuna juvat ! " 
 
 and, slight as the difference may seem, it is very significant. 
 It is upon the confident rather than the rash, the daring 
 rather than the bold, that Fortune sheds her smiles ; the 
 bold man often acts without thinking, whilst the daring 
 always thinks before he acts. 
 
 And Dick Sands was truly courageous ; he was one of the 
 daring. At fifteen years old, an age at which few boys have 
 
20 DICK SANDS, THE EOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 laid aside the frivolities of childhood, he had acquired the 
 stability of a man, and the most casual observer could 
 scarcely fail to be attracted by his bright, yet thoughtful 
 countenance. At an early period of his life he had realized 
 all the difficulties of his position, and had made a resolution, 
 from which nothing tempted him to flinch, that he would 
 carve out for himself an honourable and independent career. 
 Lithe and agile in his movements, he was an adept in every 
 kind of athletic exercise; and so marvellous was his success 
 in everything he undertook, that he might almost be sup- 
 posed to be one of those gifted mortals who have two right 
 hands and two left feet. 
 
 Until he was four years old the little orphan had found a 
 home in one of those institutions in America where forsaken 
 children are sure of an asylum, and he was subsequently 
 sent to an industrial school supported by charitable aid, 
 where he learnt reading, writing, and arithmetic. From the 
 days of infancy he had never deviated from the expression 
 of his wish to be a sailor, and accordingly, as soon as he was 
 eight, he was placed as cabin-boy on board one of the ships 
 that navigate the Southern Seas. The officers all took a 
 peculiar interest in him, and he received, in consequence, a 
 thoroughly good grounding in the duties and discipline of a 
 seaman's life. There was no room to doubt that he must 
 ultimately rise to eminence in his profession, for when a 
 child from the very first has been trained in the knowledge 
 that he must gain his bread by the sweat of his brow, it is 
 comparatively rare that he lacks the will to do so. 
 
 Whilst he was still acting as cabin-boy on one of those 
 trading-vessels, Dick attracted the notice of Captain Hull, 
 who took a fancy to the lad and introduced him to his em- 
 ployer. Mr. Weldon at once took a lively interest in Dick's 
 welfare, and had his education continued in San Francisco, 
 taking care that he was instructed in the doctrines of the 
 Roman Catholic Church, to which his own family belonged. 
 
 Throughout his studies Dick Sands' favourite subjects 
 
THE APPRENTICE. 21 
 
 were always those which had a reference to his future pro- 
 fession ; he mastered the details of the geography of the 
 world ; he applied himself diligently to such branches of 
 mathematics as were necessary for the science of navigation ; 
 whilst for recreation in his hours of leisure, he would greedily 
 devour every book of adventure in travel that came in his 
 way. Nor did he omit duly to combine the practical with 
 the theoretical ; and when he was bound apprentice on board 
 the " Pilgrim,'' a vessel not only belonging to his benefactor, 
 but under the command of his kind friend Captain Hull, he 
 congratulated himself most heartily, and felt that the expe- 
 rience he should gain in the southern whale-fisheries could 
 hardly fail to be of service to him in after-life. A first-rate 
 sailor ought to be a first-rate fisherman too. 
 
 It was a matter of the greatest pleasure to Dick Sands 
 when he heard to his surprise that Mrs. Weldon was about 
 to become a passenger on board the " Pilgrim." His devo- 
 tion to the family of his benefactor was large and genuine. 
 For several years Mrs. Weldon had acted towards him little 
 short of a mother's part, and for Jack, although he never 
 forgot the difference in their position, he entertained well- 
 nigh a brother's affection. His friends had the satisfaction 
 of being assured that they had sown the seeds of kindness 
 on a generous soil, for there was no room to doubt that the 
 heart of the orphan boy was overflowing with sincere grati- 
 tude. Should the occasion arise, ought he not, he asked, to 
 be ready to sacrifice everything in behalf of those to whom 
 he was indebted not only for his start in life, but for the 
 knowledge of all that was right and holy? 
 
 Confiding in the good principles of her protege', Mrs. 
 Weldon had no hesitation in entrusting her little son to his 
 especial charge. During the frequent periods of leisure, 
 when the wind was fair and the sails required no shifting, the 
 apprentice was never weary of amusing Jack by making him 
 familiar with the practice of a sailor's craft; he made him 
 scramble up the shrouds, perch upon the yards, and slip 
 
22 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 down the back-stays ; and the mother had no alarm ; her 
 assurance of Dick Sands' ability and watchfulness to protect 
 her boy was so complete that she could only rejoice in an 
 occupation for him that seemed more than anything to 
 restore the colour he had lost in his recent illness. 
 
 Time passed on without incident ; and had it not been for 
 the constant prevalence of an adverse wind, neither pas- 
 sengers nor crew could have found the least cause of com- 
 plaint. The pertinacity, however, with which the wind kept 
 to the east could not do otherwise than make Captain Hull 
 somewhat concerned ; it absolutely prevented him from 
 getting his ship into her proper course, and he could not 
 altogether suppress his misgiving that the calms near the 
 Tropic of Capricorn, and the equatorial current driving him 
 on westwards, would entail a delay that might be serious. 
 
 It was principally on Mrs. Weldon's account that the cap- 
 tain began to feel uneasiness, and he made up his mind that 
 if he could hail a vessel proceeding to America he should 
 advise his passengers to embark on her; unfortunately, how- 
 ever, he felt that they were still in a latitude far too much 
 to the south to make it likely that they should sight a steamer 
 going to Panama ; and at that date communication between 
 Australia and the New World was much less frequent than 
 it has since become. 
 
 Still, nothing occurred to interrupt the general monotony 
 of the voyage until the 2nd of February, the date at which 
 our narrative commences. 
 
 It was about nine o'clock in the morning of that day that 
 Dick and little Jack had perched themselves together on the 
 top-sail-yard. The weather was very clear, and they could 
 see the horizon right round except the section behind 
 them, hidden by the mainsail. Below them, the bowsprit 
 seemed to lie along the water, with its stay-sail and the jibs 
 attached like three unequal wings ; from the lads' feet to the 
 deck was the smooth surface of the fore-mast ; and above 
 their heads nothing but the top-gallant-sail and mast. 
 
THE APPRENTICE. 23 
 
 The schooner was running on the port tack as close to the 
 wind as possible. 
 
 Dick Sands was pointing out to Jack how well the ship was 
 ballasted, and was trying to explain how it was impossible 
 for her to capsize, however much she heeled to starboard, 
 when suddenly the little fellow cried out, — 
 
 " I can see something in the water ! '' 
 
 " Where ? what ? " exclaimed Dick, clambering to his feet 
 upon the yard. 
 
 '■ There ! " said the child, directing attention to the portion 
 of the sea-surface that was visible between the stay-sails. 
 
 Dick fixed his gaze intently for a moment, and then shouted 
 out lustily, — ■ 
 
 '* Look out on the starboard bow ! There is something: 
 afloat to leeward. Look out 1 " 
 
24 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 A RESCUE. 
 
 At the sound of Dick's voice all the crew, in a moment, were 
 upon the alert. The men whose watch below it was rushed 
 on deck, and Captain Hull hurried from his cabin to the 
 bows. Mrs. Weldon, Nan, and even Cousin Benedict leaned 
 over the taffrail to starboard, eager to get a glimpse of what 
 had thus suddenly attracted the attention of the young 
 apprentice. With his usual indifference, Negoro did not 
 leave the galley, and was the only person on board who did 
 not share the general excitement. 
 
 Speculations were soon rife as to what could be the nature 
 of the floating object which could be discerned about three 
 miles ahead. Suggestions of various character were freely 
 made. One of the sailors declared that it looked to him only 
 like an abandoned raft, but Mrs. Weldon observed quickly 
 that if it were a raft, it might be carrying some unfortunate 
 shipwrecked men who must be rescued if possible. Cousin 
 Benedict asserted that it was nothing more nor less than a 
 huge sea-monster ; but the captain soon arrived at the con- 
 viction that it was the hull of a vessel that had heeled over 
 on to its side, an opinion with which Dick thoroughly coin- 
 cided, and went so far as to say that he believed he could 
 make out the copper keel glittering in the sun. 
 
 " Let her go off, Bolton ! '' shouted Captain Hull to the 
 helmsman ; " we will at any rate lose no time in getting 
 alongside.'' 
 
A RESCUE. 25 
 
 "Ay, ay, sir,'' answered the helmsman, and the " Pilgrim *' 
 in an instant was steered according to orders. 
 
 In spite, however, of the convictions of the captain and 
 Dick, Cousin Benedict would not be moved from his opinion 
 that the object of their curiosity was some huge cetacean. 
 
 " It is certainly dead, then," remarked Mrs. Weldon ; " it 
 is perfectly motionless." 
 
 " Oh, that's because it is asleep," said Benedict, who, 
 although he would have willingly given up all the whales in 
 the ocean for one rare specimen of an insect, yet could 
 not surrender his own belief. 
 
 " Easy, Bolton, easy ! " shouted the captain, when they 
 were getting nearer the floating mass ; " don't let us be run- 
 ning foul of the thing ; no good could come from knocking 
 a hole in our side ; keep out from it a good cable's length." 
 
 " Ay, ay, sir," replied the helmsman, in his usual cheery 
 way; and by an easy turn of the helm the "Pilgrim's" 
 course was slightly modified so as to avoid all fear of 
 collision. 
 
 The excitement of the sailors by this time had become 
 more intense. Ever since the distance had been less than a 
 mile all doubt had vanished, and it was certain that what was 
 attracting their attention was the hull of a capsized ship. They 
 knew well enough the established rule that a third of all sal- 
 vage is the right of the finders, and they were filled with 
 the hope that the hull they were nearing might contain an 
 undamaged cargo, and be "a good haul," to compensate 
 them for their ill-success in the last season. 
 
 A quarter of an hour later and the " Pilgrim " was within 
 half a mile of the deserted vessel, to windward. Water- 
 logged, with her gunwale awash, she had heeled over so com- 
 pletely that it would have been next to impossible to stand 
 upon her deck. Of her masts nothing was to be seen ; a few 
 ends of cordage were all that remained of her shrouds, and 
 the running rigging was hanging in shreds. Near her bows 
 was an enormous hole. 
 
26 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 " Something or other has run foul of her," said Dick. 
 
 '' No doubt of that," replied the captain ; " the only 
 wonder is that she did not sink immediately." 
 
 " Oh, how I hope the poor crew have been saved!" ex- 
 claimed Mrs. Weldon. 
 
 " Most probably,'' replied the captain, " they would all have 
 taken to the boats. It is as likely as not that the ship 
 which did the mischief would continue its course quite uncon- 
 cerned." 
 
 '' Surely, you cannot mean," cried Mrs. Weldon, " that any 
 one could be capable of such inhumanity ?" 
 
 " Only too probable," answered Captain Hull ; " unfor- 
 tunately, such instances are very far from rare." 
 
 He scanned the drifting ship carefully and continued, — 
 
 " No ; I cannot see any sign of boats here ; I should 
 guess that the crew have made an attempt to get to land ; 
 at such a distance as this, however, from. America or from the 
 islands of the Pacific I should be afraid that it must be hope- 
 less." 
 
 " Is it not possible," asked Mrs. Weldon, " that some poor 
 creature may still survive on board, who can tell what has 
 happened ? " 
 
 " Hardly likely, madam ; otherwise there would have been 
 some sort of a signal in sight. But it is a matter about 
 which we will make sure." 
 
 The captain waved his hand a little in the direction in 
 which he wished to go, and said quietly, — 
 
 " Let her go off a bit, Bolton ! " 
 
 The " Pilgrim " by this time was not much more than 
 three cables' lengths from the ship ; there was still no token 
 of her being otherwise than utterly deserted, when Dick 
 Sands suddenly exclaimed, — 
 
 "Hark! if I am not much mistaken, that is a dog 
 barking ! " 
 
 Every one listened attentively ; it was no fancy on Dick's 
 part; sure enough a stifled barking could be heard, as if some 
 
A RESCUE. 27 
 
 unfortunate dog had been imprisoned beneath the hatch- 
 ways ; but as the deck was not yet visible, it was impossible 
 at present to determine the precise truth. 
 
 Mrs. Weldon pleaded, — 
 
 " If it is only a dog, captain, let it be saved ! " 
 
 " Oh, yes, yes, mamma, the dog must be saved ! " cried 
 little Jack ; " I will go and get a bit of sugar ready for it." 
 
 " A bit of sugar, my child, will not be much for a starved 
 dog." 
 
 '' Then it shall have my soup, and I will do without," said 
 the boy, and he kept shouting, " Good dog ! good clog ! " 
 until he persuaded himself that he heard the animal respond- 
 ing to his call. 
 
 The vessels were now scarcely three hundred feet apart ; 
 the barking was more and more distinct, and presently a 
 great dog was seen clinging to the broken rigging. It 
 barked more desperately than ever. 
 
 " Howick/' said Captain Hull, calling to the boatswain, 
 " heave to, and lower the small boat." 
 
 The sails were soon trimmed so as to bring the schooner 
 to within half a cable's length of the disabled craft, the 
 boat was lowered, and the captain and Dick, with a couple 
 of sailors, went on board. The dog kept up a continual 
 yelping ; it made the most vigorous efforts to retain its hold 
 upon the rigging, but perpetually slipped backwards and 
 fell off again upon the inclining deck. It was soon manifest, 
 however, that all the noise the creature was making was not 
 directed exclusively towards those who were coming to its 
 rescue, and Mrs. Weldon could not divest herself of the im- 
 pression that there must be some survivors still on board. 
 All at once the animal changed its gestures. Instead of the 
 crouching attitude and supplicating whine with which it 
 seemed to be imploring the compassion of those who were 
 nearing it, it suddenly appeared to become bursting with 
 violence and furious with rage. 
 
 "What ails the brute ?" exclaimed Captain Hull. 
 
28 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 But already the boat was on the farther side of the wrecked 
 ship, and the captain was not in a position to see that Negoro 
 the cook had just come on to the schooner's deck, or that it 
 was obvious that it was against him that the dog had broken 
 out in such obstreperous fury. Negoro had approached 
 without being noticed by any one ; he made his way to 
 the bows, whence, without a word or look of surprise, he 
 gazed a moment at the dog, knitted his brow, and, silent and 
 unobserved as he had come, retired to his galley. 
 
 As the boat had rounded the stern of the drifting hull, it 
 had been observed that the one word " Waldeck " was painted 
 on the stern, but that there was no intimation of the port 
 to which the ship belonged. To Captain Hull's experienced 
 eye, however, certain details of construction gave a decided 
 confirmation to the probability suggested by her name that 
 she was of American build. 
 
 Of what had once been a fine brig of 500 tons burden this 
 hopeless wreck was now all that remained. The large hole 
 near the bows indicated the place where the disastrous shock 
 had occurred, but as, in the heeling over, this aperture had 
 been carried some five or six feet above the water, the vessel 
 had escaped the. immediate foundering which must otherwise 
 have ensued ; but still it wanted only the rising of a heavy 
 swell to. submerge the ship at any time in a few minutes. 
 
 It di,d not take many more strokes to bring the boat close 
 to the lee bulwark, which was half out of the water, and 
 Captain Hull obtained a view of the whole length of the 
 deck. It was clear from end to end. Both masts had been 
 snapped off within two feet of their sockets, and had been 
 swept away, with shrouds, stays, and rigging. Not a single 
 spar was to be seen floating anywhere within sight of the 
 wreck, a circumstance from which it was to be inferred that 
 several days at least had elapsed since the catastrophe. 
 
 Meantime the dog, sliding down from the taffrail, got to 
 the main hatchway, which was open. Here it continued to 
 bark, alternately directing its eyes on deck and below. 
 
A RESCUE. 29 
 
 " Look at that dog ! " said Dick ; " I begin to think there 
 must be somebody on board.'' 
 
 " If so,'' answered the captain, " he must have died of 
 hunger ; the water of course has flooded the store- 
 room." 
 
 " No," said Dick ; " that dog wouldn't look like that if there 
 were nobody there alive." 
 
 Taking the boat as close as was prudent to the wreck, the 
 captain and Dick called and whistled repeatedly to the dog, 
 which after a while let itself slip into the sea, and began to 
 swim slowly and with manifest weakness towards the boat. 
 As soon as it was lifted in, the animal, instead of devouring 
 the piece of bread that was offered him, made its way to a 
 bucket containing a few drops of fresh water, and began 
 eagerly to lap them up. 
 
 - The poor wretch is dying of thirst ! " said Dick. 
 
 It soon appeared that the dog was very far from being en- 
 grossed with its own interests. The boat was being backed 
 a few yards in order to allow the captain to ascertain the 
 most convenient place to get alongside the '■ Waldeck/' when 
 the creature seized Dick by the jacket, and set up a howl 
 that was almost human in its piteousness. It was evidently 
 in a state of alarm that the boat was not going to return to 
 the wreck. The dog's meaning could not be misunderstood. 
 The boat was accordingly brought against the lee side 
 of the vessel, and while the two sailors lashed her securely 
 to the " Waldeck's " cat-head, Captain Hull and Dick, with 
 the dog persistently accompanying them, clambered, after 
 some difficulty, to the open hatchway between the stumps of 
 the masts, and made their way into the hold. It was half 
 full of water, but perfectly destitute of cargo, its sole contents 
 being the ballast sand which had shifted to leeward, and 
 now served to keep the vessel on her side. 
 
 One glance was sufficient to convince the captain that there 
 was no salvage to be effected. 
 
 " There is nothing here ; nobody here," he said. 
 
30 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 " So I see," said the apprentice, who had made his way to 
 the extreme fore-part of the hold. 
 
 " Then we have only to go up again," remarked the captain. 
 
 They ascended the ladder, but no sooner did they re-appear 
 upon the deck than the dog, barking irrepressibly, began trying 
 manifestly to drag them towards the stern. 
 
 Yielding to what might be called the importunities of the 
 dog, they followed him to the poop, and there, by the dim 
 glimmer admitted by the skylight, Captain Hull made out 
 the forms of five bodies, motionless and apparently lifeless, 
 stretched upon the floor. 
 
 One after another, Dick hastily examined them all, and 
 emphatically declared it to be his opinion, that not one of 
 them had actually ceased to breathe ; whereupon the captain 
 did not lose a minute in summoning the two sailors to his 
 aid, and although it was far from an easy task, he succeeded 
 in getting the five unconscious men, who were all negroes, 
 conveyed safely to the boat. 
 
 The dog followed, apparently satisfied. 
 
 With all possible speed the boat made its way back again 
 to the " Pilgrim," a tackle was lowered from the mainyard, 
 and the unfortunate men were hoisted on board. 
 
 " Foor things ! " said Mrs. Weldon, as she looked compas- 
 sionately on the motionless forms. 
 
 '* But they are not dead," cried Dick eagerly ; " they are 
 not dead ; we shall save them all yet ! " 
 
 " What's the matter with them ? " asked Cousin Benedict, 
 looking at them with utter bewilderment. 
 
 " We shall hear all about them soon, I dare say," said the 
 captain, smiling ; " but first we will give them a few drops 
 of rum in some water." 
 
 Cousin Benedict smiled in return. 
 
 " Negoro ! " shouted the captain. 
 
 At the sound of the name, the dog, who had hitherto been 
 quite passive, growled fiercely, showed his teeth, and exhibited 
 every sign of rage. 
 
A RESCUE. 31 
 
 The cook did not answer. 
 
 " Negoro ! " again the captain shouted, and the dog became 
 yet more angry. 
 
 At this second summons Negoro slowly left his kitchen, 
 but no sooner had he shown his face upon the deck than the 
 animal made a rush at him, and would unquestionably have 
 seized him by the throat if the man had not knocked him 
 back with a poker which he had brought with him in his 
 hand. 
 
 The infuriated beast was secured by the sailors, and pre- 
 vented from inflicting any serious injury. 
 
 " Do you know this dog ? " asked the captain. 
 
 " Know him ? Not I ! I have never set eyes on the brute 
 in my life." 
 
 "Strange!'' muttered Dick to himself; "there is some 
 mystery here. We shall see." 
 
32 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 THE SURVIVORS OF THE " WALDECK." 
 
 In spite of the watchfulness of the French and English 
 cruisers, there is no doubt that the slave-trade is still exten- 
 sively carried on in all parts of equatorial Africa, and that 
 year after year vessels loaded with slaves leave the coasts of 
 Angola and Mozambique to transport their living freight to 
 many quarters even of the civilized world. 
 
 Of this Captain Hull was well aware, and although he was 
 now in a latitude which was comparatively little traversed 
 by such slavers, he could not help almost involuntarily con- 
 jecturing that the negroes they had just found must be part 
 of a slave-cargo which was on its way to some colony of 
 the Pacific ; if this were so, he would at least have the 
 satisfaction of announcing to them that they had regained 
 their freedom from the moment that they came on board 
 the " Pilgrim." 
 
 Whilst these thoughts were passing through his mind, 
 Mrs. Weldon, assisted by Nan and the ever active Dick 
 Sands, was doing everything in her power to restore con- 
 sciousness to the poor sufferers. The judicious administra- 
 tion of fresh water and a limited quantity of food soon had 
 the effect of making them revive ; and when they were 
 restored to their senses it was found that the eldest of them, a 
 man of about sixty years of age, who immediately regained 
 his powers of speech, was able to reply in good English to all 
 the questions that were put to him. In answer to Captain 
 
THE SURVIVORS OF THE " WALDECK." 33 
 
 Hull's inquiry whether they were not slaves, the old negro 
 proudly stated that he and his companions were all free 
 American citizens, belonging to the stata.of Pennsylvania.- .., 
 
 " Then, let me assure you, my friend," said the captain, 
 " you have by no means compromised your liberty in having 
 been brought on board the American schooner ' Pilgrim.' " 
 
 Not merely, as it seemed, on account of his age and 
 experience, but rather because of a certain superiority and 
 greater energy of character, this old man was tacitly recog- 
 nized as the spokesman of his party ; he freely communi- 
 cated all the information that Captain Hull required to hear, 
 and by degrees he related all the details of his adventures. 
 
 He said that his name was Tom, and that when he was 
 only six years of age he had been sold as a slave, and 
 brought from his home in Africa to the United States ; but 
 by the act of emancipation he had long since recovered his 
 freedom. His companions, who wete all much younger than 
 himself, their ages ranging from twenty-five to thirty, were 
 all free-born, their parents having been emancipated before 
 their birth, so that no white man had ever exercised upon 
 them the rights of ownership. One of them was his own son ; 
 his name was Bat (an abbreviation of Bartholomew) ; and 
 there were three others, named Austin, Action, and 
 Hercules. All four of them were specimens of that stalwart 
 race that commands so high a price in the African market, 
 and in spite of the emaciation induced by their recent 
 sufferings, their muscular, well-knit frames betokened a 
 strong and healthy constitution. Their manner bore the 
 impress of that solid education which is given in the North 
 American schools, and their speech had lost all trace of the 
 " nigger-tongue," a dialect without articles or inflexions, 
 which since the anti-slavery war has almost died out in the 
 United States. 
 
 Three years ago, old Tom stated, the five men had been 
 engaged by an Englishman who had large property in 
 South Australia, to work upon his estates near Melbourne. 
 
 C 2 
 
34 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 Here they had realized a considerable profit, and upon the 
 completion of their engagement they determined to return 
 with their savings to America. Accordingly, on the 5th of 
 January, after paying their passage in the ordinary way, 
 they embarked at Melbourne on board the "Waldeck. 
 Everything went on well for seventeen days, until, on the 
 night of the 22nd, which was very dark, they were run into 
 by a great steamer. They were all asleep in their berths, but, 
 roused by the shock of the collision, which was extremely 
 severe, they hurriedly made their way on to the deck. The 
 scene was terrible ; both masts were gone, and the brig, 
 although the water had not absolutely flooded her hold so 
 as to make her sink, had completely heeled over on her side. 
 Captain and crew had entirely disappeared, some probably 
 having been dashed into the sea, others perhaps having 
 saved themselves by clinging to the rigging of the ship which 
 had fouled them, and which could be distinguished through 
 the darkness rapidly receding in the distance. For a while 
 they were paralyzed, but they soon awoke to the conviction 
 that they were left alone upon a half-capsized and disabled 
 hull, twelve hundred miles from the nearest land. 
 
 Mrs. Weldon was loud in her expression of indignation 
 that any captain should have the barbarity to abandon an 
 unfortunate vessel with which his own carelessness had 
 brought him into collision. It would be bad enough, she said, 
 for a driver on a public road, when it might be presumed 
 that help would be forthcoming, to pass on unconcerned after 
 causing an accident to another vehicle ; but how much more 
 shameful to desert the injured on the open sea, where the 
 victims of his incompetence could have no chance of 
 obtaining succour ! Captain Hull could only repeat what 
 he had said before, that incredibly atrocious as it might seem, 
 such inhumanity was far from rare. 
 
 On resuming his story, Tom said that he and his com- 
 panions soon found that they had no means left for getting 
 away from the capsized brig ; both the boats had been 
 
THE SURVIVORS OF THE " WALDECK." 35 
 
 crushed in the collision, so that they had no alternative ex- 
 cept to await the appearance of a passing vessel, whilst the 
 wreck was drifting hopelessly along under the action of the 
 currents. This accounted for the fact of their being found 
 so far south of their proper course. 
 
 For the next ten days the negroes had subsisted upon a few 
 scraps of food that they found in the stern cabin ; but as the 
 store-room was entirely under water, they were quite unable 
 to obtain a drop of anything to drink, and the fresh-water 
 tanks that had been lashed to the deck had been stove in at 
 the tim& of the catastrophe. Tortured with thirst, the poor 
 men had suffered agonies, and having on the previous night 
 entirely lost consciousness, they must soon have died if the 
 " Pilgrim's" timely arrival had not effected their rescue. 
 
 All the outlines of Tom's narrative were fully confirmed by 
 the other negroes ; Captain Hull could see no reason to doubt 
 it ; indeed, the facts seemed to speak for themselves. 
 
 One other survivor of the wreck, if he had been gifted with 
 the power of speech, would doubtless have corroborated the 
 testimony. This was the dog who seemed to have such an 
 unaccountable dislike to Negoro. 
 
 Dingo, as the dog was named, belonged to the fine breed 
 of mastiffs peculiar to New Holland. It was not, however, 
 from Australia, but from the coast of West Africa, near the 
 mouth of the Congo, that the animal had come. He had 
 been picked up there, two years previously, by the captain 
 of the " Waldeck," who had found him wandering about and 
 more than half starved. The initials S. V. engraved upon 
 his collar were the only tokens that the dog had a past his- 
 tory of his own. After he had been taken on board the 
 " Waldeck," he remained quite unsociable, apparently ever 
 pining for some lost master, whom he had failed to find in the 
 desert land where he had been met with. 
 
 Larger than the dogs of the Pyrenees, Dingo was a 
 magnificent example of his kind. Standing on his hind 
 legs, with his head thrown back, he was as tall as a man. 
 
36 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 Kis agility and strength would have made him a sure match 
 for a panther, and he would not have flinched at facing a 
 bear. His fine shaggy coat was a dark tawny colour, 
 shading off somewhat lighter round the muzzle, and his long 
 bushy tail was as strong as a lion's. If he were made angry, 
 no doubt he might become a most formidable foe, so that it 
 was no wonder that Negoro did not feel altogether gratified 
 at his reception. 
 
 But Dingo, though unsociable, was not savage. Old Tom 
 said that, on board the " Waldeck," he had noticed that the 
 animal seemed to have a particular dislike to negroes ; not 
 that he actually attempted to do them any harm, only he 
 uniformly avoided them, giving an impression that he must 
 have been systematically ill-treated by the natives of that 
 part of Africa in which he had been found. During the ten 
 days that had elapsed since the collision, Dingo had kept 
 resolutely aloof from Tom and his companions ; they could 
 not tell what he had been feeding on ; they only knew that, 
 like themselves, he had suffered an excruciating thirst. 
 
 Such had been the experience of the survivors of the 
 u . Waldeck." Their situation had been most critical. Even 
 if they survived the pangs of want of food, the slightest gale 
 or the most inconsiderable swell might at any moment have 
 sunk the water-logged ship, and had it not been that calms 
 and contrary winds had contributed to the opportune arrival 
 of the " Pilgrim," an inevitable fate was before them ; their 
 corpses must lie at the bottom of the sea. 
 
 Captain Hull's act of humanity, however, would not be 
 complete unless he succeeded in restoring the shipwrecked 
 men to their homes. This he promised to do. After com- 
 pleting the unlading at Valparaiso, the "Pilgrim" would 
 make direct for California, where, as Mrs. Weldon assured 
 them, they would be most hospitably received by her 
 husband, and provided with the necessary means for re- 
 turning to Pennsylvania.'* 
 
 The five men, who, as the consequence of the shipwreck, 
 
THE SURVIVORS OF THE "WALDECK." 37 
 
 had lost all the savings of their last three years of toil, were 
 profoundly grateful to their kind-hearted benefactors ; nor, 
 poor negroes as they were, did they utterly resign the hope 
 that at some future time they might have it in their power to 
 repay the debt which they owed their deliverers. 
 
38 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 DINGO'S SAGACITY. 
 
 Meantime the " Pilgrim " pursued her course, keeping as 
 much as possible to the east, and before evening closed in 
 the hull of the " Waldeck " was out of sight. 
 
 Captain Hull still continued to feel uneasy about the con- 
 stant prevalence of calms ; not that for himself he cared 
 much about the delay of a week or two in a voyage from 
 New Zealand to Valparaiso, but he was disappointed at the 
 prolonged inconvenience it caused to his lady passenger. 
 Mrs.Weldon, however, submitted to the detention very philo- 
 sophically, and did not utter a word of complaint. 
 
 The captain's next care was to improvise sleeping accom- 
 modation for Tom and his four associates. No room for 
 them could possibly be found in the crew's quarters, so that 
 their berths had to be arranged under the forecastle ; and as 
 long as the weather continued fine, there was no reason why 
 the negroes, accustomed as they were to a somewhat rough 
 life, should not find themselves sufficiently comfortable. 
 
 After this incident of the discovery of the wreck, life on 
 board the " Pilgrim " relapsed into its ordinary routine. With 
 the wind invariably in the same direction, the sails required 
 very little shifting ; but whenever it happened, as occasionally 
 it would, that there was any tacking to be done, the good- 
 natured negroes were ever ready to lend a helping hand ; and 
 the rigging would creak again under the weight of Hercules, 
 a great strapping fellow, six feet high, who seemed almost to 
 require ropes of extra strength made for his special use. 
 
DINGO'S SAGACITY. 39 
 
 Hercules became at once a great favourite with little Jack ; 
 and when the giant lifted him like a doll in his stalwart arms, 
 the child fairly shrieked with delight. 
 
 " Higher ! higher ! very high ! " Jack would say some- 
 times. 
 
 " There you are, then, Master Jack," Hercules would reply 
 as he raised him aloft. 
 
 '' Am I heavy ? " asked the child. 
 
 " As heavy as a feather." 
 
 " Then lift me higher still," cried Jack ; " as high as ever 
 you can reach." 
 
 And Hercules, with the child's two feet supported on his 
 huge palm, would walk about the deck with him like an acro- 
 bat, Jack all the time endeavouring, with vain efforts, to 
 make him " feel his weight." 
 
 Besides Dick Sands and Hercules, Jack admitted a third 
 friend to his companionship. This was Dingo. The dog, 
 unsociable as he had been on board the " Waldeck," seemed 
 to have found society more congenial to his tastes, and being 
 one of those animals that are fond of children, he allowed 
 Jack to do with him almost anything he pleased. ' The child, 
 however, never thought of hurting the dog in any way, and 
 it was doubtful which of the two had the greater enjoyment 
 of their mutual sport. Jack found a live dog infinitely more 
 entertaining than his old toy upon its four wheels, and his 
 great delight was to mount upon Dingo's back, when the 
 animal would gallop off with him like a race-horse with his 
 jockey. It must be owned that one result of this intimacy 
 was a serious diminution of the supply of sugar in the store- 
 room. Dingo was the delight of all the crew excepting Ne- 
 goro, who cautiously avoided coming in contact with an 
 animal who showed such unmistakable symptoms of hos- 
 tility. 
 
 The new companions that Jack had thus found did not in 
 the least make him forget his old friend Dick Sands, who 
 devoted all his leisure time to him as assiduously as ever. 
 
40 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 Mrs. Weldon regarded their intimacy with the greatest satis- 
 faction, and one day made a remark to that effect in the 
 presence of Captain Hull. 
 
 " You are right, madam," said the captain cordially ; " Dick 
 is a capital fellow, and will be sure to be a first-rate sailor. 
 He has an instinct which is little short of a genius ; it sup- 
 plies all deficiencies of theory. Considering how short an 
 experience and how little instruction he has had, it is quite 
 wonderful how much he knows about a ship." 
 
 "Certainly for his age," assented Mrs. Weldon, "he is 
 singularly advanced. I can safely say that I have never had 
 a fault to find with him. I believe that it is my husband's 
 intention, after this voyage, to let him have systematic 
 training in navigation, so that he may be able ultimately to 
 become a captain." 
 
 " I have no misgivings, madam," replied the captain ; 
 " there is every reason to expect that he will be an honour to 
 the service." 
 
 ... " Poor orphan ! " said the lady ; "he has been trained in a 
 hard school." 
 
 " Its lessons have not been lost upon him," rejoined Cap- 
 tain Hull ; " they have taught him the prime lesson that he 
 has his own way to make in the world." 
 
 The eyes of the two speakers turned as it were unwittingly 
 in the direction where Dick Sands happened to be standing. 
 He was at the helm. 
 
 " Look at him now ! " said the captain ; " see how con- 
 stantly he keeps his eye upon the compass ; nothing distracts 
 him from his duty ; he is as much to be depended on as the 
 most experienced helmsman. It was a capital thing for him 
 that he began his training as a cabin-boy. Nothing like it. 
 Begin at the beginning. It is the best of training for the 
 merchant service." 
 
 " But surely," interposed Mrs. Weldon, " you would not 
 deny that in the navy there have been many good officers 
 who have never had the training of which you are speaking ? " 
 
DINGO'S SAGACITV. 41 
 
 " True, madam ; but yet even some of the best of them have 
 brgun at the lowest step of the ladder. For instance, Lord 
 Nelson." 
 
 Just at this instant Cousin Benedict emerged from the 
 after-cabin, and completely absorbed, according to his wont, 
 in his own pursuit, began to wander up and down the deck, 
 peering into the interstices of the gratings, rummaging under 
 the seats, and drawing his long fingers along the cracks in 
 the deck where the tar had crumbled away. 
 
 "Well, Benedict, how are you getting on?" asked Mrs. 
 Weldon. 
 
 " I ? O, well enough, thank you," he replied dreamily ; " but 
 I wish we were on shore." 
 
 "What were you looking for under that bench ?" said Cap- 
 tain Hull. 
 
 "Insects, of course," answered Benedict ; "I am always 
 looking for insects." 
 
 "But don't you know, Benedict,'' said Mrs. Weldon, "that 
 Captain Hull is far too particular to allow any vermin on the 
 deck of his vessel ?" 
 
 Captain Hull smiled and said, — 
 
 " Mrs. Weldon is very complimentary ; but I am really in- 
 clined to hope that your investigations in the cabins of the 
 ' Pilgrim' will not be attended with much success." 
 
 Cousin Benedict shrugged his shoulders in a manner that 
 indicated that he was aware that the cabins could furnish 
 nothing attractive in the way of insects. 
 
 " However," continued the captain, " I dare say down in 
 the hold you could find some cockroaches ; but cockroaches, 
 I presume, would be of little or no interest to you." 
 
 "No interest ?" cried Benedict, at once warmed into en- 
 thusiasm ; " why, are they not the very orthoptera that roused 
 the imprecations of Virgil and Horace ? Are they not closely 
 allied to the Periplaneta orienlalis and the American Kaker- 
 lac, which inhabit — " 
 
 " I should rather say infest," interrupted the captain. 
 
43 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 " Easy enough to see, sir," replied Benedict, stopping 
 short with amazement, " that you are not an entomo- 
 logist ! '' 
 
 " I fear I must plead guilty to your accusation," said the 
 captain good-hum ouredly. 
 
 " You must not expect every one to be such an enthusiast 
 in your favourite study as yourself," Mrs. Weldon interposed ; 
 "but are you not satisfied with the result of your explorations 
 in New Zealand ? " 
 
 " Yes, yes," answered Benedict, with a sort of hesitating 
 reluctance ; '' I must not say I was dissatisfied ; I was really 
 very delighted to secure that new staphylin which hitherto 
 had never been seen elsewhere than in New California ; but 
 still, you know, an entomologist is always craving for fresh 
 additions to his collection.'' 
 
 While he was speaking, Dingo, leaving little Jack, who 
 was romping with him, came and jumped on Benedict, and 
 began to fawn on him. 
 
 " Get away, you brute ! " he exclaimed, thrusting the dog 
 aside. 
 
 "Poor Dingo! good dog! "cried Jack, running up and 
 taking the animal's huge head between his tiny hands. 
 
 " Your interest in cockroaches, Mr. Benedict," observed 
 the captain, " does not seem to extend to dogs." 
 
 " It isn't that I dislike dogs at all,'' answered Benedict ; 
 " but this creature has disappointed me." 
 
 " How do you mean ? You could hardly want to catalogue 
 him with the diptera or hymenoptera ? " asked Mrs. Weldon 
 laughingly. 
 
 " Oh, not at all," replied Benedict, with the most unmoved 
 gravity. " But I understood that he had been found on the 
 West Coast of Africa, and I hoped that perhaps he might 
 have brought over some African hemiptera in his coat ; but 
 I have searched his coat well, over and over again, without 
 finding a single specimen. The dog has disappointed me," 
 he repeated mournfully. 
 
DINGO'S SAGACITY. 43 
 
 u I can only hope," said the captain, " that if you had 
 found anything, you were going to kill it instantly." 
 
 Benedict looked with mute astonishment into the captain's 
 face. In a moment or two afterwards, he said, — 
 
 " I suppose, sir, you acknowledge that Sir John Franklin 
 was an eminent member of your profession ? " 
 
 " Certainly ; why ?" 
 
 " Because Sir John would never take away the life of the 
 most insignificant insect ; it is related of him that when he 
 had once been incessantly tormented all day by a mosquito, 
 at last he found it on the back of his hand and blew it off, 
 saying, ' Fly away, little creature, the world is large enough 
 for both you and me ! ' " 
 
 "That little anecdote of yours, Mr. Benedict,'' said the 
 captain, smiling, " is a good deal older than Sir John Frank- 
 lin. It is told, in nearly the same words, about Uncle Toby, 
 in Sterne's ' Tristram Shandy'; only there it was not a mos- 
 quito, it was a common fly.'' 
 
 " And was Uncle Toby an entomologist ?" asked Benedict ; 
 " did he ever really live ? " 
 
 " No," said the captain, " he was only a character in a 
 novel." 
 
 Cousin Benedict gave a look of utter contempt, and Cap- 
 tain Hull and Mrs. Weldon could not resist laughing. 
 
 Such is only one instance of the way in which Cousin 
 Benedict invariably brought it about that all conversation 
 with him ultimately turned upon his favourite pursuit, and all 
 along, throughout the monotonous hours of smooth sailing, 
 while the " Pilgrim " was making her little headway to the 
 east, he showed his own devotion to his pet science, by seeking 
 to enlist new disciples. First of all, he tried his powers of 
 persuasion upon Dick Sands, but soon finding that the young 
 apprentice had no taste for entomological mysteries, he gave 
 him up and turned his attention to the negroes. Nor was 
 he much more successful with them ; one after another, Tom, 
 Bat, Actason, and Austin had all withdrawn themselves from 
 
44 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 his instructions, and the class at last was reduced to the 
 single person of Hercules ; but in him the enthusiastic 
 naturalist thought, he had, discovered a latent talent which 
 could distinguish between a parasite and a thysanura. 
 
 Hercules accordingly submitted to pass a considerable 
 portion of his leisure in the observation of every variety of 
 coleoptera ; he was encouraged to study the extensive col- 
 lection of stag-beetles, tiger-beetles and lady-birds ; and 
 although at times the enthusiast trembled to see some of his 
 most delicate and fragile specimens in the huge grasp of his 
 pupil, he soon learned that the man's gentle docility was a 
 sufficient guarantee against his clumsiness. 
 
 While the science of entomology was thus occupying its 
 two votaries, Mrs. Weldon was giving her own best attention 
 to the education of Master Jack. Reading and writing she 
 undertook to teach herself, while she entrusted the instruc- 
 tion in arithmetic to the care of Dick Sands. Under the 
 conviction that a child of five years will make a much more 
 rapid progress if something like amusement be combined 
 with his lessons, Mrs. Weldon would not teach her boy to 
 spell by the use of an ordinary school primer, but used a 
 set of cubes, on the sides of which the various letters were 
 painted in red. After first making a word and showing it to 
 Jack, she set him to put it together without her help, and it 
 was astonishing how quickly the child advanced, and how 
 many hours he would spend in this way, both in the cabin 
 and on deck. There, were more than fifty cubes, which, be- 
 sides the alphabet, included all the figures ; so that they were 
 of service for Dick Sands' lessons as well as for her own. 
 She was more than satisfied with her device. 
 
 On the morning of the 9th an incident occurred which 
 could not fail to be observed as somewhat remarkable. Jack 
 was half lying, half sitting on the deck, amusing himself 
 with his letters, and had just finished putting together a 
 word with which he intended to puzzle old Tom, who, with 
 his hand sheltering his eyes, was pretending not to see the 
 
DINGO S SAGACITY. 45 
 
 difficulty which was being laboriously prepared to bewilder 
 him ; all at once, Dingo, who had been gambolling round 
 the child, made a sudden pause, lifted his right paw, and 
 wagged his tail convulsively. Then darting down upon a 
 capital S, he seized it in his mouth, and carried it some paces 
 away. 
 
 " Oh, Dingo, Dingo ! you mustn't eat my letters ! " shouted 
 the child. 
 
 But the dog had already dropped the block of wood, and 
 coming back again, picked up another, which he laid quietly 
 by the side of the first. This time it was a capital V. Jack 
 uttered an exclamation of astonishment which brought to 
 his side not only his mother, but the captain and Dick, who 
 were both on deck. In answer to their inquiry as to what 
 had occurred, Jack cried out in the greatest excitement that 
 Dingo knew how to read. At any rate he was sure that he 
 knew his letters. 
 
 Dick Sands smiled and stooped to take back the letters. 
 Dingo snarled and showed, his teeth, but the apprentice was 
 not frightened; he. carried his point, and replaced the two 
 blocks among the rest. Dingo in an instant pounced upon 
 them again, and having drawn them to his side, laid, -a paw 
 upon each of them, as if to signify his intention cf retaining 
 them in his possession. Of the other letters of the alphabet 
 he took no notice at all. 
 
 " It is very strange," said Mrs. Weldon ; " he has picked 
 out S V again." 
 
 " S V ! " repeated the captain thoughtfully ; " are not 
 those the letters that form the initials on his collar ? " 
 
 And turning to the old negro, he continued, — 
 
 " Tom, didn't you say that this dog did not always belong 
 to the captain of the ' Waldeck ' ? '' 
 
 " To the best of my belief," replied Tom, '' the captain had 
 only had him about two years. I often heard him tell how 
 he found him at the mouth of the Congo." 
 
 " Do you suppose that he never knew where the animal 
 
46 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 came from, or to whom he had previously belonged ? " asked 
 Captain Hull. 
 
 " Never," answered Tom, shaking his head ; " a lost dog 
 is worse to identify than a lost child ; you see, he can't make 
 himself understood any way." 
 
 The captain made no answer, but stood musing ; Mrs. 
 Weldon interrupted him. 
 
 " These letters, captain, seem to be recalling something to 
 your recollection.'' 
 
 " I can hardly go so far as to say that, Mrs. Weldon," he 
 replied ; " but I cannot help associating them with the fate 
 of a brave explorer." 
 
 " Whom do you mean ? " said the lady. 
 
 "In i87i,just two years ago," the captain continued, "a 
 French traveller, under the auspices of the Geographical 
 Society of Paris, set out for the purpose of crossing Africa 
 from west to east. His starting-point was the mouth of 
 the Congo, and his exit was designed to be as near as 
 possible to Cape Deldago, at the mouth of the River 
 Rovuma, of which he was to ascertain the true course. The 
 name of this man was Samuel Vernon, and I confess it 
 strikes me as somewhat a strange coincidence that the 
 letters engraved on Dingo's collar should be Version's 
 initials." 
 
 "Is nothing known about this traveller?" asked Mrs. 
 Weldon. 
 
 " Nothing was ever heard of him after his first departure. 
 It appears quite certain that he failed to reach the east coast, 
 and it can only be conjectured either that he died upon his 
 way, or that he was made prisoner by the natives ; and if 
 so, and this dog ever belonged to him, the animal might 
 have made his way back to the sea-coast, where, just about 
 the time that would be likely, the captain of the ' Waldeck ' 
 picked him up.'' 
 
 " But you have no reason to suppose, Captain Hull, that 
 Vernon ever owned a dog of this description?" 
 
DINGO'S SAGACITY. 47 
 
 " I own I never heard of it," said the captain ; " but still 
 the impression fixes itself on my mind that the dog must have 
 been his ; how he came to know one letter from another, it 
 is not for me to pretend to say. Look at him now, madam ! 
 he seems not only to be reading the letters for himself, but to 
 be inviting us to come and read them with him." 
 
 Whilst Mrs. Weldon was watching the dog with much 
 amusement, Dick Sands, who had listened to the previous 
 conversation, took the opportunity of asking the captain 
 whether the traveller Vernon had started on his expedition 
 quite alone. 
 
 "That is really more than I can tell you, my boy," 
 answered Captain Hull; "but I should almost take it for 
 granted that he would have a considerable retinue of natives.'* 
 
 The captain spoke without being aware that Negoro had 
 meanwhile quietly stolen on deck. At first his presence was 
 quite unnoticed, and no one observed the peculiar glance 
 with which he looked at the two letters over which Dingo 
 still persisted in keeping guard. The dog, however, no 
 sooner caught sight of the cook than he began to bristle 
 with rage, whereupon Negoro, with a threatening gesture 
 which seemed half involuntary, withdrew immediately to his 
 accustomed quarters. 
 
 The incident did not escape the captain's observation. 
 
 " No doubt," he said, " there is some mystery here ; " and 
 he was pondering the matter over in his mind when Dick 
 Sands spoke. 
 
 " Don't you think it very singular, sir, that this dog should 
 have such a knowledge of the alphabet ? " 
 
 Jack here put in his word. 
 
 " My mamma has told me about a dog whose name was 
 Munito, who could read as well as a schoolmaster, and could 
 play dominoes." 
 
 Mrs. Weldon smiled." 
 
 " I am afraid, my child, that that dog was not quite so 
 learned as you imagine. I don't suppose he knew one letter 
 
 D 
 
48 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 from another ; but his master, who was a clever American, 
 having found out that the animal had a very keen sense of 
 hearing, taught him some curious tricks." 
 
 u What sort of tricks ? " asked Dick, who was almost as 
 much interested as little Jack. 
 
 " When he had to perform in public," continued Mrs. 
 Weldon, " a lot of letters like yours, Jack, were spread out 
 upon a table, and Munito would put together any word that 
 the company should propose, either aloud, or in a whisper, 
 to his master. The creature would walk about until he 
 stopped at the very letter which was wanted. The secret of 
 it all was that the dog's owner gave him a signal when he 
 was to stop by rattling a little toothpick in his pocket, 
 making a slight noise that only the dog's ears were acute 
 enough to perceive." 
 
 Dick was highly amused, and said, — 
 
 " But that was a dog who could do nothing wonderful 
 without his master." 
 
 " Just so," answered Mrs. Weldon ; " and it surprises me 
 very much to see Dingo picking out these letters without a 
 master to direct him." 
 
 "The more one thinks of it, the more strange it is," said 
 Captain Hull ; "but, after all, Dingo's sagacity is not greater 
 than that of the dog which rang the convent bell in order to 
 get at the dish that was reserved for passing beggars ; nor 
 than that of the dog who had to turn a spit every other day, 
 and never could be induced to work when it was not his 
 proper day. Dingo evidently has no acquaintance with any 
 other letters except the two S V ; and some circumstance 
 which we can never guess has made him familiar with them." 
 
 '* What a pity he cannot talk \" exclaimed the apprentice ; 
 " we should know why it is that he always shows his teeth at 
 Negoro." 
 
 '' And tremendous teeth they are ! " observed the captain, 
 as Dingo at that moment opened his mouth, and made a 
 display of his formidable fangs. 
 
A WHALE IN SIGHT. 49 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 A WHALE IN SIGHT. 
 
 It was only what might be expected that the dog's singular 
 exhibition of sagacity should repeatedly form a subject of 
 conversation between Mrs. Weldon, the captain, and Dick. 
 The young apprentice in particular began to entertain a lurk- 
 ing feeling of distrust towards Negoro, although it must be 
 owned that the man's conduct in general afforded no tangible 
 grounds for suspicion. 
 
 Nor was it only among the cabin passengers that Dingo's 
 remarkable feat was discussed ; amongst the crew in the bows 
 the dog not only soon gained the reputation of being able to 
 read, but was almost credited with being able to write too, 
 as well as any sailor among them ; indeed the chief wonder 
 was that he did not speak. 
 
 " Perhaps he can," suggested Bolton, the helmsman, " and 
 likely enough some fine day we shall have him coming 
 to ask about our bearings, and to inquire which way the 
 wind is." 
 
 "Ah ! why not ?" assented another sailor ; "parrots talk, . 
 and magpies talk ; why shouldn't a dog ? For my part, I 
 should guess it must be easier to speak with a mouth than 
 with a beak." 
 
 " Of course it is," said Howick, the boatswain ; " only a 
 quadruped has never yet been known to do it." 
 
 Perhaps, however, the worthy fellow would have been 
 
 amazed to hear that a certain Danish savant once possessed 
 
 D 2 
 
50 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 a dog that could actually pronounce quite distinctly nearly 
 twenty different words, demonstrating that the construction 
 of the glottis, the aperture at the top of the windpipe, was 
 adapted for the emission of regular sounds : of course the 
 animal attached no meaning to the words it uttered anymore 
 than a parrot or a jay can comprehend their own chatterings. 
 
 Thus, unconsciously, Dingo had become the hero of the 
 hour. On several separate occasions Captain Hull repeated 
 the experiment of spreading out the blocks before him, but 
 invariably with the same result ; the dog never failed, without 
 the slightest hesitation, to pick out the two letters, leaving 
 all the rest of the alphabet quite unnoticed. 
 
 Cousin Benedict alone, somewhat ostentatiously, professed 
 to take no interest in the circumstance. 
 
 ''You cannot suppose,'' he said to Captain Hull, after 
 various repetitions of the trick, " that dogs are to be reckoned 
 the only animals endowed with intelligence. Rats, you know, 
 will always leave a sinking ship, and beavers invariably raise 
 their dams before the approach of a flood. Did not the 
 horses of Nicomedes, Scanderburg and Oppian die of grief 
 for the loss of their masters ? Have there not been instances 
 cf donkeys with wonderful memories ? Birds, too, have been 
 trained to do the most remarkable things ; they have been 
 taught to write word after word at their master's dictation ; 
 there are cockatoos who can count the people in a room as 
 accurately as a mathematician ; and haven't you heard of the 
 old Cardinal's parrot that he would not part with for a hun- 
 dred gold crowns because it could repeat the Apostles' creed 
 from beginning to end without a blunder ? And insects," he 
 continued, warming into enthusiasm, '' how marvellously they 
 vindicate the axiom — 
 
 ' In minimis maximus Deus ! ' 
 
 Are not the structures of ants the very models for the archi- 
 tects of a city ? Has the diving-bell of the aquatic argyroneta 
 ever been surpassed by the invention of the most skilful 
 
A WHALE IN SIGHT. 5 I 
 
 student of mechanical art? And cannot fleas go through a 
 drill and fire a gun as well as the most accomplished artil- 
 leryman ? This Dingo is nothing out of the way. I suppose 
 he belongs to some unclassed species of mastiff. Perhaps 
 one day or other he may come to be identified as the 'canis 
 alphabeticus ' of New Zealand." 
 
 The worthy entomologist delivered this and various similar 
 harangues ; but Dingo, nevertheless, retained his high place 
 in the general estimation, and by the occupants of the fore- 
 castle was regarded as little short of a phenomenon. The 
 feeling, otherwise universal, was not in any degree shared by 
 Negoro, and it is not improbable that the man would have 
 been tempted to some foul play with the dog if the open 
 sympathies of the crew had not kept him in check. More 
 than ever he studiously avoided coming in contact in any way 
 with the animal, and Dick Sands in his own mind was quite 
 convinced that since the incident of the letters, the cook's 
 hatred of the dog had become still more intense. 
 
 After continual alternations with long and wearisome calms 
 the north-east wind perceptibly moderated, and on the loth, 
 Captain Hull really began to hope that such a change would 
 ensue as to allow the schooner to run straight before the wind. 
 Nineteen days had elapsed since the " Pilgrim " had left 
 Auckland, a period not so long but that with a favourable 
 breeze it might be made up at last. Some days however were 
 yet to elapse before the wind veered round to the anticipated 
 quarter. 
 
 It has been already stated that this portion of the Pacific 
 is almost always deserted. It is out of the line of the Ameri- 
 can and Australian steam-packets, and except a whaler had 
 been brought into it by some such exceptional circumstances 
 as the " Pilgrim,'' it was quite unusual to see one in this 
 latitude. 
 
 But, however void of traffic was the surface of the sea, to 
 none but an unintelligent mind could it appear monotonous 
 or barren of interest. The poetry of the ocean breathes forth 
 
52 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 in its minute and almost imperceptible changes. A marine 
 plant, a tuft of seaweed lightly furrowing the water, a 
 drifting spar with its unknown history, may afford unlimited 
 scope for the imagination ; every little drop passing, in its 
 process of evaporation, backwards and forwards from sea to 
 sky, might perchance reveal its own special secret ; and happy 
 are those minds Avhich are capable of a due appreciation of 
 the mysteries of air and ocean. 
 
 Above the surface as well as below, the restless flood is ever 
 teeming with animal life ; and the passengers on board the 
 ." Pilgrim " derived no little amusement from watching great 
 flocks of birds migrating northwards to escape the rigour of 
 the polar winter, and ever and again descending in rapid 
 flight to secure some tiny fish. Occasionally Dick Sands 
 would take a pistol, and now and then a rifle, and, thanks to 
 Mr. Weldon's former instructions, would bring down various 
 specimens of the feathered tribe. 
 
 Sometimes white petrels would congregate in considerable 
 numbers near the schooner ; and sometimes petrels of another 
 species, with brown borders on their wings, would come in 
 sight; now there would be flocks ofdamiers skimming the 
 water ; and now groups of penguins, whose clumsy gait ap- 
 pears so ludicrous on shore ; but, as Captain Hull pointed 
 out, when their stumpy wings were employed as fins, they 
 were a match for the most rapid of fish, so that sailors have 
 often mistaken them, for bonitos. 
 
 High over head, huge albatrosses, their outspread wings 
 measuring ten feet from tip to tip, would soar aloft, thence 
 to swoop down towards the deep, into which they plunged 
 their beaks in search of food. Such incidents and scenes as 
 these were infinite in their variety, and it was accordingly 
 only for minds that were obtuse to the charms of nature that 
 the voyage could be monotonous. 
 
 On the day the wind shifted, Mrs. Weldon was walking up 
 and down on the " Pilgrim's " quarter-deck,when her attention 
 was attracted by what seemed to her a strange phenomenon. 
 
A WHALE IN SIGHT. 53 
 
 All of a sudden, far as the eye could reach, the sea had 
 assumed a reddish hue, as if it were tinged with blood. 
 
 Both Dick and Jack were standing close behind her, and 
 she cried, — 
 
 " Look, Dick, look ! the sea is all red. Is it a seaweed 
 that is making the water so strange a colour ? " 
 
 " No," answered Dick, " it is not a weed ; it is what the 
 sailors call whales' food ; it is formed, I believe, of innu- 
 merable myriads of minute Crustacea." 
 
 " Crustacea they may be,'' replied Mrs. Weldon, " but they 
 must be so small that they are mere insects. Cousin Bene- 
 dict no doubt will like to see them." 
 
 She called aloud, — 
 
 " Benedict ! Benedict ! come here ! we have a sight here 
 to interest you." 
 
 The amateur naturalist slowly emerged from his cabin 
 followed by Captain Hull. 
 
 "Ah ! yes, I see !" said the captain; "whales' food ; just 
 the opportunity for you, Mr. Benedict ; a chance not to be 
 thrown away for studying one of the most curious of the 
 Crustacea." 
 
 "Nonsense!" ejaculated Benedict contemptuously; 
 "utter nonsense ! '' 
 
 " Why ? what do you mean, Mr. Benedict ? " retorted the 
 captain ; " surely you, as an entomologist, must know that I 
 am right in my conviction that these Crustacea belong to one 
 of the six classes of the articulata," 
 
 The disdain of Cousin Benedict was expressed by a 
 repeated sneer. 
 
 "Are you not aware, sir, that my researches as an ento- 
 mologist are confined entirely to the hexapoda ? " 
 
 Captain Hull, unable to repress a smile, only answered 
 good-humouredly, — 
 
 " I see, sir, your tastes do not lie in the same direction as 
 those of the whale.'' 
 
 And turning to Mrs. Weldon, he continued, — 
 
54 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 "To whalemen, madam, this is a sight that speaks for 
 itself. It is a token that we ought to lose no time in 
 getting out our lines and looking to the state of our harpoons. 
 There is game not far away." 
 
 Jack gave vent to his astonishment. 
 
 " Do you mean that great creatures like whales feed on 
 such tiny things as these ? " 
 
 " Yes, my boy," said the captain ; " and I dare say they are 
 as nice to them as semolina and ground rice are to you. 
 When a whale gets into the middle of them he has nothing 
 to do but to open his jaws, and, in a minute, hundreds 
 thousands of these minute creatures are inside the fringe 
 or whalebone around his palate, and he is sure of a good 
 mouthful." 
 
 "So you see, Jack,'' said Dick, "the whale gets his 
 shrimps without the trouble of shelling them." 
 
 "And when he has just closed his snappers is the very 
 time to give him a good taste of the harpoon," added 
 Captain Hull. 
 
 The words had hardly escaped the captain's lips when a 
 shout from one of the sailors announced, — 
 
 " A whale on the weather bow ! " 
 
 " There's the whale ! " repeated the captain. All his pro- 
 fessional instincts were aroused in an instant, and he hurried 
 to the bows ; followed in eager curiosity by all the stern 
 passengers. 
 
 Even Cousin Benedict loitered up in the rear, con- 
 strained, in spite of himself, to take a share in the 
 general interest. 
 
 There was no doubt about the matter. Four miles or so 
 to windward an unusual commotion in the water betokened 
 to experienced eyes the presence of a whale ; but the dis- 
 tance was too great to permit a reasonable conjecture to 
 be formed as to which species of those mammifers the 
 creature belonged. 
 
 Three distinct species are familiarly known. First there 
 
A WHALE IN SIGHT. 55 
 
 is the Right whale, which is ordinarily sought for in the 
 northern fisheries. The average length of this cetacean is 
 sixty feet, though it has been known to attain the length of 
 eighty feet. It has no dorsal fin, and beneath its skin is a 
 thick layer of blubber. One of these monsters alone will 
 yield as much as a hundred barrels of oil. 
 
 Then there is the Hump-back, a typical representative 
 of the species " balamoptera," a definition which may at first 
 sight appear to possess an interest for an entomologist, but 
 which really refers to two white dorsal fins, each half as 
 wide as the body, resembling a pair of wings, and in their 
 formation similar to those of the flying-fish. It must be 
 owned, however, that a flying whale would decidedly be a 
 vara avis. 
 
 Lastly, there is the Jubarte, commonly known as the Fin- 
 back. It is provided with a dorsal fin, and in length not un- 
 frequently is a match for the gigantic Right whale. 
 
 While it was impossible to decide to which of the three 
 species the whale in the distance really belonged, the 
 general impression inclined to the belief that it was a 
 jubarte. 
 
 With longing eyes Captain Hull and his crew gazed at 
 the object of general attraction. Just as irresistibly as it is 
 said a clockmaker is drawn on to examine the mechanism 
 of every clock which chance may throw in his way, so is 
 a whaleman ever anxious to plunge his harpoon into any 
 whale that he can get within his reach. The larger the 
 game the more keen the excitement ; and no elephant- 
 hunter's eagerness ever surpasses the zest of the whale-fisher 
 when once started in pursuit of the prey. 
 
 To the crew the sight of the whale was the opening of an 
 unexpected opportunity, and no wonder they were fired with 
 the burning hope that even now they might do something to 
 supply the deficiency of their meagre haul throughout the 
 season. 
 
 Far away as the creature still was, the captain's prac- 
 
56 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 tised eye soon enabled him to detect various indications that 
 satisfied him as to its true species. Amongst other things that 
 arrested his attention, he observed a column cf water and 
 vapour ejected from the nostrils. " It isn't a right whale," he 
 said; "if so, its spout would be smaller and it would rise 
 higher in the air. And I do not think it is a hump-back. I 
 cannot hear the hump-back's roar. Dick, tell me, what do 
 you think about it ? " 
 
 With a critical eye Dick Sands looked long and steadil 
 at the spout. 
 
 " It blows out water, sir," said the apprentice, " water, as 
 well as vapour. I should think it is a finback. But it must 
 be a rare large one.'' 
 
 "Seventy feet, at least!" rejoined the captain, flushing 
 with his enthusiasm. 
 
 " What a big fellow ! " said Jack, catching the excitement 
 of his elders. 
 
 " Ah, Jack, my boy," chuckled the captain, " the whale 
 little thinks who are watching him enjoy his breakfast! " 
 
 " Yes," said the boatswain ; " a dozen such gentlemen as 
 that would freight a craft twice the size of ours ; but this one, 
 if only we can get him, will go a good way towards filling our 
 empty barrels." 
 
 " Rather rough work, you know," said Dick, " to attack a 
 finback ! " 
 
 " You are right, Dick," answered the captain ; "the boat 
 has yet to be built which is strong enough to resist the flap 
 of a iubarte's tail.'' 
 
 '■' But the profit is worth the risk, captain, isn't it ? " 
 
 "You are right again, Dick," replied Captain Hull, and as 
 he spoke, he clambered on to the bowsprit in order that he 
 might get a better view of the whale. 
 
 The crew were as eager as their captain. Mounted on the 
 fore-shrouds, they scanned the movements of their coveted 
 prey in the distance, freely descanting upon the profit to be 
 made out of a good finback, and declaring that it would bs a 
 
A WHALE IN SIGHT. 57 
 
 thousand pities if this chance of filling the casks below should 
 be permitted to be lost. 
 
 Captain Hull was perplexed. He bit his nails and knitted 
 his brow. 
 
 *' Mamma ! " cried little Jack, " I should so much like to 
 see a whale close, — quite close, you know." 
 
 " And so you shall, my boy," replied the captain, who was 
 standing by, and had come to the resolve that if his men 
 would back him, he would make an attempt to capture the 
 prize. 
 
 He turned to his crew, — 
 
 " My men ! what do you think ? shall we make the venture ? 
 Remember, we are all alone ; we have no whalemen" to help 
 us ; we must rely upon ourselves ; I have thrown a harpoon 
 before now ; I can throw a harpoon again ; what do you 
 say ? " 
 
 The crew responded with a ringing cheer, — ■ 
 
 "Ay, ay, sir! Ay, ay!" 
 
58 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 PREPARATIONS FOR AN ATTACK. 
 
 Great was the excitement that now prevailed, and the 
 question of an attempt to capture the sea-monster became 
 the ruling theme of conversation. Mrs. Weldon expressed 
 considerable doubt as to the prudence of venturing upon so 
 great a risk with such a limited number of hands, but when 
 Captain Hull assured her that he had more than once suc- 
 cessfully attacked a whale with a single boat, and that for his 
 part he had no fear of failure, she made no further remon- 
 strance, and appeared quite satisfied. 
 
 Having formed his resolve, the captain lost no time in 
 setting about his preliminary arrangements. He could not 
 really conceal from his own mind that the pursuit of a fin- 
 back was always a matter of some peril, and he was anxious, 
 accordingly, to make every possible provision which fore- 
 thought could devise against all emergencies. 
 
 Besides her long-boat, which was kept between the two 
 masts, the "Pilgrim" had three whale-boats, two of them 
 slung to the starboard and port davits, and the third at 
 the stern, outside the taffrail. During the fishing season, 
 when the crew was reinforced by a hired complement of New 
 Zealand whalemen, all three of these boats would be brought 
 at once into requisition, but at present the whole crew of 
 the " Pilgrim " was barely sufficient to man one of the three 
 boats. Tom and his friends were ready to volunteer their 
 assistance, but any offers of service from them were neces- 
 
PREPARATIONS FOR AN ATTACK. 59 
 
 sarily declined ; the manipulation of a whale-boat can only 
 be entrusted to those who are experienced in the work, as a 
 false turn of the tiller or a premature stroke of the oar may 
 in a moment compromise the safety of the whole party. 
 Thus compelled to take all his trained sailors with him on 
 his venturous expedition, the captain had no alternative 
 but to leave his apprentice in charge of the schooner 
 during his absence. Dick's choice would have been very 
 much in favour of taking a share in the whale-hunt, but he 
 had the good sense to know that the developed strength of 
 a man would be of far greater service in the boat, and ac- 
 cordingly without a murmur he resigned himself to remaining 
 behind. 
 
 Of the five sailors who were to man the boat, there were 
 four to take the oars, whilst Howick the boatswain was to 
 manage the oar at the stern, which on these occasions gene- 
 rally replaces an ordinary rudder as being quicker in action 
 in the event of any of the side oars being disabled. The post 
 of harpooner was of course assigned to Captain Hull, to whose 
 lot it would consequently fall first to hurl his weapon at the 
 whale, then to manage the unwinding of the line to which 
 the harpoon was attached, and finally to kill the creature 
 by lance-wounds when it should emerge again from below 
 the sea. 
 
 A method sometimes employed for commencing an attack 
 is to place a sort of small cannon on the bows or deck of the 
 boat, and to discharge from it either a harpoon or some 
 explosive bullets, which make frightful lacerations in the 
 body of the victim ; but the " Pilgrim '' was not provided 
 with apparatus of this description ; not only are all the contri- 
 vances of this kind very costly and difficult to manage, but the 
 fishermen generally are averse to innovations, and prefer the 
 old-fashioned harpoons. It was with these alone that Captain 
 Hull was now about to encounter the finback that was lying 
 some four miles distant from his ship. 
 
 The weather promised as favourably as could be for the 
 
60 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 enterprise. The sea was calm, and the wind moreover was 
 still moderating, so that there was no likelihood of the 
 schooner drifting away during the captain's absence. 
 
 When the starboard whale-boat had been lowered, and the 
 four sailors had entered it, Howick passed a couple of har- 
 poons down to them, and some lances which had been care- 
 fully sharpened ; to these were added five coils of stout and 
 supple rope, each 600 feet long, for a whale when struck often 
 dives so deeply that even these lengths of line knotted to- 
 gether are found to be insufficient. After these implements 
 of attack had been properly stowed in the bows, the crew had 
 only to await the pleasure of their captain. 
 
 The " Pilgrim," before the sailors left her, had been made 
 to heave to, and the yards were braced so as to secure her 
 remaining as stationary as possible. As the time drew near 
 for the captain to quit her, he gave a searching look all round 
 to satisfy himself that everything was in order ; he saw that 
 the sheets were properly tightened, and the sails trimmed 
 as they should be, and then calling the young apprentice to 
 his side, he said, — 
 
 " Now, Dick, I am going to leave you for a few hours : 
 while I am away, I hope that it will not be necessary for you 
 to make any movement whatever. However, you must be on 
 the watch. It is not very likely, but it is possible that this 
 finback may carry us out to some distance. If so, you will 
 have to follow ; and in that case, I am sure you may rely upon 
 Tom and his friends for assistance." 
 
 One and all, the negroes assured the captain of their will- 
 ingness to obey Dick's instructions, the sturdy Hercules 
 rolling up his capacious shirt-sleeves as if to show that he 
 was ready for immediate action. The captain went on, — 
 
 " The weather is beautifully fine, Dick, and I see no pros- 
 pect of the wind freshening ; but come what may, I have one 
 direction to give you which I strictly enforce. You must not 
 leave the ship. If I want you to follow us, I will hoist a flag 
 on the boat-hook." 
 
PREPARATIONS FOR AN ATTACK. 6 1 
 
 " You may trust me, sir," answered Dick ; " and I will 
 keep a good look-out." 
 
 " All right, my lad ; keep a cool head and a good heart. 
 You are second captain now, you know. I never heard of 
 any one of your age being placed in such a post ; be a credit 
 to your position ! " 
 
 Dick blushed, and the bright flush that rose to his cheeks 
 spoke more than words. 
 
 '' The lad may be trusted," murmured the captain to him- 
 self ; " he is as modest as he is courageous. Yes ; he may 
 be trusted." 
 
 It cannot be denied that the captain was not wholly with- 
 out compunction at the step he was taking ; he was aware 
 of the danger to which he was exposing himself, but he 
 beguiled himself with the persuasion that it was only for a 
 few hours ; and his fisherman's instinct was very keen. It 
 was not only for himself ; the desire upon the part of the 
 crew was almost irresistibly strong that every opportunity 
 ought to be employed for making the cargo of the schooner 
 equal to her owner's expectations. And so he finally prepared 
 to start. 
 
 " I wish you all success ! " said Mrs. Weldon. 
 
 " Many thanks ! " he replied. 
 
 Little Jack put in his word, — 
 
 " And you will try and catch the whale without hurting him 
 much ? : ' 
 
 " All right, young gentleman,*' answered the captain ; " he 
 shall hardly feel the tip of our fingers ! " 
 
 " Sometimes," said Cousin Benedict, as if he had been, 
 pondering the expedition in relation to his pet science, " some- 
 times there are strange insects clinging to the backs of these 
 great mammifers ; do you think you are likely to procure me 
 any specimens?" 
 
 "You shall soon have the opportunity of investigating for 
 yourself," was the captain's reply. 
 
 "And you, Tom; we shall be looking to you for help in 
 
62 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 cutting up our prize, when we get it alongside,'' continued 
 he. 
 
 " We shall be quite ready, sir," said the negro. 
 
 " One thing more, Dick," added the captain ; "you may as 
 well be getting up the empty barrels out of the hold ; they 
 will be all ready." 
 
 '' It shall be done, sir," answered Dick promptly. 
 
 If everything went well it was the intention that the whale 
 after it had been killed should be towed to the side of the 
 schooner, where it would be firmly lashed. Then the sailors 
 with their feet in spiked shoes would get upon its back and 
 proceed to cut the blubber, from head to tail, in long strips, 
 which would first be divided into lumps about a foot and a 
 half square, the lumps being subsequently chopped into 
 smaller portions capable of being stored away in casks. The 
 ordinary rule would be for a ship, as soon as the flaying was 
 complete, to make its way to land where the blubber could 
 be at once boiled down, an operation by which it is reduced 
 by about a third of its weight, and by which it yields all its 
 oil, the only portion of it which is of any value. Under pre- 
 sent circumstances, however, Captain Hull would not think 
 of melting down the blubber until his arrival at Valparaiso, 
 and as he was sanguine that the wind would soon set in a 
 favourable direction, he calculated that he should reach that 
 port in less than three weeks, a period during which his cargo 
 would not be deteriorated. 
 
 The latest movement with regard to the "Pilgrim'' had 
 been to bring her somewhat nearer the spot where the spouts 
 of vapour indicated the presence of the coveted prize. The 
 creature continued to swim about in the reddened waters, 
 opening and shutting its huge jaws like an automaton, and 
 absorbing at every mouthful whole myriads of animalcula. 
 No one entertained a fear that it would try to make an escape ; 
 it was the unanimous verdict that it was " a fighting whale," 
 and one that would resist all attacks to the very end. 
 
 As Captain Hull descended the rope-ladder and took his 
 
The captain's voice came from the retreating boat. 
 
 E 
 
PREPARATIONS FOR AN ATTACK. 65 
 
 place in the bows of the boat, Mrs. Weldon and all on board 
 renewed their good wishes. 
 
 Dingo stood with his fore-paws upon the taffrail, and ap- 
 peared as much as any to be bidding the adventurous party 
 farewell. 
 
 When the boat pushed off, those who were left onboard the 
 " Pilgrim " made their way slowly to the bows, from which 
 the most e-xtensive view was to be gained. 
 
 The captain's voice came from the retreating boat, — 
 
 " A sharp look-out, Dick; a sharp look-out; one eye on 
 us, one on the ship ! " 
 
 "Ay, ay, sir," replied the apprentice. 
 
 By his gestures the captain showed that he was under 
 some emotion ; he called out again, but the boat had made 
 such headway that it was too far off for any words to be 
 heard. 
 
 Dingo broke out into a piteous howl. 
 
 The dog was still standing erect, his eye upon the boat in 
 the distance. To the sailors, ever superstitious, the howling 
 was not reassuring. Even Mrs. Weldon was startled. 
 
 " Why, Dingo, Dingo," she exclaimed, " this isn't the way 
 to encourage your friends. Come here, sir ; you must behave 
 better than that ! " 
 
 Sinking down on all fours the animal walked slowly up to 
 Mrs. Weldon, and began to lick her hand. 
 
 " Ah ! " muttered old Tom, shaking his head solemnly, " he 
 doesn't wag his tail at all. A bad omen." 
 
 All at once the dog gave a savage growl. 
 
 As she turned her head, Mrs. Weldon caught sight of Ne- 
 goro making his way to the forecastle, probably actuated by 
 the general spirit of curiosity to follow the manoeuvres of the 
 whale-boat. He stopped and seized a handspike as soon as 
 he saw the ferocious attitude of the dog. 
 
 The lady was quite unable to pacify the animal, which 
 
 seemed about to fly upon the throat of the cook, but Dick 
 
 Sands called out loudly, — 
 
 E 2 
 
66 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 " Down, Dingo, down ! " 
 
 The dog obeyed ; but it seemed to be with extreme reluc- 
 ance that he returned to Dick's side ; he continued to growl, 
 as if still remembering his rage. Negoro had turned very 
 pale, and having put down the handspike, made his way 
 cautiously back to his own quarters. 
 
 " Hercules,'' said Dick, " I must get you to keep your eye 
 upon that man." 
 
 " Yes, I will," he answered, significantly clenching his fists. 
 
 Dick took his station at the helm, whence he kept an ear- 
 nest watch upon the whale-boat, which under the vigorous 
 plying of the seamen's oars had become little more than a 
 speck upon the water. 
 
A CATASTROPHE. 67 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 A CATASTROPHE. 
 
 EXPERIENCED whaleman as he was, Captain Hull knew the 
 difficulty of the task he had undertaken ; he was alive to 
 the importance of making his approach to the whale from 
 leeward, so that there should be no sound to apprise the 
 creature of the proximity of the boat. He had perfect 
 confidence in his boatswain, and felt sure that he would 
 take the proper course to insure a favourable result to the 
 enterprise. 
 
 "We mustn't show ourselves too soon, Howick," he said. 
 
 " Certainly not," replied Howick ; " I am going to skirt the 
 edge of the discoloured water, and I shall take good care to 
 get well to leeward." 
 
 " All right,'' the captain answered ; and turning to the crew 
 said, " Now, my lads, as quietly as you can." 
 
 Muffling the sound of their oars by placing straw in the 
 rowlocks, and avoiding the least unnecessary noise, the men 
 skilfully propelled the boat along the outline of the water 
 tinged by the Crustacea, so that while the starboard oars still 
 dipped in the green and limpid sea, those to port were in the 
 deep-dyed .waves, and seemed as though they were dripping 
 with blood. 
 
 " Wine on this side, water on that," said one of the sailors 
 jocosely. 
 
 " But neither of them fit to drink," rejoined the captain 
 sharply ; " so just hold your tongue ! " 
 
68 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 Under Howick's guidance the boat now glided steadily 
 on to the greasy surface of the reddened waters, where she 
 appeared to float as on a pool of oil. The whale seemed 
 utterly unconscious of the attack that was threatening it, and 
 allowed the boat to come nearer without exhibiting any sign 
 of alarm. 
 
 The wide circuit which the captain had thought it advisa- 
 ble to take had the effect of considerably increasing the 
 distance between his boat and the " Pilgrim," whilst the 
 strange rapidity with which objects at sea become diminished 
 in apparent magnitude, as if viewed through the wrong end 
 of a telescope, made the ship look farther away than she 
 actually was. 
 
 Another half-hour elapsed, and at the end of it the captain 
 found himself so exactly to leeward that the huge body of the 
 whale was precisely intermediate between his boat and the 
 "Pilgrim." A closer approach must now be made; every 
 precaution must be used ; but the time had come to get suf- 
 ficiently near for the harpoon to be discharged. 
 
 " Slowly, my men," said the captain, in a low voice ; 
 "slowly and softly !" 
 
 Howick muttered something that implied that the whale 
 had ceased blowing so hard, and that it was aware of their 
 approach ; the captain, upon this, enjoined the most perfect 
 silence, but urged his crew onwards, until, in five or six 
 minutes, they were within a cable's length of the finback. 
 Erect at the stern the boatswain stood, and manoeuvred to get 
 the boat as close as possible to the whale's left flank, while he 
 made it an object of special care to keep beyond the reach of 
 its formidable tail, one stroke of which could involve them 
 all in instantaneous disaster. 
 
 The manipulation of the boat thus left to the boatswain, 
 the captain made ready for the arduous effort that was before 
 him. At the extreme bow, harpoon in hand, with his legs 
 somewhat astride so as to insure his equilibrium, he stood 
 prepared to plunge his weapon into the mass that rose above 
 
A CATASTROPHE. 69 
 
 the surface of the sea. By his side, coiled in a pail, and 
 with one end firmly attached to the harpoon, was the first 
 of the five lines which, if the whale should dive to a con- 
 siderable depth, would have to be joined end to end, one after 
 another. 
 
 " Are you ready, my lads ? " said he, hardly above a 
 whisper. 
 
 "Ay, ay, sir," replied Howick, speaking as gently as his 
 master, and giving a firmer grip to the rudder-oar that he 
 held in his hands. 
 
 " Then, alongside at once," was the captain's order, which 
 was promptly obeyed, so that in a few minutes the boat 
 was only about ten feet from the body of the whale. The 
 animal did not move. Was it asleep ? In that case there 
 was hope that the very first stroke might be fatal. But it 
 was hardly likely. Captain Hull felt only too sure that there 
 was some different cause to be assigned for its remaining 
 so still and stationary ; and the rapid glances of the boat- 
 swain showed that he entertained the same suspicion. But 
 it was no time for speculation ; the moment for action had 
 arrived, and no attempt was made on either hand to exchange 
 ideas upon the subject. 
 
 Captain Hull seized his weapon tightly by the shaft, and 
 having poised it several times in the air, in order to make 
 more sure of his aim, he gathered all his strength and hurled 
 it against the side of the finback. 
 
 " Back water ! " he shouted 
 
 The sailors pushed back with all their might, and the 
 boat in an instant was beyond the range of the creature's ' 
 tail. 
 
 And now the immoveableness of the animal was at once 
 accounted for. 
 
 " See ; there's a youngster ! " exclaimed Howick. 
 
 And he was not mistaken. Startled by the blow of the 
 harpoon the monster had heeled over on to its side, and the 
 movement revealed a young whale which the mother had 
 
•JO DICK. SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 been disturbed in the act of suckling. It was a discovery 
 which made Captain Hull aware that the capture of the 
 whale would be attended with double difficulty ; he knew 
 that she would defend " her little one " (if such a term can 
 be applied to a creature that was at least twenty feet long) 
 with the most determined fury ; yet having made what he 
 considered a successful commencement of the attack, he 
 would not be daunted, nor deterred from his endeavour to 
 secure so fine a prize. 
 
 The whale did not, as sometimes happens, make a preci- 
 pitate dash upon the boat, a proceeding which necessitates 
 the instant cutting of the harpoon-line, and an immediate 
 retreat, but it took the far more usual course of diving 
 downwards almost perpendicularly. It was followed by its 
 calf ; very soon, however, after rising once again to the sur- 
 face with a sudden bound, it began swimming along under 
 water with great rapidity. 
 
 Before its first plunge Captain Hull and Howick had suf- 
 ficient opportunity to observe that it was an unusually large 
 balaenoptera, measuring at least eighty feet from head to 
 tail, its colour being of a yellowish-brown, dappled with 
 numerous spots of a darker shade. 
 
 The pursuit, or what may be more aptly termed "the 
 towing," of the whale had now fairly commenced. The 
 sailors had shipped their oars, and the whale-boat darted like 
 an arrow along the . surface of the waves. In spite of the 
 oscillation, which was very violent, Howick succeeded in 
 maintaining equilibrium, and did not need the repeated in- 
 junctions with which the agitated captain urged his boatswain 
 to be upon his guard. 
 
 But fast as the boat flew along, she could not keep pace 
 with the whale, and so rapidly did the line run out that 
 except proper care had been taken to keep the bucket in 
 which it was coiled filled with water, the friction against the 
 edge of the boat would inevitably have caused it to take fire. 
 The whale gave no indication of moderating its speed, so 
 
A CATASTROPHE. 7 1 
 
 that the first line was soon exhausted, and the second had 
 to be attached to its end, only to be run out with like rapidity. 
 In a few minutes more it was necessary to join on the third 
 line ; it was evident that the whale had not been hit in a 
 vital part, and so far from rising to the surface, the oblique 
 direction of the rope indicated that the creature was seeking 
 yet greater depths. 
 
 " Confound it ! " exclaimed the captain ; " it seems as if 
 the brute is going to run out all our line." 
 
 " Yes ; and see what a distance the animal is dragging us 
 away from the ' Pilgrim,' " answered Howick. 
 
 " Sooner or later, however," said Captain Hull, " the 
 thing must come to the surface ; she is not a fish, you 
 know." 
 
 " She is saving her breath for the sake of her speed," said 
 one of the sailors with a grin. 
 
 But grin as he might, both he and his companions began 
 to look serious when the fourth line had to be added to the 
 third, and more serious still when the fifth was added to the 
 fourth. The captain even began to mutter imprecations upon 
 the refractory brute that was putting their patience to so 
 severe a test. 
 
 The last line was neai'ly all uncoiled, and the general con- 
 sternation was growing very great, when there was observed 
 to be a slight slackening in the tension. 
 
 " Thank Heaven ! " cried the captain ; " the beast has tired 
 herself out at last." 
 
 Casting his eye towards the " Pilgrim," he saw at a glance 
 that she could not be less than five miles to leeward. It 
 was a long distance, but when, according to his arrangement, 
 he had hoisted the flag on the boat-hook which was to be the 
 signal for the ship to approach, he had the satisfaction of 
 seeing that Dick Sands and the negroes at once began bracing 
 the yards to get as near as possible to the wind. The breeze, 
 however, blew only in short, unsteady puffs, and it was only 
 too evident that the "Pilgrim" would have considerable 
 
72 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 difficulty in working her way to the whale-boat, even if she' 
 succeeded at last. 
 
 Meantime, just as had been expected, the whale had 
 risen to the surface of the water, the harpoon still fixed 
 firmly in her side. She remained motionless, apparently 
 waiting for her calf, which she had far out-distanced in her 
 mad career. Captain Hull ordered his men to pull towards 
 her as rapidly as they could, and on getting close up, two of 
 the sailors, following the captain's example, shipped their 
 oars and took up the long lances with which the whale was 
 now to be attacked. Howick held himself in readiness to 
 sheer off quickly in the event of the finback making a turn 
 towards the boat. 
 
 "Now, my lads!" shouted the captain. "Look out! 
 take a good aim ! no false shots ! Are you ready, Howick ? '' 
 
 " Quite ready, captain,'' answered the boatswain, adding, 
 "but it perplexes me altogether to see the brute so quiet all 
 of a sudden.'' 
 
 " It looks suspicious, 5 ' said the captain ; "but nevermind; 
 go on ! straight ahead ! " 
 
 Captain Hull was becoming more excited every moment. ' 
 
 During the time the boat was approaching, the whale had 
 only turned round a little in the water without changing 
 its position. It was evidently still looking for its calf, which 
 was not to be seen by its side. All of a sudden it gave a 
 jerk with its tail which carried it some few yards away. 
 
 The men were all excited. Was the beast going to escape 
 again ? Was the fatiguing pursuit all to come over a second 
 time ? Must not the chase be abandoned ? Would not the 
 prize have to be given up ? 
 
 But no : the whale was not starting on another flight ; it 
 had merely turned so as to face the boat, and now rapidly 
 beating the water with its enormous fins, it commenced a 
 frantic dash forwards. 
 
 " Look out, Howick, she's coming ! " shouted Captain 
 Hull. 
 
The boat was well-nigh full of water, and in imminent danger of being 
 
 capsized. 
 
A CATASTROPHE. 75 
 
 The skilful boatswain was all on the alert ; the boat 
 swerved, as if by instinct, so as to avoid the blow, and as 
 the whale passed furiously by, she received three tremendous 
 thrusts from the lances of the captain and the two men, 
 who all endeavoured to strike at some vital part. There 
 was a sudden pause. The whale spouted up two gigantic 
 columns of blood and water, lashed its tail, and, with bounds 
 and plunges that were terrible to behold, renewed its angry 
 attack upon the boat. 
 
 None but the most determined of whalemen could fail 
 to lose their head under such an assault. Calm and col- 
 lected, however, the crew remained. Once again did 
 Howick adroitly sheer aside, and once again did the three 
 lances do .their deadly work upon the huge carcase as it 
 rolled impetuously past ; but this time, so great was the 
 wave that was caused by the infuriated animal, that the 
 boat was well-nigh full of water, and in imminent danger 
 of being capsized. 
 
 " Bale away, men ! " cried the captain. 
 
 Putting down their oars, the other sailors set to work 
 baling with all their might. Captain Hull cut the harpoon- 
 line, now no longer required, because the whale, maddened 
 with pain and grief for the loss of its offspring, would cer- 
 tainly make no further attempt to escape, but would fight 
 desperately to the very end. 
 
 The finback was obviously bent on a third onslaught upon 
 the boat, which, being in spite of all the men's exertions 
 still more than half full of water, no longer answered readily 
 to the rudder-oar. 
 
 No one thought of flight. The swiftest boat could be 
 overtaken in a very few bounds. There was no alternative 
 but to face the encounter. It was not long in coming. 
 Their previous good fortune failed them. The whale in 
 passing caught the boat with such a violent blow from its 
 dorsal fin, that the men lost their footing and the lances 
 missed their mark. 
 
76 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 " Where's Howick ? " screamed the captain in alarm. 
 
 " Here I am, captain ; all right !'' replied the boatswain, 
 who had scrambled to his feet only to find that the oar 
 with which he had been steering was snapped in half. 
 
 " The rudder's smashed," he said. 
 
 " Take another, Howick ; quick ! " cried the captain. 
 
 But scarcely had he time to replace the broken oar, when 
 a bubbling was heard a few yards away from the boat, and 
 the young whale made its appearance on the surface of the 
 sea. Catching sight of it instantly, the mother made a 
 fresh clash in its direction ; the maternal instincts were 
 aroused, and the contest must become more deadly than 
 ever. 
 
 Captain Hull looked towards the " Pilgrim," and waved 
 his signal frantically above his head. It was, however, with 
 no hope of succour ; he was only too well aware that no 
 human efforts could effectually hasten the arrival of the 
 ship. Dick Sands indeed had at once obeyed the first 
 summons ; already the wind was filling the sails, but in 
 default of steam-power her progress at best could not be 
 otherwise than slow. Not only did Dick feel convinced 
 that it would be a useless waste of time to lower a boat and 
 come off with the negroes to the rescue, but he remembered 
 the strict orders he had received on no account to quit the 
 ship. Captain Hull, however, could perceive that the ap- 
 prentice had had the aft-boat lowered, and was towing it 
 along, so that it should be in readiness for a refuge as soon 
 as they should get within reach. 
 
 But the whale, close at hand, demanded attention that 
 could ill be spared for the yet distant ship. Covering her 
 young one with her body, she was manifestly designing 
 another charge full upon the boat. 
 
 " On your guard, Howick ! sheer off ! '' bellowed the cap- 
 tain. 
 
 But the order was useless. The fresh oar that the boat- 
 swain had taken to replace the broken one was considerably 
 
A CATASTROPHE. yy 
 
 shorter, and consequently it failed in lever-power. There 
 was, in fact, no helm for the boat to answer. The sailors 
 saw the failure, and, convinced that all was lost, uttered one 
 long, despairing cry that might have been heard on board 
 the <; Pilgrim." Another moment, and from beneath there 
 came a tremendous blow from the monster's tail that sent 
 the boat flying in the air. In fragments it fell back again 
 into a sea that was lashed into fury by the angry flapping of 
 the finback's fins. 
 
 Was it not possible for the unfortunate men, bleeding 
 and wounded as they were, still to save themselves by cling- 
 ing to some floating spar ? Captain Hull is indeed seen 
 endeavouring to hoist the boatswain on to a drifting plank. 
 But all in vain. There is no hope. The whale, writhing in 
 the convulsions of death, returns yet once again to the 
 attack ; the waters around the struggling sailors seethe and 
 foam. A brief turmoil follows as if there were the bursting 
 of some vast waterspout. 
 
 In a quarter of an hour afterwards, Dick Sands, with 
 the negroes, reaches the scene of the catastrophe. All is 
 still and desolate. Every living object has vanished. 
 Nothing is visible except a few fragments of the whale-boat 
 floating on the blood-stained water. 
 
78 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 dick's promotion. 
 
 The first feeling experienced by those on board the " Pil- 
 grim," after witnessing the terrible disaster, was one of grief 
 and horror at the fearful death that had befallen the victims. 
 Captain Hull and his men had been swept away before their 
 very eyes, and they had been powerless to assist. Not one 
 was saved ; the schooner had reached the spot too late to 
 offer the least resistance to the attacks of the formidable 
 sea-monster. 
 
 When Dick and the negroes returned to the ship after 
 their hopeless search, with only the corroboration of their 
 sad foreboding that captain and crew had disappeared for 
 ever, Mrs. Weldon sank upon her knees ; little Jack knelt 
 beside her crying bitterly ; and Dick, old Nan, and all the 
 negroes stood reverently around her whilst with great devout- 
 ness the lady offered up the prayer of commendation for 
 the souls of the departing. All sympathized heartily with 
 her supplications, nor was there any diminution of their 
 fervour when she proceeded to implore that the survivors 
 might have strength and courage for their own hour of 
 need. 
 
 The situation was indeed very grave. Here was the 
 w Pilgrim " in the middle of the Pacific, hundreds of miles 
 away from the nearest land, without captain, without crew, 
 at the mercy of the wind and waves. It was a strange fata- 
 lity that had brought the whale across their path ; it was a 
 
DICK'S PROMOTION. 79 
 
 fatality stranger still that had induced her captain, a man 
 of no ordinary prudence, to risk even his life for the sake 
 of making good a deficient cargo. It was an event almost 
 unknown in the annals of whale-fishing that not a single 
 man in the whale-boat should escape alive ; nevertheless, it 
 was all too true ; and now, of all those left on board, Dick 
 Sands, the apprentice-boy of fifteen years of age, was the 
 sole individual who had the slightest knowledge of the 
 management of a ship ; the negroes, brave and willing as 
 they were, were perfectly ignorant of seamen's duties ; and, 
 to crown all, here was a lady with her child on board, for 
 whose safety the commander of the vessel would be held 
 responsible. 
 
 Such were the facts which presented themselves to the 
 mind of Dick as, with folded arms, he stood gazing 
 gloomily at the spot where Captain Hull, his esteemed 
 benefactor, had sunk to rise no more. The lad raised his 
 eyes sadly ; he scanned the horizon with the vain hope 
 that he might perchance descry some passing vessel to 
 which he could confide Mrs. Weldon and her son ; for 
 himself, his mind was made up ; he had already resolved 
 that nothing should induce him to quit the " Pilgrim " until 
 he had exhausted every energy in trying to carry her into 
 port. 
 
 The ocean was all deserted. Since the disappearance 
 of the whale nothing had broken the monotonous surface 
 either of sea or sky. The apprentice, short as his experi- 
 ence was, knew enough to be aware that he was far out of 
 the common track alike of merchantmen or whalers ; he. 
 would not buoy himself up with false expectations ; he 
 would look his situation full and fairly in the face ; he would 
 do his best, and trust hopefully in guidance from the Power 
 above. 
 
 Thus absorbed in his meditations he did not observe 
 that he was not alone. Negoro, who had gone below im- 
 mediately after the catastrophe, had again come back upon 
 
 F 
 
8o DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 deck. What this mysterious character had felt upon 
 witnessing the awful calamity it would be impossible to say. 
 Although with his eye he had keenly taken in every detail 
 of the melancholy spectacle, every muscle of his face had 
 remained unmoved ; not a gesture, not a word betrayed the 
 least emotion. Even if he had heard, he had taken no part, 
 nor evinced the faintest interest in Mrs. Weldon's outpouring 
 of prayer. 
 
 He had made his way to the stern, where Dick Sands was 
 pondering over the responsibilities of his own position, and 
 stood looking towards the apprentice without interrupting his 
 reverie. 
 
 Catching sight of him, Dick roused himself in an instant, 
 and said,— 
 
 " You want to speak to me ? " 
 
 " I must speak either to the captain or the boatswain," 
 answered the man. 
 
 " Negoro," said Dick sharply, " you know as well as I do, 
 that they are both drowned." 
 
 " Then where am I to get my orders from ? " asked the 
 fellow insolently. 
 
 " From me," promptly rejoined the apprentice. 
 
 " From you ! from a boy of fifteen ? " 
 
 "Yes r from me," repeated Dick, in a firm and resolute 
 voice, looking at the man until he recoiled under his gaze. 
 " From 7iic" 
 
 Mrs. Weldon had heard what passed. 
 
 " I wish every one on board to understand," she interposed, 
 " that Dick Sands is captain now. Orders must be taken 
 from him, and they must be obeyed." 
 
 Negoro frowned, bit his lip, sneered, and having muttered 
 something that was unintelligible, made his way back to his 
 galley. 
 
 Meantime, the schooner under the freshening breeze had 
 been carried beyond the shoal of the crustaceans. Dick cast 
 his eye first at the sails, then along the deck, and seemed to 
 
DICK'S PROMOTION. 8f 
 
 become more and more alive to the weight of the obligation 
 that had fallen upon him ; but his heart did not fail him ; he 
 was conscious that the hopes of the passengers centred in 
 himself, and he was determined to let them see that he would 
 do his best not to disappoint them. 
 
 Although he was satisfied of his capability, with the help 
 of the negroes, to manipulate the sails, he was conscious of 
 a defect of the scientific knowledge which was requisite for 
 properly controlling the ship's course. He felt the want of 
 a few more years' experience. If only he had had longer 
 practice he would, he thought, have been as able as Captain 
 Hull himself to use the sextant, to take the altitude of the 
 stars, to calculate the true time with his chronometer ; sun, 
 moon, and planets should have been his guides ; from the fir- 
 mament, as from a dial-plate, he would have gathered the 
 teachings of his true position ; but all this was beyond him 
 as yet ; his knowledge went no further than the use of the 
 log and compass, and by these alone he must be content to 
 make his reckonings. But he kept up his courage, and did 
 not permit himself for one moment to despair of ultimate 
 success. 
 
 Mrs. Weldon needed little penetration to recognize the 
 thoughts which were passing in the mind of the resolute 
 youth. 
 
 " I see you have come to your decision, Dick," she said. 
 " The command of the ship is in your hands ; no fear but 
 that you will do your duty ; and Tom, and the rest of 
 them, no doubt, will render you every assistance in their 
 power." 
 
 "Yes, Mrs. Weldon," rejoined Dick brightly; "and 
 before long I shall hope to make them good seamen. If only 
 the weather lasts fair, everything will go on well enough ; 
 and if the weather turns out bad, we must not despond ; we 
 will get safe ashore." 
 
 He paused a moment and added reverently. — 
 
 " God helping us." 
 
 F 2 
 
82 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 Mrs. Weldon proceeded to inquire whether he had any 
 means of ascertaining the " Pilgrim's " present position. He 
 replied that the ship's chart would at once settle that. 
 Captain Hull had kept the reckoning accurately right up to 
 the preceding day. 
 
 " And what do you propose to do next ? " she asked. " Of 
 course you understand that in our present circumstances we 
 are not in the least bound to go to Valparaiso if there is a 
 nearer port which we could reach.** 
 
 " Certainly not," replied Dick ; " and therefore it is my 
 intention to sail due east, as by following that course we 
 are sure to come upon some part of the American coast." 
 
 " Do your best, Dick, to let us get ashore somewhere." 
 
 " Never fear, madam," he answered ; " as we get nearer 
 land we shall be almost sure to fall in with a cruiser which 
 will put us into the right track. If the wind does but re- 
 main in the north-west, and allow us to carry plenty of sail, 
 we shall get on famoujly." 
 
 He spoke with the cheery confidence of a good sailor who 
 knows the good ship beneath his feet. He had moved off a 
 few steps to go and take the helm, when Mrs. Weldon, 
 calling him back, reminded him that he had not yet ascer- 
 tained the true position of the schooner. Dick confessed 
 that it ought to be done at once, and going to the captain's 
 cabin brought out the chart upon which the ill-fated com- 
 mander had marked the bearings the evening before. Ac- 
 cording to his dead-reckoning they were in lat. 43° 35', S., 
 and long. 164 13', W. ; and as the schooner had made next 
 to no progress during the last twenty-four eventful hours, the 
 entry might fairly be accepted as representing approximately 
 their present position. 
 
 To the lady's inexperienced eye, as she bent over the out- 
 spread chart, it seemed that the land, as represented by the 
 brown patch which depicted the continent of South America 
 extending like a barrier between two oceans from Cape Horn 
 to Columbia, was, after all, not so very far distant ; the wide 
 
DICK'S PROMOTION. 83 
 
 space of the Pacific was not so broad but that it would be 
 quickly traversed. 
 
 " Oh, we shall soon be on shore ! " she said. 
 
 But Dick knew better. He had acquaintance enough 
 with the scale upon which the chart was constructed to be 
 aware that the " Pilgrim " herself would have been a speck 
 like a microscopic infusoria on the vast surface of that sea, 
 and that hundreds and hundreds of weary miles separated 
 her from the coast. 
 
 No time was to be lost. Contrary winds had ceased to 
 blow ; a fresh north-westerly breeze had sprung up, and the 
 cirri, or curl-clouds overhead indicated that for some time at 
 least the direction of the wind would be unchanged. Dick 
 appealed to the negroes, and tried to make them appreciate 
 Ihe difficulty of the task that had fallen to his lot. Tom 
 answered, in behalf of himself and all the rest, that they 
 were not only willing, but anxious, to do all they could to 
 assist him, saying that if their knowledge was small, yet their 
 arms were strong, and added that they should certainly be 
 obedient to every order he gave. 
 
 " My friends," said Dick, addressing them in reply ; " I 
 shall make it a point of myself taking the helm as much as 
 possible. But you know I must have my proper rest some- 
 times. No one can live without sleep. Now, Tom, I intend 
 you to stand by me for the remainder of the day. I will try 
 and make you understand how to steer by the aid of the 
 compass. It is not difficult. You will soon learn. I shall 
 have to leave you when I go to my hammock for an hour or 
 two." 
 
 " Is there nothing," said little Jack, "that I can learn to 
 do?" 
 
 " Oh yes, Jack ; you shall keep the wind in order," 
 answered Dick, smiling. 
 
 " That I will ! " cried the child, clapping his hands, while 
 the mother drew him to her side. 
 
 " And now, my men," was Dick's first order to his crew, 
 
84 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 " we must brace the yards to sail before the wind. I will 
 show you how." 
 
 " All right, Captain Sands ; we are at your service," said 
 old Tom gravely. 
 
85 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 THE NEW CREW. 
 
 Dick. Sands, captain of the " Pilgrim,'' would not lose a 
 moment in getting his ship under sail. His prime object 
 was to land his passengers safely at Valparaiso or some 
 other American port, and to accomplish his purpose it was 
 in the first place necessary that he should ascertain the 
 schooner's rate of speed and the direction that she was 
 taking. This information was to be obtained readily 
 enough by means of the log and compass, and the result 
 of each day's observations would be entered regularly on 
 the chart. 
 
 The log on board was a patent log, with a dial-plate and 
 screw, by means of which the distance that is travelled can 
 be measured accurately for any definite time ; it was an 
 instrument so simple that the negroes were very soon taught 
 its use. The slight error in the reckoning caused by the 
 action of the currents could only be rectified by astronomical 
 observtaions, which, as already has been stated, were beyond 
 Dick's attainments to make. 
 
 The idea more than once crossed Dick's mind whether he 
 would not take the " Pilgrim" back again to New Zealand ; the 
 distance was considerably less than it was to America, and 
 had the wind remained in the quarter whence it had been 
 blowing so long, it is more than likely he would have deter- 
 mined to retrace his course. But as the wind had now 
 
86 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 veered to the north-west, and there was every probability 
 that it was settled for a time, he came to the conclusion that 
 he had better take advantage of it and persevere in making 
 his way towards the east. Accordingly he lost no time in 
 putting his ship before the wind. 
 
 On a schooner the fore-mast usually carries four square 
 sails ; viz. on the lower mast a fore-sail, on the top-mast a top- 
 sail, on the top-gallant-mast a top-gallant-sail and a royal. 
 The main-mast carries only a fore and aft main-sail and a 
 top- sail. Between the masts upon the stays can be hoisted 
 a triple tier of stay-sails; while the bowsprit with its jib- 
 boom will carry the three jibs. 
 
 The jibs, the main-sail, the main-top-sail and the stay-sails 
 are all managed with comparative ease, because they can be 
 hoisted from the deck without the necessity of ascending the 
 mast to let fly the ropes, by which they are fastened to the 
 yards. With the sails on the fore-mast it is altogether a 
 more difficult business. In order either to unfurl them, to 
 take them in, or to reef them, it is necessary for a man to 
 clamber up by the shrouds, either to the fore-top, or to the 
 top-gallant cross-trees, and thence moving on to loose ropes 
 extended below the yards, to hold on by one hand whilst he 
 does his work with the other. The operation requires alike 
 the head and arm of an experienced mariner ; and, when a 
 fresh breeze has been blowing, it is a casualty far from un- 
 common for a sailor, confused by the flapping of the canvas 
 and the pitching of the vessel, to be blown overboard in the 
 act. 
 
 For the unpractised negroes the danger would necessarily be 
 very great. However, the wind at present was very moderate, 
 and the ship ploughed her way over the waves without any 
 violent oscillations. 
 
 At the time when Dick Sands, in obedience to the signal 
 he received from Captain Hull, proceeded to make his way 
 to the scene of the disaster, the " Pilgrim,'' as she lay to, was 
 
THE NEW CREW. 07 
 
 carrying only her jibs, main-sail, fore-sail, and fore-top-sail. 
 In order, therefore, to put her as near as possible to the wind, 
 it had been merely necessary to haul in the lee sheets and 
 braces, a manoeuvre in which the negroes had rendered all 
 the assistance that was necessary. It was requisite now to do 
 something more. To enable him to get straight before the 
 wind Dick wanted to increase his sail, and was desirous of 
 setting the fore-top-gallant and royal-sails with the main-top- 
 sail and stay-sails. 
 
 He was himself standing at the wheel. 
 
 " Now, my men," he shouted to the negroes ; " I want 
 your help. Do exactly as I tell you. Let go, Tom ! " 
 
 Tom looked puzzled. 
 
 " Let go ! unfasten that rope, I mean. And, Bat, come 
 along ; do the same as Tom." 
 
 The men did what they were bidden. 
 
 " That's right ! " continued Dick, and calling to Hercules, 
 said, — 
 
 " Now, Hercules ; a good strong pull ! " 
 
 To give such a direction to Hercules was somewhat 
 imprudent ; the rigging creaked again under his giant 
 strength. 
 
 " Gently, gently, my good fellow ! " said Dick, laughing ; 
 " you will have the mast down." 
 
 " I declare I hardly touched the rope,'' answered Hercules. 
 
 " Well, next time, you must only pretend to touch it," said 
 Dick ; and, continuing his orders, shouted, " Now easy ! 
 let fly ! make fast ! now brace round the yards ! all right ! 
 that's capital !" 
 
 The lee braces were loosened, the fore-sails turned slowly 
 round, and, catching the breeze, gave a slight impetus to the 
 ship. Dick's next orders were for the jib-sheets to be eased, 
 and then he called the men to the stern. 
 
 " Now," said he; "we must look to the main-mast; but 
 take care, Hercules, not to have it down.'' 
 
88 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 " I will be as careful as possible, Mr. Dick," submissively 
 replied Hercules, as though he were afraid to commit himself 
 to any rash promise. 
 
 The manoeuvre was simple enough. The main-sheet was 
 gradually slackened, the great sail took the wind and added 
 its powerful action to that of the fore-sails. The main-top-sail 
 was next brought to bear ; it was only stowed at the main-mast 
 head, so that there was nothing to do except to pull the halyards, 
 haul the tack and sheet, and unfurl it. But in pulling at the 
 halyards the muscular energy of Hercules, which was supple- 
 mented by that of Actaeon, not to forget little Jack, who had 
 volunteered his assistance, proved to be overpowering, and 
 the rope snapped in two. All three of them, of course, fell 
 flat upon the deck ; but fortunately neither of them was hurt, 
 and Jack laughed heartily at his tumble as an excellent joke. 
 
 " Up with you ! " cried Captain Dick ; " there's no harm 
 done ; splice the rope, and haul away more gently next 
 time." 
 
 It took but a few minutes to execute the order, and the 
 " Pilgrim " was soon sailing away rapidly with her head to 
 the east. 
 
 " Well done, my friends ! " said Dick, who had not left his 
 post at the helm ; " you will be first-rate sailors before the 
 end of the voyage.'' 
 
 " We shall do our best, I promise you, Captain Sands,'' 
 replied Tom, making it a point to give the young commander 
 his proper title. 
 
 Mrs. Weldon also congratulated the new crew upon the 
 success of their first attempt. 
 
 " I believe it was Master Jack who broke that rope," said 
 Hercules, with a sly twinkle in his eye ; " he is very strong, 
 I can tell you." 
 
 Jack looked as though he thoroughly appreciated the com- 
 pliment, and evidenced his satisfaction by giving his huge 
 friend a hearty shake of the hand. 
 
All three of them fell flat upon the deck. 
 
THE NEW CREW. , 91 
 
 There were still several sails that were not yet set. Run- 
 ning well before the wind as the " Pilgrim " was, Dick never- 
 theless felt that the top-gallant, royal, and stay-sails, if brought 
 into service, would materially assist her progress, and he 
 determined not to dispense with their help. The stay-sails 
 could be hoisted from below, but to bring the top-gallant and 
 royal into play demanded more experience than any of his 
 crew had had. Knowing that he could not entrust the task 
 to them, and yet resolved not to be baulked of his wish to 
 set them, he undertook the task himself. He first put Tom 
 to the helm, showing him how to keep the schooner's head 
 in the right direction, and having placed the other four at 
 the royal and top-gallant halyards, proceeded to mount the 
 foremast. 
 
 To clamber up the fore-mast andfore-top-mast shrouds on to 
 the cross-trees was mere child's play to the active apprentice. 
 In a few minutes he had unfurled the top-gallant-sail, mounted 
 to the royal-yard, unfurled the royal, again reached the cross- 
 trees, and having caught hold of one of the starboard back- 
 stays, had descended to the deck ; there he gave the 
 necessary directions, and the two sails were made fast, and 
 both yards braced. 
 
 Nor did this content him. The stay-sails were set between 
 the masts, and thus the " Pilgrim " was running along, 
 with all her canvas set and full. The only additional 
 sails which Dick could possibly have employed would have 
 been some studding-sails to windward, but as the setting of 
 these was a matter of some difficulty, and they were not 
 always readily taken in in case of a sudden squall, he 
 contented himself without them. 
 
 Again he took his place at the helm. The breeze was mani- 
 festly freshening, and the " Pilgrim," almost imperceptibly 
 heeling to starboard, glided rapidly along the surface of the 
 water, leaving behind her a wake, smooth and clean ; that bore 
 plain witness to the skill with which she had been designed. 
 
92 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 " This is good progress, Mrs. Weldon," he said ; " may 
 Heaven grant the wind and weather may continue thus 
 favourable ! " 
 
 The lady, in silence, shook the boy's hand ; and then, 
 worn-out with the excitement of the past hours, v/ent to 
 her cabin, where she lay down and fell into a troubled 
 doze. 
 
 The new crew remained on watch. They were stationed on 
 the forecastle, in readiness to make any alteration which the 
 sails might require, but the wind was so steady and unshift- 
 ing that no need arose for their services. 
 
 And Cousin Benedict? all this time, where was he? and 
 what had he been doing ? 
 
 He was sitting in his cabin ; he had a magnifying-glass 
 in his hand and was studying an articulata of the order 
 orthoptera, an insect of the Blattidas family ; its charac- 
 teristics are a roundish body, rather long wings, flat elytra, and 
 a head hidden by the prothorax. He had been on deck at 
 the time of the calamity ; the ill-fated captain with the crew 
 had been drowned before his very eyes ; but he said nothing ; 
 not that he was unmoved ; to think that he was not struck 
 with horror would be to libel his kind and pitying nature. 
 His sympathy was aroused, especially for his cousin ; he 
 pressed her hand warmly as if he would assure her of his 
 truest commiseration ; but he said nothing ; he hurried off 
 towards his cabin ; and who shall deny that it was to devise 
 some wonderfully energetic measures that he would take in 
 consequence of this melancholy event ? 
 
 Passing the kitchen, however, he caught sight of Negoro 
 in the act of crushing a blatta, an American species of cock- 
 roach. He broke out into a storm of invective, and in tones 
 of indignation demanded the surrender of the insect, which 
 Negoro made with cool contempt. In a moment Captain 
 Hull and his partners in death were all forgotten ; the 
 enthusiast had secured a prize with which he hastened to his 
 
THE NEW CREW. 93 
 
 own little compartment, where he was soon absorbed in 
 proving to his own satisfaction, in opposition to the opinion 
 of other entomologists, that the blattae of the phoraspous 
 species, which arc remarkable for their colours, differ in their 
 habits from blattae of the ordinary sort. 
 
 For the remainder of the day perfect order reigned on 
 board the " Pilgrim." Though they were unable to shake 
 off the sickening feeling" of horror roused by the frightful 
 disaster, and felt that they had sustained a startling shock, 
 all the passengers seemed mechanically to fall into their 
 usual routine. Dick Sands, though avowedly at the wheel, 
 seemed to be everywhere, with an eye for everything, and his 
 amateur crew obeyed him readily, and with the promptness of 
 a willing activity. 
 
 Negoro made no further overt attempt to question the 
 young captain's authority, but remained shut up in his kitchen. 
 Dick made no secret of his determination to place the cook 
 in close confinement if he exhibited any future sign of insub- 
 ordination. Hercules was ready to carry him off bodily to 
 the hold, and old Nan was equally ready to take his place in 
 the cooking department. Probably Negoro was aware of all 
 this ; at any rate he did not seem disposed to give any 
 further cause of offence at present. 
 
 As the day advanced the wind continued to freshen ; but 
 no shifting of the sails seemed necessary. The " Pilgrim" 
 was running well. There was no need to diminish her spread 
 of canvas. Masts as solid and rigging as strong as hers 
 could stand a far heavier breeze. 
 
 As a general rule, it is deemed prudent in case of a squall 
 to shorten sail at night, and especially to take in top-gallant 
 and royal sails ; but the weather prospects now were all so 
 promising and satisfactory that Dick persuaded himself he 
 was under no necessity to take this precaution ; he rather felt 
 himself bound to take the strongest measures he could to 
 expedite his reaching less unfrequented waters. He made 
 
94 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 up his mind, however, not to leave the deck at all that 
 night. 
 
 The young captain made every effort to get an approximate 
 reckoning of the schooner's progress. He hove the log 
 every half-hour, and duly registered the result of each suc- 
 cessive examination. There were two compasses on board ; 
 one in the binnacle close under the eye of the helmsman, 
 the other an inverted compass attached to the rafters 
 of the captain's cabin, so that without leaving his berth he 
 could see whether the man in charge of the wheel was holding 
 a proper course. 
 
 Every vessel that is duly furnished for a lengthened 
 voyage has always not only two compasses but two chrono- 
 meters, one to correct the other. The " Pilgrim " was not 
 deficient in this respect, and Dick Sands made a strong 
 point of admonishing his crew that they should take especial 
 care of the compasses, which under their present circum- 
 stances were of such supreme importance. 
 
 A misfortune, however, was in store for them. On the 
 night of the 12th, while Dick was on watch, the compass in 
 the cabin became detached from its fastening and fell on the 
 floor. The accident was not discovered until the following 
 morning. Whether the metal ferule that had attached the 
 instrument to the rafters had become rusty, or whether it 
 had been worn away by additional friction, it seemed impos- 
 sible to settle. All that could be said was that the compass 
 vas broken beyond repair. Dick was extremely grieved at 
 the loss ; but he did not consider that any one was to be 
 blamed for the mishap, and could only resolve for the future 
 to take extra care of the compass in the binnacle. 
 
 With the exception of this contretemps, everything appeared 
 to go on satisfactorily on board. Mrs. Weldon, reassured 
 by Dick's confidence, had regained much of her wonted 
 calmness, and was besides ever supported by a sincere 
 religious spirit. She and Dick had many a long conversation 
 
THE NEW CREW. 951 
 
 together. The ingenuous lad was always ready to take the 
 kind and intelligent lady into his counsel, and day by day 
 would point out to her on the chart the registers he made as 
 the result of his dead reckoning ; he would then try and 
 satisfy her that under the prevailing wind there could be no 
 doubt they must arrive at the coast of South America : 
 moreover, he said that, unless he was much mistaken, they 
 should sight the land at no great distance from Valpa- 
 raiso. 
 
 Mrs. Weldon had, in truth, no reason to question the cor- 
 rectness of Dick's representations ; she owned that provided 
 the wind remained in the same favourable quarter, there was 
 every prospect of their reaching land in safety ; nevertheless 
 at times she could not resist the misgiving that would arise 
 when she contemplated what might be the result of a change 
 of wind or a breaking of the weather. 
 
 With the light-heartedness that belonged to his age, Jack 
 soon fell back into his accustomed pursuits, and was to be 
 seen merrily running over the deck or romping with Dingo. 
 At times, it is true, he missed the companionship of Dick ; 
 but his mother made him comprehend that now that Dick 
 was captain, his time was too much occupied to allow him 
 any leisure for play, and the child quite understood that he 
 must not interrupt his old friend in his new duties. 
 
 The negroes performed their work with intelligence, and 
 seemed to make rapid progress in the art of seamanship. 
 Tom had been unanimously appointed boatswain, and took 
 one watch with Bat and Austin, the alternate watch being 
 discharged by Dick himself with Hercules and Actaeon. 
 One of them steered, so that the other two were free to watch 
 at the bows. As a general rule Dick Sands managed to 
 remain at the wheel all night ; five or six hours' sleep in the 
 daytime sufficed for him, and during the time when he was 
 lying down he entrusted the wheel to Tom or Bat, who under 
 his instructions had become very fair helmsmen. Although 
 
96 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 in these unfrequented waters there was little chance of running 
 foul of any other vessel, Dick invariably took the precaution 
 of lighting his side-lamps — a green one to starboard and 
 a red one to port. His exertions, however, were a great 
 strain upon him, and sometimes during the night his fatigue 
 would induce a heavy drowsiness, and he steered, as it were, 
 by instinct more than by attention. 
 
 On the night of the 13th, he was so utterly worn out that 
 he was obliged to ask Tom to relieve him at the helm whilst 
 he went down for a few hours' rest. Actaeon and Hercules 
 remained on watch on the forecastle. 
 
 The night was very dark ; the sky was covered with heavy 
 clouds that had formed in the chill evening air, and the sails 
 on the top-masts were lost in the obscurity. At the stern, 
 the lamps on either side of the binnacle cast a faint reflection 
 on the metal mountings of the wheel, leaving the deck 
 generally in complete darkness. 
 
 Towards three o'clock in the morning Tom was getting so 
 heavy with sleepiness that he was almost unconscious. His 
 eye, long fixed steadily on the compass, lost its power of vision, 
 and he fell into a doze from which it would require more than 
 a slight disturbance to arouse him. 
 
 Meantime a light shadow glided stealthily along the deck. 
 Creeping gradually up to the binnacle, Negoro put down 
 something heavy that he had brought in his hand. He 
 stole a keen and rapid glance at the dial of the compass, 
 and made his way back, unseen and unheard as he had 
 come. 
 
 Almost immediately afterwards, Tom awakened from his 
 slumber. His eye fell instinctively on the compass, and he 
 saw in a moment that the ship was out of her proper course. 
 By a turn of the helm he brought her head to what he sup- 
 posed to be the east. But he was mistaken. During his brief 
 interval of unconsciousness a piece of iron had been de- 
 posited beneath the magnetic needle, which by this means 
 
THE NEW CREW. 97 
 
 had been diverted thirty degrees to the right, and, instead of 
 pointing due north, inclined far towards north-east. 
 
 ' Consequently it came to pass that the " Pilgrim," supposed 
 by her young commander to be making good headway due 
 east, was in reality, under the brisk north-west breeze, speeding 
 along towards the south-east. 
 
 G 2 
 
98 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 CHAPTER XL 
 
 ROUGH WEATHER. 
 
 During the ensuing week nothing particular occurred on 
 board. The breeze still freshened, and the " Pilgrim " made 
 on the average 160 miles every twenty-four hours. The 
 speed was as great as could be expected from a craft of her 
 size. 
 
 Dick grew more and more sanguine in his anticipations 
 that it could not be long before the schooner would cross 
 the track of the mail-packets plying between the eastern 
 and western hemispheres. He had made up his mind to 
 hail the first passing vessel, and either to transfer his pas- 
 sengers, or what perhaps would be better still, to borrow a 
 few sailors, and, it might be, an officer to work the " Pilgrim " 
 to shore. He could not help, however, a growing sense of 
 astonishment, when day after day passed, and yet there was 
 no ship to be signalled. He kept the most vigorous look- 
 out, but all to no purpose. Three voyages before had he 
 made to the whale-fisheries, and his experience made him 
 sure that he ought now to be sighting some English or 
 American vessel on its way between the Equator and Cape 
 Horn. 
 
 Very different, however, was the true position of the 
 " Pilgrim " from what Dick supposed ; not only had the 
 ship been carried far out of her direct course by currents 
 the force of which there were no means of estimating, but 
 from the moment when the compass had been tampered with 
 by Negoro, the steering itself had put the vessel all astray. 
 
ROUGH WEATHER. 99 
 
 Unconscious of both these elements of disturbance, Dick 
 Sands was convinced that they were proceeding steadily 
 eastwards, and was perpetually encouraging Mrs. Weldon 
 and himself by the assurance that they must very soon arrive 
 within view of the American coast ; again and again asserting 
 that his sole concern was for his passengers, and that for 
 his own safety he had no anxiety. 
 
 '* But think, Dick," said the lady, " what a position you 
 would have been in, if you had not had your passengers. 
 You would have been alone with that terrible Negoro ; you 
 would have been rather alarmed then." 
 
 " 1 should have taken good care to put it out of Negoro's 
 power to do me any mischief, and then I should have worked 
 the ship by myself," answered the lad stoutly. 
 
 His very pluck gave Mrs. Weldon renewed confidence. 
 She was a woman with wonderful powers of endurance, and 
 it was only when she thought of her little son that she had 
 any feeling of despair ; yet even this she endeavoured to 
 conceal, and Dick's undaunted courage helped her. 
 
 Although the youth of the apprentice did not allow him to 
 pretend to any advanced scientific knowledge, he had the 
 proverbial " weather-eye " of the sailor. He was not only 
 very keen in noticing any change in the aspect of the sky, but 
 he had learnt from Captain Hull, who was a clever meteoro- 
 logist, to draw correct conclusions from the indications of 
 the barometer ; the captain, indeed, having taken the trouble 
 to make him learn by heart the general rules which are laid 
 down in Vorepierre's Dictiounaire Illnstre. 
 
 There are seven of these rules : — 
 
 i. If after a long period of fine weather the barometer falls 
 suddenly and continuously, although the mercury may be 
 descending for two or three days before there is an apparent 
 change in the atmosphere, there will ultimately be rain ; and 
 the longer has been the time between the first depression and 
 the commencement of the rain, the longer the rain may be 
 expected to last. 
 
IOO DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 2. Vice versa, if after a long period of wet weather the 
 barometer begins to rise slowly and steadily, fine weather 
 will ensue ; and the longer the time between the first 
 rising of the mercury and the commencement of the fine 
 weather, the longer the fine weather may be expected to 
 last. 
 
 3. If immediately after the fall or rise of the mercury a 
 change of weather ensues, the change will be of no long 
 continuance. 1 
 
 4. A gradual rise for two or three days during rain fore- 
 casts fine weather ; but if there be a fall immediately on the 
 arrival of the fine weather, it will not be for long. This rule 
 holds also conversely. 
 
 5. In spring and autumn a sudden fall indicates rain ; in 
 the summer, if very hot, it foretells a storm. In the winter, 
 after a period of steady frost, a fall prognosticates a change 
 of wind with rain and hail ; whilst a rise announces the 
 approach of snow. 
 
 6. Rapid oscillations of the mercury either way are not 
 to be interpreted as indicating either wet or dry weather of 
 any duration ; continuance of either fair or foul weather is 
 forecast only by a prolonged and steady rise or fall before- 
 hand. 
 
 7. At the end of autumn, after a period of wind and rain, 
 a rise may be expected to be followed by north wind and 
 frost. 
 
 Not merely had Dick got these rules by rote, but he had 
 tested them by his own observations, and had become sin- 
 gularly trustworthy in his forecasts of the weather. He made 
 a point of consulting the barometer several times every day, 
 and although to all appearances the sky indicated that the 
 fine weather was settled, it did not escape his observation 
 
 1 This and several of the other rules are concisely concentrated in 
 
 the couplet — 
 
 Long foretold, long last ; 
 
 S/iort notice, soon past. 
 
ROUGH WEATHER. IOI 
 
 that on the 20th the mercury showed a tendency to fall. Dick 
 knew that rain, if it came, would be accompanied by wind ; 
 an opinion in which he was very soon confirmed by the breeze 
 freshening, till the air was displaced at the rate of nearly 
 sixty feet a second, or more than forty miles an hour ; and 
 he recognized the necessity of at once shortening sail. He 
 had already used the precaution to take in the royal, the 
 main-top-sail, and the flying jib, but he now at once resolved 
 likewise to take in the top-gallant, and to have a couple of 
 reefs in the fore-top-sail. 
 
 To an inexperienced crew the last operation was far from 
 easy ; but there was no symptom of shrinking from it. Fol- 
 lowed by Bat and Austin, Dick mounted the rigging of the 
 foremast, and with little trouble got to the top-gallant-yard. 
 Had the weather been less unpromising he would have been 
 inclined to leave the two yards as they were, but anticipating 
 the ultimate necessity of being obliged to lower the mast, 
 he unrigged them, and let them down to the deck ; he knew 
 well enough that in the event of the gale rising as he 
 expected, the lowering of the mast as well as the shortening 
 of sail would contribute to diminish the strain and stress 
 upon the vessel. 
 
 It was the work of two hours to get this preliminary opera- 
 tion over. There still remained the task of taking in the 
 reefs in die top-sail. 
 
 The " Pilgrim " in one respect differed from most modern 
 vessels. She did not carry a double fore-top-sail, which 
 would very much have diminished the difficulty attending the 
 reefing. It was consequently necessary to proceed as before ; 
 to mount the rigging, by main force to haul in the flapping 
 canvas, and to make the fastening secure. But critical and 
 dangerous as the task was, it was successfully accomplished, 
 and the three young men, having descended safely to the 
 deck, had the satisfaction of seeing the schooner run easily 
 before the wind, which had further increased till it was 
 blowing a stiff gale. 
 
102 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 For three days the gale continued brisk and hard, yet 
 without any variation in its direction. But all along the 
 barometer was falling ; the mercury sank to 28 without 
 symptom of recovery. The sky was becoming overcast ; 
 clouds, thick and lowering, obscured the sun, and it was 
 difficult to make out where it rose or where it set. Dick 
 did his best to keep up his courage, but he could not dis- 
 guise from himself that there was cause for uneasiness. He 
 took no more rest than was absolutely necessary, and what 
 repose he allowed himself he always took on deck ; he main- 
 tained a calm exterior, but he was really tortured with anxiety. 
 
 Although the violence of the wind seemed to lull awhile, 
 Dick did not suffer himself to be betrayed into any false se- 
 curity ; he knew only too well what to expect, and after a 
 brief interval of comparative quiet, the gale returned and the 
 waves began to run very high. 
 
 About four o'clock one afternoon, Negoro (a most unusual 
 thing for him) emerged from his galley, and skulked to the 
 bows. Dingo was fast asleep, and did not make his ordinary 
 growl by way of greeting to his enemy. For half an hour 
 Negoro stood motionless, apparently surveying the horizon. 
 The heavy waves rolled past ; they were higher than the 
 condition of the wind warranted ; their magnitude witnessed 
 to a storm passing in the west, and there was every reason 
 to suspect that the " Pilgrim " might be caught by its violence. 
 
 Negoro looked long at the water ; he then raised his eyes 
 and scanned the sky. Above and below he might have 
 read threatening signs. The upper stratum of cloud was 
 travelling far more rapidly than that beneath, an indication 
 that ere long the masses of vapour would descend, and, 
 coming in contact with the lower current, would change the 
 gale into a tempest, which probably would increase to a 
 hurricane. 
 
 It might be from ignorance, or it might be from indifference, 
 but there was no indication of alarm on the face of Negoro ; 
 on the other hand there might be seen a sort of smile curling 
 
ROUGH WEATHER. I03 
 
 on his lip. After thus gazing above him and around him, 
 he clambered on to the bowsprit, and made his way by 
 degrees to the very end ; again he rested and looked about 
 him as if to explore the horizon ; after a while he clambered 
 back on deck, and soon stealthily retreated to his own quarters. 
 
 No doubt there was much cause for concern in the general 
 aspect of the weather ; but there was one point on which 
 they never failed to congratulate each other ; — that the 
 direction of the wind had never changed, and consequently 
 must be carrying them in the desired course. Unless a 
 storm should overtake them, they could continue their 
 present navigation without peril, and with every prospect of 
 finding a port upon the shore where they might put in. 
 Such were their mutual and acknowledged hopes ; but Dick 
 secretly felt the misgiving lest, without a pilot, he might in 
 his ignorance fail to find a harbour of refuge. Nevertheless, 
 he would not suffer himself to meet trouble half-way, and 
 kept up his spirits under the conviction that if difficulties 
 came he should be strengthened to grapple with them or make 
 his escape. 
 
 Time passed on, and the 9th of March arrived without 
 material change in the condition of the atmosphere. The 
 sky remained heavily burdened, and the wind, which 
 occasionally had abated for a few hours, had always returned 
 with at least its former violence. The occasional rising 
 of the mercury never encouraged Dick to anticipate a per- 
 manent improvement in the weather, and he discerned only 
 too plainly that brighter times at present were not to be 
 looked for. 
 
 A startling alarm had more than once been caused by the ■ 
 sudden breaking of storms in which thunderbolts had seemed 
 to fall within a few cables' lengths of the schooner. On 
 these occasions the torrents of rain had been so heavy that 
 the ship had appeared to be in the very midst of a whirlpool 
 of vapour, and it was impossible to see a yard ahead. 
 
 The " Pilgrim" pitched and rolled frightfully. Fortunately 
 
104 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 Mrs. Weldon could bear the motion without much personal 
 inconvenience, and consequently was able to devote her 
 attention to her little boy, who was a miserable sufferer. 
 Cousin Benedict was as undisturbed as the cockroaches he 
 was investigating ; he hardly noticed the increasing madness 
 of either wind or wave, but went on with his studies as 
 calmly as if he were in his own comfortable museum at San 
 Francisco. Moreover, it was fortunate that the negroes did 
 not suffer to any great degree from sea-sickness, and conse- 
 quently were able to assist their captain in his arduous task. 
 Dick was far too experienced a sailor himself to be incon- 
 venienced by the violent oscillations of the vessel. 
 
 The "Pilgrim" still made good headway, and Dick, 
 although he was aware that ultimately it would probably be 
 necessary again to shorten sail, was anxious to postpone 
 making any alteration before he was absolutely obliged. 
 Surely, he reasoned with himself, the land could not now 
 be far away ; he had calculated his speed ; he had kept a 
 diligent reckoning on the chart ; surely, the shore must be 
 almost in sight. He would not trust his crew to keep watch ; 
 he was aware how easily their inexperienced eyes would be 
 misled, and how they might mistake a distant cloud-bank 
 for the land they desired to see ; he kept watch for himself; 
 his own gaze was ever fixed upon the horizon ; and in the 
 eagerness of his expectation he would repeatedly mount to 
 the cross-trees to get a wider range of vision. 
 But land was not to be seen. 
 
 Next day as Dick was standing at the bow, alternately 
 eyeing the canvas which his ship carried and the aspect 
 presented by the sky, Mrs. Weldon approached him without 
 his noticing her. She caught some muttered expressions of 
 bewilderment that fell from his lips, and asked him whether 
 he could see anything. 
 
 He lowered the telescope which he had been holding in 
 his hand, and answered, — 
 
 " No, Mrs. Weldon, I cannot see anything ; and it is this 
 
v ROUGH WEATHER. 105 
 
 that perplexes me so sorely. I cannot understand why we 
 have not already come in sight of land. It is nearly a month 
 since we lost our poor captain. There has been no 
 delay in oar progress ; no stoppage in our rate of speed. I 
 cannot make it out." 
 
 " How far were we from land when we lost the captain ?" 
 
 '■' I am sure I am not far out in saying that we were 
 scarcely more than 4500 miles from the shores of America." 
 
 '•' And at what rate have we been sailing ? " 
 
 " Not much less than 180 knots a day." 
 
 " How long, then, do you reckon, Dick, we ought to be in 
 arriving at the coast ? " 
 
 " Under six-and-twenty days,'' replied Dick. 
 
 He paused before he spoke again, then added,— 
 
 " But what mystifies me even more than our failing to 
 sight the land is this : we have not come across a single 
 vessel ; and yet vessels without number are always traversing 
 these seas." 
 
 " But do you not think," inquired Mrs. Weldon, " that you 
 have made some error in your reckoning ? Is your speed 
 really what you have supposed ? " 
 
 " Impossible, madam," replied Dick, with an air of dignity, 
 v impossible that I should have fallen into error. The log 
 has been consulted, without fail, every half-hour. I am about 
 to have it lowered now, and I will undertake to show you 
 that we are at this present moment making ten miles an 
 hour, which would give considerably over 200 miles a day." 
 
 He then called out to Tom, — 
 
 " Tom, heave the log ! " 
 
 The old man was quite accustomed to the duty. The log 
 was fastened to the line and thrown overboard. It ran out 
 regularly for about five-and-twenty fathoms, when all at once 
 the line slackened in Tom's hand. 
 
 " It is broken ! " cried Tom ; " the cord is broken ! " 
 
 "Broken?" exclaimed Dick : "good heavens! we have 
 lost the log ! *• 
 
lo6 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 It was too true. The log was gone. 
 
 Tom drew in the rope. Dick took it up and examined it. 
 It had not broken at its point of union with the log ; it had 
 given way in the middle, at a place where the strands in 
 some unaccountable way had worn strangely thin. 
 
 Dick's agony of mind, in spite of his effort to be calm, 
 was intensely great. A suspicion of foul play involuntarily 
 occurred to him. He knew that the rope had been of first- 
 rate make ; he knew that it had been quite sound when used 
 before ; but he could prove nothing ; he could only mourn 
 over the loss which committed him to the sole remaining 
 compass as his only guide. 
 
 That compass, too, although he knew it not, was misleading 
 him entirely ! 
 
 Mrs. Weldon sighed as she witnessed the grief which the 
 loss manifestly caused poor Dick, but in purest sympathy 
 she said nothing, and retired thoughtfully to her cabin. 
 
 It was no longer possible to reckon the rate of progress, 
 but there was no doubt that the " Pilgrim " continued to 
 maintain at least her previous speed. 
 
 Before another four-and-twenty hours had passed, the 
 barometer had fallen still lower, and the wind was threatening 
 to rise to a velocity of sixty miles. Resolved to be on the safe 
 side, Dick determined not only to strike the fore-top-gallant 
 and the main-top-masts, but to take in all the lower sails. 
 Indeed, he began to be aware that no time was to be lost. 
 The operation would not be done in a moment, and the 
 storm was approaching. Dick made Tom take the helm ; he 
 ascended the shrouds with Bat, Austin, and Actason, making 
 Hercules stay on deck to ease the halyards as required. 
 
 By dint of arduous exertion, and at no little risk of being 
 thrown overboard by the rolling of the ship, they succeeded 
 in striking the two masts ; the fore-top-sail was then reefed, 
 and the fore-sail entirely stowed, so that the only canvas 
 that the schooner carried was the reefed fore-top and one stay- 
 sail. These, however, made her run with a terrific speed. 
 
ROUGH WEATHER. 107 
 
 Early on the morning of the 12th, Dick noted with alarm 
 that the barometer had not ceased to fall, and now registered 
 only 27.9 . The tempest had continued to increase, till it 
 was unsafe for the ship to carry any canvas at all. The 
 order was given for the top-sail to be taken in, but it was too 
 late; a violent gust carried the sail completely away, and 
 Austin, who had made his way to the top-sail-yard, was 
 struck by the flying sheet ; and although he was not seriously 
 hurt, he was obliged at once to return to deck. 
 
 Dick Sands became more uneasy than ever ; he was tor- 
 tured by apprehensions of outlying reefs near the shore, to 
 which he imagined he must now be close ; but he could dis- 
 cern no rocks to justify his fears, and returned to take his 
 place at the helm. 
 
 The next moment Negoro appeared on deck ; he pointed 
 mysteriously to the far-off horizon, as though he discerned 
 some object, as a mountain, there ; and looking round with 
 a malevolent smile, immediately left the deck, and went back 
 to his galley. 
 
I08 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 CHAPTER XII 
 
 HOPE REVIVED. 
 
 THE wind had now increased to a hurricane ; it had veered 
 to the south-west, and had attained a velocity little short of 
 ninety miles an hour. On land the most substantial of erec- 
 tions could with difficulty have withstood its violence, and a 
 vessel anchored in a roadstead must have been torn from its 
 moorings and cast ashore. The memorable storm that had 
 devastated the Island of Guadaloupe on the 25th of July, 
 1825, when heavy cannon were lifted from their carriages, 
 could scarcely have been more furious, and it was only 
 her mobility before the blast and the solidity of her struc- 
 ture that gave the " Pilgrim " a hope of surviving the 
 tempest. 
 
 A few minutes after the top-sail had been lost, the small 
 jib was carried away. Dick Sands contemplated the possi- 
 bility of setting a storm-jib, made of extra strong can- 
 ras, as a means of bringing the ship a little more under his 
 control, but abandoned the idea as useless. It was, there- 
 fore, under bare poles that the " Pilgrim " was driven along ; 
 but in spite of the lack of canvas, the hull, masts, and rigging 
 gave sufficient purchase to the wind, and the progress of the 
 schooner was prodigiously rapid ; sometimes, indeed, she 
 seemed to be literally lifted from the water, and scudded on, 
 scarcely skimming its surface. The rolling was fearful. 
 Enormous waves followed in quick succession, and as they 
 
HOPE REVIVED. I09 
 
 travelled faster than the ship, there was the perpetual risk 
 of one of them pooping her. Without sail, there were 
 no means of escaping that peril by increase of speed ; the 
 adroit management of the helm was the only chance of 
 avoiding the hazardous shocks, and even this repeatedly 
 failed. 
 
 To prevent his being washed overboard Dick lashed him- 
 self to his place at the wheel by a rope round his waist, and 
 made Tom and Bat keep close at hand, ready to give him 
 assistance, in case of emergency. Hercules and Actaeon, 
 clinging to the bitts, kept watch at the bow. Mrs. Weldon 
 and her party, at Dick's special request, remained inside the 
 after-cabin, although the lady, for her own part, would much 
 rather have stayed on deck ; she had, however, yielded to 
 the representation that she would thus be exposing herself to 
 unnecessary danger. 
 
 The hatches were battened down, and it was to be hoped 
 that they would withstand the heavy sea that was dash- 
 ing over them ; only let one of them give way to the 
 pressure, and the vessel must inevitably fill and founder. 
 It was a matter of congratulation that the stowage 
 had been done very carefully, so that notwithstanding all 
 the lurchings of the ship the cargo did not shift in the 
 least. 
 
 The heroic young commander had still further curtailed 
 his periods of rest, and it was only at the urgent entreaty of 
 Mrs. Weldon, who feared that he would exhaust himself by 
 his vigilance, that he was induced to lie down for a few hours' 
 sleep on the night of the 1 3th. 
 
 After Tom and Bat had been left alone at the wheel, they 
 were, somewhat to their surprise, joined by Negoro, who 
 very rarely came aft. He seemed inclined to enter into 
 conversation, but found little encouragement to talk on the 
 part either of Tom or his son. All at once a violent roll of 
 the ship threw him off his feet, and he would have gone 
 
IIO DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 overboard if he had not been saved by falling against the 
 binnacle. 
 
 Old Tom was in a frantic state of alarm lest the compass 
 should be broken. He uttered a cry of consternation so. 
 loud that it roused Dick from the light slumber into which 
 he had fallen in the cabin, and he rushed to the deck. By 
 the time he had reached the stern, Negoro had not only 
 regained his feet, but had managed successfully to conceal 
 the bit of iron which he had again extracted from beneath 
 the binnacle where he had himself laid it. Now that the 
 wind had shifted to the south-west, it suited his machina- 
 tions that the magnetic needle should indicate its true 
 direction. 
 
 " How now ? '' asked Dick eagerly ; " what is the meaning 
 of all this noise ? " 
 
 Tom explained how the cook had fallen against the bin- 
 nacle, and how he had been terrified lest the compass should 
 be injured. Dick's heart sank at the thought of losing his 
 sole remaining compass, and his anxiety betrayed itself in 
 his countenance as he knelt down to examine its condition ; 
 but he breathed freely as he ascertained that the instrument 
 had sustained no damage ; by the dim light he saw the 
 needle resting on its two concentric circles, and felt his fears 
 at once relieved ; of course, he was quite unconscious of the 
 fact that the removal of the bit of iron had made the magnet 
 change its direction. 
 
 The incident, however, excited his misgiving ; although he 
 felt that Negoro could not be held responsible for an 
 accidental fall, the very presence of the man in such a 
 place at such a time perplexed him. 
 
 " And what brings you here this hour of the night ? " he 
 asked. 
 
 " That's not your business," retorted Negoro insolently. 
 
 " It is my business," replied Dick resolutely ; " and I mean 
 to have an answer ; what brought you here ? " 
 
HOPE REVIVED. Ill 
 
 Negoro answered sullenly that he knew of no rule to 
 prevent his going where he liked and when he liked. 
 
 " No rule ! '' cried Dick ; " then I make the rule now. 
 From this time forward, I make the rule that you shall never 
 come astern. Do you understand ? " 
 
 Roused from his accustomed doggedness, the man seemed 
 to make a threatening movement. Quick as lightning, Dick 
 Sands drew a revolver from his pocket. 
 
 " Negoro, one act, one word of insubordination, and I 
 blow out your brains ! " 
 
 Negoro had no time to reply ; before he could speak he 
 was bowed down towards the deck by an irresistible weight. 
 Hercules had grasped him by the shoulder. 
 
 " Shall I put him overboard, captain ? he will make a meal 
 for the fishes ; they are not very particular what they eat," 
 said the negro, with a grin of contempt. 
 
 " Not yet," quietly answered Dick. 
 
 The giant removed his hand, and Negoro stood upright 
 again, and began to retreat to his own quarters, muttering, 
 however, as he passed Hercules, — 
 
 " You cursed nigger ! You shall pay for this ! " 
 
 The discovery was now made that the wind apparently 
 had taken a sudden shift of no less than forty-five degrees ; 
 but what occasioned Dick the greatest perplexity was that 
 there was nothing in the condition of the sea to correspond 
 with the alteration in the current of the air ; instead of 
 being directly astern, wind and waves were now beating on 
 the port beam. Progress in this way must necessarily be 
 full of danger, and Dick was obliged to bring his ship up. 
 at least four points before he got her straight before the 
 tempest. 
 
 The young captain felt that he must be more than ever on 
 the alert ; he could not shake off the suspicion that Negoro 
 had been concerned in the loss of the first compass, and had 
 some further designs upon the second. Still he was utterly 
 
 H 
 
112 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 at a loss to imagine what possible motive the man could 
 have for so criminal an act of malevolence, as there was no 
 plausible reason to be assigned why he should not be as 
 anxious as all the rest to reach the coast of America. The 
 suspicion continued, however, to haunt him, and when he 
 mentioned it to Mrs. Weldon he found that a similar feeling 
 of distrust had agitated her, although she, like himself, was 
 altogether unable to allege a likely motive why the cook 
 should contemplate so strange an act of mischief. It was 
 determined that a strict surveillance should be kept upon all 
 the fellow's movements. 
 
 Negoro, however, manifested no inclination to disobey 
 the captain's peremptory order ; he kept strictly to his own 
 part of the ship ; but as Dingo was now regularly quartered 
 in the stern, there was a tolerably sure guarantee that 
 the cook would not be found wandering much in that 
 direction. 
 
 A week passed, and still the tempest showed no signs of 
 abating ; the barometer continued to fall, and not once did 
 a period of calmer weather afford an opportunity of carrying 
 sail. The "Pilgrim" still made her way north-east. Her 
 speed could not be less than two hundred miles in twenty- 
 four hours. But no land appeared. Vast as was the range 
 of the American continent, extending for 120 degrees between 
 the Atlantic and the Pacific, it was nowhere to be discerned. 
 Was he dreaming? was he mad? Dick would perpetually 
 ask himself : had he been sailing in a wrong direction ? had 
 he failed to steer aright ? 
 
 But no : he was convinced there was no error in his 
 steering. Although he could not actually, see it for the mist, 
 he knew that day after day the sun rose before him, and that 
 it set behind him. Yet he was constrained in bewilderment 
 to ask, what had become of those shores of America upon 
 which, when they came in sight, there was only too great 
 a fear the ship should be dashed ? what had become 
 
HOPE REVIVED. 113 
 
 of them ? where were they ? whither had this incessant 
 hurricane driven them ? why did not the expected coast 
 appear ? 
 
 To all these bewildering inquiries Dick could find no 
 answer except to imagine that his compass had misled him. 
 Yet he was powerless to put his own misgivings to the test ; 
 he deplored more than ever the destruction of the duplicate 
 instrument which would have checked his registers. He 
 studied his chart ; but all in vain ; the position in which he 
 found himself as the result of Negoro's treachery, seemed 
 to baffle him the more, the more he tried to solve the 
 mystery. 
 
 The days were passing on in this chronic state of anxiety, 
 when one morning about eight o'clock, Hercules, who was 
 on watch at the bows, suddenly shouted, — 
 
 " Land ! " 
 
 Dick Sands had little reliance upon the negro's inex- 
 perienced eye, but hurried forward to the bow. 
 
 " Where's the land ?" he cried; his voice being scarcely 
 audible above the howling of the tempest. 
 
 " There ! look there ! " said Hercules, nodding his head 
 and pointing over the port bow, to the north-east. 
 
 Dick could see nothing. 
 
 Mrs. Weldon had heard the shout. Unable to restrain 
 her interest, she had left her cabin and was at Dick's side. 
 He uttered an expression of surprise at seeing her, but could 
 not hear anything she said, as her voice was unable to rise 
 above the roaring of the elements ; she stood, her whole 
 being as it were concentrated in the power of vision, and 
 scanned the horizon in the direction indicated by Hercules. 
 But all to no purpose. 
 
 Suddenly, however, after a while, Dick raised his hand. 
 
 " Yes ! " he said ; "yes ; sure enough, yonder is land." 
 
 He clung with excitement to the rigging; and Mrs. Wel- 
 don, supported by Hercules, strained her eyes yet more 
 
 H 2 
 
114 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 vehemently to get a glimpse of a shore which she had begun 
 to despair of ever reaching. 
 
 Beyond a doubt an elevated peak was there. It must be 
 about ten miles to leeward. A break in the clouds soon left 
 it more distinct. Some promontory it must be upon the 
 American coast. Without sails, of course, the " Pilgrim :! 
 had no chance of bearing down direct upon it ; but at least 
 there was every reason to believe that she would soon reach 
 some other portion of the shore ; perhaps before noon, cer- 
 tainly in a few hours, they must be close to land. 
 
 The pitching of the ship made it impossible for Mrs. 
 Weldon to keep safe footing on the deck ; accordingly 
 at a sign from Dick, Hercules led her back again to her 
 cabin. 
 
 Dick did not remain long at the bow, but went thought- 
 fully back to the wheel. 
 
 He had, indeed, a tremendous responsibility before him. 
 Here was the land, the land for which they had longed so 
 eagerly ; and now that their anticipations were on the point 
 of being realized, what was there, with a hurricane driving 
 them on towards it, to prevent that land being their destruc- 
 tion ? What measures could he take to prevent the schooner 
 being dashed to pieces against it? 
 
 At the very moment when the promontory was just abreast 
 of them, Negoro appeared on deck ; he nodded to the peak 
 familiarly, as he might have saluted a familiar friend, and 
 retired as stealthily as he bad come. 
 
 Two hours later, and the promontory lay abaft the port 
 quarter. Dick Sands had never relaxed his watchfulness, 
 but he had failed to discover any further indications of a 
 coast-line. His perplexity could only increase ; the horizon 
 was clear ; the Andes ought to be distinct ; they would be 
 conspicuous twenty miles or more away. Dick took up his 
 telescope again and again ; he scrutinized the eastern horizon 
 with minutest care ; but there was nothing to be seen ; and as 
 
HOPE REVIVED. 1 1 5 
 
 the afternoon waned away the last glimpse had been taken of 
 the promontory that had awakened their expectation ; it had 
 vanished utterly from their gaze ; no indication of shore 
 could be seen from the " Pilgrim's " deck. 
 
 Dick Sands uttered a sigh of mingled amazement and 
 relief. He went into Mrs. Weldon's cabin, where she was 
 standing with her party. 
 
 " It was only an island ! " he said ; " only an island ! " 
 
 " How ? why ? what island ? what do you mean ? " cried 
 Mrs. Weldon incredulously ; " what island can it be ? " 
 
 u The chart perhaps will tell us," replied Dick ; and hurry- 
 ing off to his own cabin, he immediately returned with the 
 chart in his hands. 
 
 After studying it attentively for a few minutes, he said, — 
 
 " There, Mrs. Weldon ; the land we have just passed, I 
 should suppose must be that little speck in the midst of the 
 Pacific. It must be Easter Island. At least, there seems 
 to be no other land which possibly it could be." 
 
 "And do you say," inquired Mrs. Weldon, "that we have 
 left it quite behind us ? '' 
 
 " Yes, entirely ; almost to windward." 
 
 Mrs. Weldon commenced a searching scrutiny of the map 
 that was outspread before her. 
 
 " How far is this,'' she said, after bending a considerable 
 time over the chart ; " how far is this from the coast of 
 America ? ; ' 
 
 "Thirty-five degrees," answered Dick; "somewhere about 
 2500 miles." 
 
 "Whatever do you mean ?" rejoined the lady, astonished ; 
 " if the ' Pilgrim ' is still 2500 miles from shore, she has posi- 
 tively made no progress at all. Impossible ! '' 
 
 In thoughtful perplexity, Dick passed his hand across his 
 brow. He did not know what to say. After an interval of 
 silence, he said, — 
 
 " I have no account to give for the strange delay. It is 
 
Il6 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 inexplicable to myself, except upon that one hypothesis, 
 which I cannot resist, that the readings of the compass 
 somehow or other, have been wrong." 
 
 He relapsed into silence. Then, brightening up, he 
 added, — 
 
 " But, thank God ! at least we have now the satisfaction 
 of knowing where we really are ; we are no longer lost upon 
 the wide Pacific ; if only this hurricane will cease, long as 
 the distance seems, we are on our proper course to the 
 shores of America." 
 
 The tone of confidence with which the youthful captain 
 spoke had the effect of inspiring new hope into all who 
 heard him ; their spirits rose, and to their sanguine mood it 
 seemed as if they were approaching to the end of all their 
 troubles, and had hardly more to do than to await the 
 turning of a tide to bring them into a glad proximity to 
 port. 
 
 Easter Island, of which the true name is Vai-Hoo, was 
 discovered by David in 1686, and visited by Cook and 
 Lapdrouse. It lies in lat. 27 S., and long. 112 E. ; conse- 
 quently, it was evident that during the raging of the hurri- 
 cane the schooner had been driven northwards no less than 
 fifteen degrees. Far away, however, as she was from shore, 
 the wind could hardly fail within ten days to carry her within 
 sight of land ; and then, if the storm had worn itself out, 
 (as probably it would,) the " Pilgrim " would again set sail, 
 and make her way into some port with safety. Anyhow, the 
 discovery of his true position restored a spirit of confidence 
 to Dick Sands, and he anticipated the time when he should 
 no longer be drifting helplessly before the storm. 
 
 To say the truth, the " Pilgrim " had suffered very little 
 from the prolonged fury of the weather. The damage she 
 had sustained was limited to the loss of the topsail and the 
 small jib, which could be easily replaced. The caulking of 
 the seams remained thoroughly sound, and no drop of water 
 
HOPE REVIVED. WJ 
 
 had found its way into the hold. The pumps, too, were 
 perfectly free. Dick Sands did not fear for the stability of 
 his ship ; his only anxiety was lest the weather should not 
 moderate in time. Only let the wind subside, and the 
 schooner once more would be under his control ; but he 
 never forgot that the ordering of the winds and waves was 
 in the hands of the Great Disposer of all. 
 
n8 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 v 
 
 LAND AT LAST. 
 
 It was not long before Dick's sanguine expectations were 
 partially realized, for on the very next day, which was the 
 27th, the barometer began to rise, not rapidly, but steadily, 
 indicating that its elevation would probably continue. The 
 sea remained exceedingly rough, but the violence of the wind, 
 which had veered slightly towards the west, had perceptibly 
 diminished. The tempest had passed its greatest fury, and 
 was beginning to wear itself out. 
 
 Not a sail, however, could yet be hoisted ; the smallest show 
 of canvas would have been carried away in an instant ; 
 nevertheless Dick hoped that before another twenty-four 
 hours were over, the " Pilgrim " might be able to carry a 
 storm-jib. 
 
 In the course of the night the wind moderated still more, 
 and the pitching of the ship had so far diminished that the 
 passengers began to reappear on deck. Mrs. Weldon was 
 the first to leave her enforced imprisonment. She was 
 anxious to speak to Dick, whom she might have expected to 
 find looking pale and wan after his almost superhuman exer- 
 tions and loss of sleep. But she was mistaken ; however 
 much the lad might suffer from the strain in after-years, at 
 present he exhibited no symptoms of failing energy. 
 
 "Well, Captain Dick, how are you?''' she said, as she 
 advanced towards him, holding out her hand. 
 
 Dick smiled. 
 
LAND AT LAST. 1 19 
 
 "You call me captain, Mrs. Weldon," he answered, "but 
 you do not seem disposed to submit implicitly to captain's 
 orders. Did I not direct you to keep to your cabin ? " 
 
 " You did," replied the lady ; " but observing how much 
 the storm had abated, I could not resist the temptation to 
 disobey you." 
 
 " Yes, madam, the weather is far more promising ; the 
 barometer has not fallen since yesterday morning, and I 
 really trust the worst is over now." 
 
 " Thank Heaven ! " she replied, and after a few moments' 
 silence, she added, " But now, Dick, you must really take some 
 rest ; you may perhaps not know how much you require it ; 
 but it is absolutely necessary." 
 
 "Rest!" the boy repeated; "rest! I want no rest. I 
 have only done my duty, and it will be time enough for me 
 to concern myself about my own rest, when I have seen my 
 passengers in a place of safety." 
 
 "You have acquitted yourself like a man," said Mrs. 
 Weldon ; " and you may be assured that my husband, like 
 myself, will never forget the services you have rendered me. 
 I shall urge upon him the request which I am sure he will not 
 refuse, that you shall have your studies completed, so that you 
 may be made a captain for the firm." 
 
 Tears of gratitude rose to Dick's eyes. He deprecated the 
 praise that was lavished upon him, but rejoiced in the pros- 
 pect that seemed opening upon his future. Mrs. Weldon 
 assured him that he was dear as a son to her, and pressed a 
 gentle kiss upon his forehead. The lad felt that he was 
 animated, if need be, to yet greater hardships in behalf of 
 his benefactors, and resolved to prove himself even more 
 worthy of their confidence. 
 
 By the 29th, the wind had so far moderated that Dick 
 thought he might increase the " Pilgrim's" speed by hoisting 
 the foresail and fore-topsail. 
 
 " Now, my men, I have some work for you to-day," he said 
 to the negroes when he came on deck at daybreak. 
 
120 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 " All right, captain," answered Hercules, "we are growing 
 rusty for want of something to do." 
 
 " Why didn't you blow with your big mouth ? " said little 
 Jack; "you could have beaten the wind all to no- 
 thing." 
 
 Dick laughed, and said, "Not a bad idea, Jack; if ever 
 we get becalmed, we must get Hercules to blow into the 
 sails." 
 
 " I shall be most happy," retorted the giant, and he in- 
 flated his huge cheeks till he was the very impersonation of 
 Boreas himself. 
 
 "But now to work ! " cried Dick ; "we have lost our top- 
 sail, and we must contrive to hoist another. Not an easy 
 matter, I can tell you." 
 
 " I dare say we shall manage it," replied Actaeon. 
 
 " We must do our best," said Tom. 
 
 " Can't I help ? " inquired Jack. 
 
 " Of course you can," answered Dick ; " run along to the 
 wheel, and assist Bat." 
 
 Jack strutted off, proud enough of his commission. 
 
 Under Dick's directions, the negroes commenced their 
 somewhat difficult task. The new topsail, rolled up, had first 
 of all to be hoisted, and then to be made fast to the yard ; 
 but so adroitly did the crew carry out their orders, that in 
 less than an hour the sail was properly set with a couple of 
 reefs in it. The fore -staysail and second jib, which had been 
 taken down before the tempest, were hoisted again, and 
 before ten o'clock the " Pilgrim " was running along under 
 the three sails which Dick considered were as much as it 
 was prudent to carry. Even at her present speed, the 
 schooner, he reckoned, would be within sight of the 
 American shore in about ten days. It was an immense relief 
 to him to find that she was no longer at the mercy of the 
 waves, and when he saw the sails properly set he returned 
 in good spirits to his post at the helm, not forgetting to 
 thank the temporary helmsman for his services, nor omit- 
 
LAND AT LAST. 121 
 
 ting his acknowledgment to Master Jack, who received the 
 compliment with becoming gravity. 
 
 Although the clouds continued to travel all the next day 
 with great rapidity they were very much broken, and alter- 
 nately the "Pilgrim " was bathed in sunlight and enveloped 
 in vapours, which rolled on towards the east. As the 
 weather cleared, the hatchways were opened in order to ven- 
 tilate the ship, and the outer air was allowed again to pene- 
 trate not only the hold, but the cabin and crew's quarters. 
 The wet sails were hung out to dry, the deck was washed 
 down, for Dick Sands was anxious not to bring his ship into 
 port without having " finished her toilet," and he found that 
 his crew could very well spare a few hours daily to get her into 
 proper trim. 
 
 Notwithstanding the loss of the log, Dick had sufficient 
 experience to be able to make an approximate estimate of the 
 schooner's progress, and after having pointed out to Mrs. 
 Weldon what he imagined was the " Pilgrim's " true position, 
 he told her that it was his firm impression that land would be 
 sighted in little more than a week. 
 
 "And upon what part of South America do you reckon we 
 are likely to find ourselves ?" she asked. 
 
 " That is more than I dare venture to promise," replied 
 Dick ; " but I should think somewhere hereabouts." 
 
 He was pointing on the chart to the long shore-line of Chili 
 and Peru. They both examined the outspread chart with 
 still closer attention. 
 
 " Here, you see," resumed Dick, " here is the island we 
 have just left ; we left it in the west ; the wind has not 
 shifted ; we must expect to come in sight of land, pretty 
 nearly due east of it. The coast has plenty of harbours. 
 From any one of them you will be able easily to get to San 
 Francisco. You know, I dare say, that the Pacific Naviga- 
 tion Company's steamers touch at all the principal ports. 
 From any of them you will be sure to get a direct passage 
 to California." 
 
122 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 "But do you mean," asked Mrs. Weldon, "that you 
 are not going yourself to take the schooner to San Fran- 
 cisco ? " 
 
 " Not direct," replied the young captain ; " I want to see 
 you safe on shore and satisfactorily on your homeward 
 way. When that is done, I shall hope to get competent 
 officers to take the ship to Valparaiso, where she will dis- 
 charge her cargo, as Captain Hull intended ; and afterwards 
 I shall work our way back to San Francisco." 
 
 " Ah, well ; we will see all about that in due time," 
 Mrs. Weldon said, smiling ; and, after a short pause, 
 added, " At one time, Dick, you seemed to have rather a 
 dread of the shore.'' 
 
 " Quite true," answered Dick ; " but now I am in hopes we 
 may fall in with some passing vessel ; we want to have a 
 confirmation as to our true position. I cannot tell you how 
 surprised I am that we have not come across a single vessel. 
 But when we near the land we shall be able to get a pilot." 
 
 " But what will happen if we fail to get a pilot ? " was 
 Mrs. Weldon's inquiry. She was anxious to learn how far 
 the lad was prepared to meet any emergency. 
 
 With unhesitating promptness Dick replied, — ■ 
 
 " Why, then, unless the weather takes the control of the 
 ship out of my hands, I must patiently follow the coast until I 
 come to a harbour of refuge. But if the wind should freshen, 
 I should have to adopt other measures." 
 
 " What then, Dick, what then? " persisted Mrs. Weldon. 
 
 The boy's brow knitted itself together in resolution, and he 
 said deliberately, — 
 
 " I should run the ship aground." 
 
 Mrs. Weldon started. 
 
 "However," Dick continued, "there is no reason to 
 apprehend this. The weather has mended and is likely to 
 mend. And why should we fear about finding a pilot ? Let 
 us hope all will be well." 
 
 Mrs. Weldon at least had satisfied herself on one point. 
 
LAND AT LAST. 1 23 
 
 She had ascertained that although Dick did not anticipate 
 disaster, yet he was prepared in the case of emergency to 
 resort to measures from which any but the most experienced 
 seaman would shrink. 
 
 But although Dick's equanimity had been successful in 
 allaying any misgivings on Mrs. Weldon's part, it must be 
 owned that the condition of the atmosphere caused him very 
 serious uneasiness. 
 
 The wind remained uncomfortably high, and the barometer 
 gave very ominous indications that it would ere long freshen 
 still more. Dick dreaded that the time was about to re- 
 turn in which once again he must reduce his vessel to a 
 state of bare poles ; but so intense was his aversion to having 
 his ship so wrested as it were from his own management, 
 that he determined to carry the topsail till it was all but 
 carried away by the force of the blast. Concerned, moreover, 
 for the safety of his masts, the loss of which he acknow- 
 ledged must be fatal, he had the standing rigging thoroughly 
 set up. 
 
 More than once another contingency occurred to his mind, 
 and gave him some. anxiety. He could not overlook the 
 possibility of the wind changing all round. What should 
 he do in such a case ? He would of course endeavour by 
 all means to get the schooner on by incessant tacking ; but 
 was there not the certainty of a most hazardous delay ? and 
 worse than this, was there not a likelihood of the " Pilgrim " 
 being once again driven far out to sea ? 
 
 Happily these forebodings were not realized. The wind, 
 after chopping about for several days, at one time blowing 
 from the north, and at another from the south, finally settled 
 down into a stiffish gale from the west, which did nothing 
 worse than severely strain the masts. 
 
 In this weary but hopeful endurance time passed on. The 
 5th of April had arrived. It was more than two months 
 since the " Pilgrim " had quitted New Zealand ; it was true 
 that during the first three weeks of her voyage she had been 
 
124 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 impeded by protracted calms and contrary winds ; but since 
 that time her speed had been rapid, the very tempests had 
 driven her forwards with unwonted velocity ; she had never 
 failed to have her bow towards the land, and yet land 
 seemed as remote as ever ; the coast-line was retreating as 
 they approached it. What could be the solution of the 
 mystery ? 
 
 From the cross-trees one or other of the negroes was kept 
 incessantly on the watch. Dick Sands himself, telescope in 
 hand, would repeatedly ascend in the hope of beholding some 
 lofty peak of the Andes emerging from the mists that hung 
 over the horizon. But all in vain. 
 
 False alarms were given more than once- Sometimes 
 Tom, sometimes Hercules, or one of the others would be 
 sure that a distant speck they had descried was assuredly a 
 mountain ridge ; but the vapours were continually gathering 
 in such fantastic forms that their unexperienced eyes were 
 soon deceived, and they seldom had to wait long before 
 their fond delusion was all dispelled. 
 
 At last, the expected longing was fulfilled. At eight o'clock 
 one morning the mists seemed broken up with unusual 
 rapidity, and the horizon was singularly clear. Dick had 
 hardly gone aloft when his voice rung out, — 
 
 " Land ! Land ahead ! " 
 
 As if summoned by a spell, every one was on deck in an 
 instant : Mrs. Weldon, sanguine of a speedy end to the 
 general anxiety ; little Jack, gratified at a new object of 
 curiosity ; Cousin Benedict, already scenting a new field 
 for entomological investigation ; old Nan ; and the negroes, 
 eager to set foot upon American soil ; all, with the exception 
 of Negoro, all were on deck ; but the cook did not stir 
 from his solitude, or betray any sympathy with the general 
 excitement. 
 
 Whatever hesitation there might be at first soon passed 
 away ; one after another soon distinguished the shore they 
 were approaching, and in half an hour there was no room 
 
LAND AT LAST. 1 25 
 
 for the most sceptical to doubt that Dick was right. There 
 was land not far ahead. 
 
 A few miles to the east there was a long low-lying coast ; 
 the chain of the Andes ought to be visible ; but it was ob- 
 scured, of course, by the intervening clouds. 
 
 The " Pilgrim" bore down rapidly towards the land, and 
 in a short time its configuration could be plainly made out. 
 Towards the north-east the coast terminated in a headland 
 of moderate height sheltering a kind of roadstead ; on the 
 south-east it stretched out in a long and narrow tongue. 
 The Andes were still wanting to the scene ; they must be 
 somewhere in the background ; but at present, strange to 
 say, there was only a succession of low cliffs with some 
 trees standing out against the sky. No human habitation, 
 no harbour, not even an indication of a river-mouth, could 
 anywhere be seen. 
 
 The wind remained brisk, and the schooner was driving 
 directly towards the land, with shortened sail as seemed 
 desirable ; but Dick realized to himself the fact that he was 
 utterly incapable of altering her course. With eager eyes 
 he scrutinized his situation. Straight ahead was a reef over 
 which the waves were curling, and around which the surf 
 must be tremendous. It could hardly be more than a mile 
 away. The wind seemed brisker than before. 
 
 After gazing awhile, Dick seemed to have come to a 
 sudden resolution. He went quickly aft and took the helm. 
 He had seen a little cove, and had made up his mind that 
 he would try and make his way into it. He did not speak 
 a word ; he knew the difficulty of the task he had under- 
 taken ; he was aware from the white foam, that there was 
 shallow water on either hand ; but he kept the secret of the 
 peril to himself, and sought no counsel in coming to his fixed 
 resolve. 
 
 Dingo had been trotting up and down the deck. All at 
 once he bounded to the fore, and broke out into a piteous 
 howl. It roused Dick from his anxious cogitations. Was 
 
126 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 it possible that the animal recognized the coast ? It 
 almost seemed as if it brought back some painful asso- 
 ciations. 
 
 The howling of the dog had manifestly attracted Negoro's 
 attention ; the man emerged from his galley, and, regardless 
 of the dog, stood close to the bulwark ; but although he 
 gazed at the surf, it did not seem to occasion him any 
 alarm. Mrs. Weldon, who was watching him, fancied she 
 saw a flush rise to his face, which involuntarily suggested 
 the thought to her mind that Negoro had seen the place 
 before. 
 
 Either she had no time or no wish to express what had 
 struck her, for she did not mention it to Dick, who, at 
 that moment, left the helm, and came and stood beside 
 her. 
 
 Dick looked as if he were taking a lingering farewell of 
 the cove past which they were being carried beyond his 
 power to help. 
 
 In a few moments he turned round to Mrs. Weldon, and 
 said quietly, — 
 
 " Mrs. Weldon, I am disappointed. I hoped to get the 
 schooner into yonder cove ; but there is no chance now ; 
 if nothing is done, in half an hour she will be upon that reef. 
 I have but one alternative left. I must run her aground. 
 It will be utter destruction to the ship, but there is no choice. 
 Your safety is the first and paramount consideration.'' 
 
 " Do you mean that there is no other course to be taken, 
 Dick?" 
 
 " None whatever," said Dick decidedly. 
 
 " It must be as you will," she said. 
 
 Forthwith ensued the agitating preparations for stranding. 
 Mrs. Weldon, Jack, Cousin Benedict, and Nan were pro- 
 vided with life-belts, while Dick and the negroes made 
 themselves ready for being dashed into the waves. Every 
 precaution that the emergency admitted was duly taken. 
 Mrs. Weldon was entrusted to the special charge of Hercules ; 
 
The sea was furious, and dashed vehemently upon the crags on either hand. 
 
LAND AT LAST. 1 29 
 
 Dick made himself responsible for doing all he could for 
 little Jack ; Cousin Benedict, who was tolerably calm, was 
 handed over to Bat and Austin ; while Action promised to 
 look after Nan. Negoro's nonchalance implied that he was 
 quite capable of shifting for himself. 
 
 Dick had the forethought also to order about a dozen 
 barrels of their cargo to be carried forward, so that when 
 the " Pilgrim " struck, the oil escaping and floating on the 
 waves would temporarily lull their fury, and make smoother 
 water for the passage of the ship. 
 
 After satisfying himself that there was no other measure 
 to be taken to ameliorate the peril, Dick Sands returned to 
 the helm. The schooner was all but upon the reef, and 
 only a few cables' length from the shore ; her starboard bow 
 indeed was already bathed in the seething foam, and any 
 instant the keel might be expected to grate upon the under- 
 lying rock. Presently a change of colour in the water was 
 observed ; it revealed a passage between the rocks. Dick 
 gave the wheel a turn ; he saw the chance of getting aground 
 nearer to the shore than he had dared to hope, and he made 
 the most of it. He steered the schooner right into the narrow 
 channel ; the sea was furious, and dashed vehemently upon 
 the crags on either hand. 
 
 " Now, my lads ! " he cried to his crew, " now's your time ; 
 out with your oil ! let it run ! " 
 
 Ready for the order, the negroes poured out the oil, and 
 the raging waters were stilled as if by magic. A few mo- 
 ments more and perchance they would rage more vehemently 
 than ever. But for the instant they were lulled. 
 
 The " Pilgrim," meanwhile, had glided onwards, and 
 made dead for the adjacent shore. There was a sudden 
 shock. Caught by an enormous wave the schooner had 
 been hurled aground ; her masts had fallen, fortunately 
 without injury to any one on board. But the vessel had 
 parted amidships, and was foundering ; the water was rushing 
 irresistibly into the hold. 
 
 I 2 
 
130 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 The shore, however, was not half a cable's length away ; 
 there was a low, dark ridge of rocks that was united to the 
 beach ; it afforded ample means of rescue, and in less than 
 ten minutes the " Pilgrim's " captain, crew, and passengers 
 were all landed safely at the foot of the overhanging cliff. 
 
ASHORE. 131 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 ASHORE. 
 
 Thus, after a voyage of seventy-four days, the " Pilgrim " 
 had stranded. Mrs. Weldon and her fellow-voyagers joined 
 in thanksgiving to the kind Providence that had brought 
 them ashore, not upon one of the solitary islands of Poly- 
 nesia, but upon a solid continent, from almost any part of 
 which there would be no difficulty in getting home. 
 
 The ship was totally lost. She was lying in the surf a 
 hopeless wreck, and few must be the hours that would 
 elapse before she would be broken up in scattered fragments ; 
 it was impossible to save her. Notwithstanding that Dick 
 Sands bewailed the loss of a valuable ship and her cargo to 
 the owner, he had the satisfaction of knowing that he had 
 been instrumental in saving what was far more precious, the 
 lives of the owner's wife and son. 
 
 It was impossible to do more than hazard a conjecture 
 as to the part of the South American coast on which the 
 "Pilgrim" had been cast. Dick imagined that it must be 
 somewhere on the coast of Peru ; after sighting Easter 
 Island, he knew that the united action of the equatorial 
 current and the brisk wind must have had the effect of 
 driving the schooner far northward, and he formed his con- 
 clusion accordingly. Be the true position, however, what it 
 might, it was all-important that it should be accurately 
 ascertained as soon as possible. If it were really in Peru, 
 he would not be long in finding his way to one of the 
 numerous ports and villages that lie along the coast. 
 
132 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 But the shore here was quite a desert. A narrow strip of 
 beach, strewn with boulders, was enclosed by a cliff of no 
 great height, in which, at irregular intervals, deep funnels 
 appeared as chasms in the rock. Here and there a gentle 
 slope led to the top. 
 
 About a quarter of a mile to the north was the mouth of 
 a little river which had not been visible from the sea. Its 
 banks were overhung by a number of " rhizophora," a 
 species of mangrove entirely distinct from that indigenous to 
 India. It was soon ascertained that the summit of the 
 cliff was clothed by a dense forest, extending far away in 
 undulations of verdure to the mountains in the background. 
 Had Cousin Benedict been a botanist, he could not have 
 failed to find a new and interesting field for his researches ; 
 there were lofty baobabs (to which an extraordinary lon- 
 gevity has often been erroneously ascribed), with bark 
 resembling Egyptian syenite ; there were white pines, 
 tamarinds, pepper-plants of peculiar species, and numerous 
 other plants unfamiliar to the eye of a native of the North ; 
 but, strange to say, there was not a single specimen of the 
 extensive family of palms, of which more than a thousand 
 varieties are scattered in profusion in so many quarters of 
 the globe. 
 
 Above the shore hovered a large number of screeching 
 birds, mostly of the swallow tribe, their black plumage shot 
 with steelly blue, and shading off to a light brown at the top 
 of the head. Now and then a few partridges of a greyish 
 colour rose on wing, their necks entirely bare of feathers : 
 the fearless manner in which the various birds all allowed 
 themselves to be approached made Mrs. Weldon and 
 Dick both wonder if the shores upon which they had been 
 thrown were not so deserted that the sound of fire-arms was 
 not known. 
 
 On the edge of the reefs some pelicans (of the species 
 known as pelicanus minor) were busily filling their pouches 
 with tiny fish, and some gulls coming in from the open sea 
 
Surveying the shore with the air of a man who was trying to recall some 
 
 past experience. 
 
ASHORE. 135 
 
 began to circle round the wreck : with these exceptions 
 not a living creature appeared in sight. Benedict, no doubt, 
 could have discovered many entomological novelties amongst 
 the foliage, but these could give no more information than 
 the birds as to the name of their habitat. Neither north, 
 nor south, nor towards the forest, was there trace of rising 
 smoke, or any footprint or other sign to indicate the presence 
 of a human being. 
 
 Dick's surprise was very great. He knew that the 
 proximity of a native would have made Dingo bark aloud ; 
 but the dog gave no warning ; he was running backwards 
 and forwards, his tail lowered and his nose close to the 
 ground ; now and again he uttered a deep growl. 
 
 " Look at Dingo ! " said Mrs. Weldon ; " how strange he 
 is ! he seems to be trying to discover a lost scent.'' 
 
 After watching the dog for a time, she spoke again : — 
 
 " Look, too, at Negoro ! he and the dog seem to be on the 
 same purpose ! " 
 
 " As to Negoro," said Dick, " I cannot concern myself 
 with him now ; he must do as he pleases ; I have no further 
 control over him ; his service expires with the loss of the 
 ship." 
 
 Negoro was in fact walking to and fro, surveying the shore 
 with the air of a man who was trying to recall some past 
 experience to his recollection. His dogged taciturnity was 
 too well known for any one to think of questioning him ; 
 every .one was accustomed to let him go his own way, and 
 when Dick noticed that he had gone towards the little river, 
 and had disappeared behind the cliff, he thought no more 
 about him. Dingo likewise had quite forgotten his enemy, 
 and desisted from his growling. 
 
 The first necessity for the shipwrecked party was to find 
 a temporary shelter where they might take some refresh- 
 ment. There was no lack of provisions ; independently of 
 the resources of the land, the ebbing tide had left upon the 
 rocks the great bulk of the '' Pilgrim's " stores, and tha 
 
136 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 negroes had already collected several kegs of biscuit, and 
 a number of cases of preserved meat, besides a variety of 
 other supplies. All that they rescued they carefully piled 
 up above high-water mark. As nothing appeared to be 
 injured by the sea-water, the victualling of the party all 
 seemed to be satisfactorily secure for the interval which 
 must elapse (and they all believed it would not be long) 
 before they reached one of the villages which they presumed 
 were close at hand. Dick, moreover, took the precaution of 
 sending Hercules to get a small supply of fresh water from 
 the river hard by, and the good-natured fellow returned 
 carrying a whole barrel-full on his shoulder. 
 
 Plenty of fuel was lying about, and whenever they wanted 
 to light a fire they were sure of having an abundance of 
 dead wood and the roots of the old mangroves. Old Tom, 
 an inveterate smoker, always carried a tinder-box in his 
 pocket ; this had been too tightly fastened to be affected 
 by the moisture, and could always produce a spark upon 
 occasion. 
 
 Still they must have a shelter. Without some rest it was 
 impossible to start upon a tour of exploration ; accordingly, 
 all interests were directed towards ascertaining where the 
 necessary repose could be obtained. 
 
 The honour of discovering where the desired retreat could 
 be found fell to the lot of little Jack. Trotting about at the 
 foot of the cliff, he came upon one of those grottoes which 
 are constantly being found hollowed out in the rock by the 
 vehement action of the waves in times of tempest. 
 
 " Here, look here ! '"' cried the child ; " here's a place ! " 
 
 " Well done, Jack ! " answered his mother ; " your lucky 
 discovery is just what we wanted. If we were going to stay 
 here any time we should have to do the same as the Swiss 
 Family Robinson, and name the spot after you ! '' 
 
 It was hardly more than twelve or fourteen feet square, 
 and yet the grotto seemed to Jack to be a gigantic cavern. 
 But narrow as its limits were, it was capacious enough to 
 
ASHORE. 137 
 
 receive the entire party. It was a great satisfaction to Mrs. 
 Weldon to observe that it was perfectly dry, and as the 
 moon was just about her first quarter there was no likelihood 
 of a tide rising to the foot of the cliff. At any rate, it was 
 resolved that they might take up their quarters there for a 
 few hours. 
 
 Shortly after one o'clock the whole party were seated upon 
 a carpet of seaweed round a repast consisting of preserved 
 meat, biscuit, and water flavoured with a few drops of rum, 
 of which Bat had saved a quart bottle from the wreck. Even 
 Negoro had returned and joined the group ; probably he had 
 not cared to venture alone along the bank of the stream into 
 the forest. He sat listening, as it seemed indifferently, to 
 the various plans for the future that were being discussed, 
 and did not open his mouth either by way of remonstrance 
 or suggestion. 
 
 Dingo was not forgotten, and had his share of food 
 duly given him outside the grotto, where he was keeping 
 guard. 
 
 When the meal was ended, Mrs. Weldon, passing her 
 arms round Jack, who was lounging half asleep with excite- 
 ment and fatigue at her side, was the first to speak. 
 
 "My dear Dick," she said, "in the name of us all, 
 let me thank you for the services you have rendered us in 
 our tedious time of difficulty. As you have been our 
 captain at sea, let me beg you to be our guide upon land. 
 We shall have perfect confidence in your judgment, and 
 await your instructions as to what our next proceedings shall 
 be." 
 
 All eyes were turned upon Dick. Even Negoro appeared 
 to be roused to curiosity, as if eager to know what he had to 
 say. 
 
 Dick did not speak for some moments. He was mani- 
 festly pondering what step he should advise. After a while 
 he said, — ■ 
 
 " My own impression, Mrs. Weldon, is that we have been 
 
138 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 cast ashore upon one of the least-frequented parts of the coast 
 of Peru, and that we are near the borders of the Pampas. 
 In that case I should conclude that we are at a considerable 
 distance from any village. Now, I should recommend that 
 we stay here all together for the coming night. To-morrow 
 morning, two of us can start off on an exploring expedition. 
 I entertain but little doubt that natives will be met with 
 within ten or a dozen miles.'' 
 
 Mrs. Weldon looked doubtful. Plainly she thought un- 
 favourably of the project of separating the party. She 
 reflected for a considerable time, and then asked, — 
 
 " And who is to undertake the task of exploring ? " 
 
 Prompt was Dick's answer : — 
 
 "Tom and I." 
 
 " And leave us here ? '' suggested the lady. 
 
 " Yes ; to take care of you, there Avill be Hercules, Bat, 
 Actaeon, and Austin. Negoro, too, I presume, means to 
 remain here/' said Dick, glancing towards the cook. 
 
 " Perhaps," replied Negoro, sparing as ever of his 
 words. 
 
 "We shall take Dingo/' added Dick; <; likely enough he 
 may be useful." 
 
 At the sound of his name the dog had entered the grotto. 
 A short bark seemed to testify his approval of Dick's pro- 
 posal. 
 
 Mrs. Weldon was silent. She looked sad and thoughtful. 
 It was hard to reconcile herself to the division of the party. 
 She was aware that the separation would not be for long, 
 but she could not suppress a certain feeling of nervousness. 
 Was it not possible that some natives, attracted by the 
 wreck, would assault them in hopes of plunder ? 
 
 Every argument he could think of, Dick brought forward 
 to reassure the lady. He told her that the Indians were 
 perfectly harmless, and entirely different to the savage 
 tribes of Africa and Polynesia ; there was no reason to 
 apprehend any mischief, even if they should chance to 
 
ASHORE. 139 
 
 encounter them, which was itself extremely unlikely. No 
 doubt the separation would have its inconveniences, but 
 they would be insignificant compared with the difficulty of 
 traversing the country en masse. Tom and he would have 
 far greater freedom if they went alone, and could make 
 their investigations much more thoroughly. Finally he 
 promised that if within two days they failed to discover 
 human habitation, they would return to the grotto forth- 
 with. 
 
 " I confess, however," he added, " that I have little 
 expectation of being able to ascertain our true position, 
 until I have penetrated some distance into the country." 
 
 There was nothing in Dick's representations but what 
 commanded Mrs. Weldon's assent as reasonable. It was 
 simply her own nervousness, she acknowledged, that made 
 her hesitate ; but it was only with extreme reluctance that 
 she finally yielded to the proposition. 
 
 "And what, Mr. Benedict, is your opinion of my pro« 
 posal? '' said Dick, turning to the entomologist. 
 
 " I ? " answered Cousin Benedict, looking somewhat bewil- 
 dered, " Oh, I am agreeable to anything. I dare say I shall 
 find some specimens. I think I will go and look at once." 
 
 " Take my advice, and don't go far away," replied Dick. 
 
 " All right ; I shall take care of myself." 
 
 " And don't be bringing back a lot of mosquitoes," said 
 old Tom mischievously. 
 
 With his box under his arm, the naturalist left the 
 grotto. 
 
 Negoro followed almost immediately. He did not take 
 the same direction as Benedict up the cliff, but for the 
 second time bent his steps towards the river, and proceeded 
 along its bank till he was out of sight. 
 
 It was not long before Jack's exertions told upon him, and 
 he fell into a sound sleep. Mrs. Weldon having gently laid 
 him on Nan's lap, wandered out and made her way to the 
 water's edge. She was soon joined by Dick and the negroes, 
 
140 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 who wanted to see whether it was possible to get to the 
 " Pilgrim," and secure any articles that might be service- 
 able for future use. The reef on which the schooner had 
 stranded was now quite dry, and the carcase of the vessel 
 which had been partially covered at high water was lying in 
 the midst of debris of the most promiscuous character. 
 The wide difference between high and low-water mark , 
 caused Dick Sands no little surprise. He knew that the 
 tides on the shores of the Pacific were very inconsiderable ; 
 in his own mind, however, he came to the conclusion that 
 the phenomenon was to be explained by the unusually high 
 wind that had been blowing on the coast. 
 
 Not without emotion could Mrs. Weldon, or indeed any 
 of them, behold the unfortunate ship upon which they had 
 spent so many eventful days, lying dismasted on her side. 
 But there was little time for sentiment. If they wished to 
 visit the hull before it finally went to pieces, there must be 
 no delay. 
 
 Hoisting themselves by some loose rigging that was hang- 
 ing from the deck, Dick and several of the negroes contrived 
 to make their way into the interior of the hull. Dick left 
 his men to gather together all they could in the way of food 
 and drink from the store-room, and himself went straight to 
 the stern cabin, into which the water had not penetrated. 
 Here he found four excellent Purday's Remington rifles and 
 a hundred cartridges ; with these he determined to arm his 
 party, in case they should be attacked by Indians. He also 
 chose six of the strongest of the cutlasses that are used for 
 slicing up dead whales ; and did not forget the little toy gun 
 which was Jack's special property. Unexpectedly he found 
 a pocket- compass, which he was only too glad to appropriate. 
 What a boon it would have been had he discovered it 
 earlier ! The ship's charts in the fore-cabin were too much 
 injured by water to be of any further service. Nearly every- 
 thing was either lost or spoiled, but the misfortune was not felt 
 very acutely because there was ample provision for a few 
 
ASHORE. 141 
 
 days, and it seemed useless to burden themselves with more 
 than was necessary. Dick hardly needed Mrs. Weldon's 
 advice to secure all the money that might be on board, but 
 after the most diligent search he failed to discover more than 
 five hundred dollars. This was a subject of perplexity. 
 Mrs. Weldon herself had had a considerably larger sum 
 than this, and Captain Hull was known always to keep a 
 good reserve in hand. There was but one way to solve the 
 mystery. Some one had been beforehand to the wreck. It 
 could not be any of the negroes, as not one of them had 
 for a moment left the grotto. Suspicion naturally fell upon 
 Negoro, who had been out alone upon the shore. Morose 
 and cold-blooded as the man was, Dick hardly knew why 
 he should suspect him of the crime of theft ; nevertheless, 
 he determined to cross-examine him, and, if need be, to 
 have him searched, as soon as he came back. 
 
 The day wore onwards to its close. The sun was 
 approaching the vernal equinox, and sank almost perpen- 
 dicularly on to the horizon. Twilight was very short, and 
 the rapidity with which darkness came on confirmed Dick 
 in his belief that they had got ashore at some spot lying 
 between the tropic of Capricorn and the equator. 
 
 They all assembled in the grotto again for the purpose of 
 getting some sleep. 
 
 " Another rough night coming on ! " said Tom, pointing 
 to the heavy clouds that hung over the horizon. 
 
 " No doubt, Tom ! " answered Dick ; " and I think we 
 may congratulate ourselves on being safe out of our poor 
 ship." 
 
 As the night could not be otherwise than very dark, it was 
 arranged that the negroes should take their turns in keeping 
 guard at the entrance of the grotto. Dingo also would be 
 upon the alert. 
 
 Benedict had not yet returned. Hercules shouted his 
 name with the full strength of his capacious lungs, and 
 shortly afterwards the entomologist was seen making his 
 
142 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 way down the face of the cliff at the imminent risk of 
 breaking his neck. He was in a great rage. He had not 
 found a single insect worth having ; scorpions, scolopendra, 
 and other myriapoda were in the forest in abundance ; but 
 not one of these of course could be allowed a place in his 
 collection. 
 
 " Have I come six thousand miles for this ? " he cried : 
 " have I endured storm and shipwreck only to be cast where 
 not a hexapod is to be seen ? The country is detestable ! 
 I shall not stay in it another hour ! '' 
 
 Ever gentle to his eccentricities, Mrs. Weldon soothed 
 him as she would a child ; she told him that he had better 
 take some rest now, and most likely he would have better 
 luck to-morrow. 
 
 Cousin Benedict had hardly been pacified when Tom 
 remarked that Negoro too had not returned. 
 
 " Never mind ! " said Bat ; " his room is as good as his 
 company." 
 
 " I cannot say that I altogether think so. The man is no 
 favourite of mine, but I like him better under my own eye,'' 
 said Mrs. Weldon. 
 
 " Perhaps he has his own reasons for keeping away," said 
 Dick ; and taking Mrs. Weldon aside, he communicated to 
 her his suspicions of the fellow's dishonesty. 
 
 He found that she coincided with him in her view of 
 Negoro's conduct ; but she did not agree with him in his 
 proposal to have him searched at once. If he returned, she 
 should be convinced that he had deposited the money in 
 some secret spot ; and as there would be no proof of his 
 guilt, it would be better to leave him, at least for a time, 
 uninterrogated. 
 
 Dick was convinced by her representations, and promised 
 to act upon her advice. 
 
 Before they resigned themselves to sleep, they had re- 
 peatedly summoned Negoro back, but he either could not 
 or would not hear. Mrs. Weldon and Dick scarcely knew 
 
The entomologist was seen making his way down the face of the cliff at the 
 imminent risk of breaking his neck. 
 
 K 
 
ASHORE. 145 
 
 what to think ; unless he had lost his way ; it was unac- 
 countable why he should be wandering about alone on a 
 dark night in a strange country. 
 
 Presently Dingo was heard barking furiously. He had 
 left the opening of the grotto, and was evidently down at 
 the water's edge. Imagining that Negoro must be coming, 
 Dick sent three of the negroes in the direction of the river 
 to meet him ; but when they reached the bank not a soul 
 could be seen, and as Dingo was quiet again, they made 
 their way back to the grotto. 
 
 Excepting the man left on watch, they now all lay down, 
 hoping to get some repose. Mrs. Weldon, however, could 
 not sleep. The land for which she had sighed so ardently 
 had been reached, but it had failed to give either the security 
 or the comfort which she had anticipated. 
 
 K 2 
 
146 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN, 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 A STRANGER. 
 
 At daybreak, next morning, Austin, who happened to be 
 on guard, heard Dingo bark, and noticed that he started up 
 and ran towards the river. Arousing the inmates of the 
 grotto, he announced to them that some one was coming. 
 
 " It isn't Negoro," said Tom ; " Dingo would bark louder 
 than that if Negoro were to be seen." 
 
 " Who, then, can it be ? " asked Mrs. Weldon, with an in- 
 quiring glance towards Dick. 
 
 '' We must wait and see, madam," replied Dick quietly. 
 
 Bidding Bat, Austin, and Hercules follow his example, 
 Dick Sands took up a cutlass and a rifle, into the breech of 
 which he slipped a cartridge. Thus armed, the four young 
 men made their way towards the river bank. Tom and 
 Actaeon were left with Mrs. Weldon at the entrance of the 
 grotto. 
 
 The sun was just rising. Its rays, intercepted by the lofty 
 range of mountains in the east, did not fall directly on the 
 cliff; but the sea to its western horizon was sparkling in the 
 sunbeams as the party marched along the shore. Dingo 
 was motionless as a setter, but did not cease barking. It 
 soon proved not to be his old enemy who was disturbing him. 
 A man, who was not Negoro, appeared round the angle of 
 the cliff, and advancing cautiously along the bank of the 
 stream, seemed by his gestures to be endeavouring to pacify 
 
A STRANGER. 147 
 
 the dog, with which an encounter would certainly have been 
 by no means desirable. 
 
 " That's not Negoro ! " said Hercules. 
 
 " No loss for any of us," muttered Bat. 
 
 "You are right,'' replied Dick ; " perhaps he is a native ; 
 let us hope he may be able to tell us our whereabouts, and 
 save us the trouble of exploring." 
 
 With their rifles on their shoulders, they advanced steadily 
 towards the new arrival. The stranger, on becoming aware 
 of their approach, manifested great surprise ; he was appa- 
 rently puzzled as to how they had reached the shore, for the 
 " Pilgrim " had been entirely broken up during the night, 
 and the spars that were floating about had probably been 
 too few and too scattered to attract his attention. His first 
 attitude seemed to betray something of fear ; and raising to 
 his shoulder a gun that had been slung to his belt, he began 
 to retrace his steps ; but conciliatory gestures on the part of 
 Dick quickly reassured him, and after a moment's hesitation, 
 he continued to advance. 
 
 He was a man of about forty years of age, strongly built, 
 with a keen, bright eye, grizzly hair and beard, and a com- 
 plexion tanned as with constant exposure to the forest air. 
 He wore a broad-brimmed hat, a kind of leather jerkin, or 
 tunic, and long boots reaching nearly to his knees. To his 
 high heels was fastened a pair of wide-rowelled spurs, which 
 clanked as he moved. 
 
 Dick Sands in an instant saw that he was not looking upon 
 one of the roving Indians of the pampas, but upon one of 
 those adventurers, often of very doubtful character, who are 
 not unfrequently to be met with in the remotest quarters of 
 the earth. Clearly this was neither an Indian nor a Spaniard. 
 His erect, not to say rigid deportment, and the reddish hue 
 with which his hair and beard were streaked, betokened him 
 to be of Anglo-Saxon origin, a conjecture which was at once 
 confirmed when upon Dick's wishing him "good morning," 
 
148 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 he replied in unmistakable English, with hardly a trace of 
 foreign accent, — 
 
 " Good morning, my young friend." 
 
 He stepped forward, and having shaken hands with Dick, 
 nodded to all his companions. 
 
 " Are you English ? " he asked. 
 
 " No ; we are Americans," replied Dick. 
 
 " North or South ? " inquired the man. 
 
 " North," Dick answered. 
 
 The information seemed to afford the stranger no little 
 satisfaction, and he again wrung Dick's hand with all the 
 enthusiasm of a fellow-countryman. 
 
 " And may I ask what brings you here ? " he continued. 
 
 Before, however, Dick had time to reply, the stranger had 
 courteously raised his hat, and, looking round, Dick saw that 
 his bow was intended for Mrs. Weldon, who had just reached 
 the river-bank. She proceeded to tell him the particulars of 
 how they had been shipwrecked, and how the vessel had 
 gone to pieces on the reefs. 
 
 A look of pity crossed the man's face as he listened, and 
 he cast his eye, as it might be involuntarily, upon the sea, 
 in order to discern some vestige of the stranded ship. 
 
 " Ah ! there is nothing to be seen of our poor schooner ! " 
 said Dick mournfully ; " the last of her was broken up in the 
 storm last night." 
 
 "And now," interposed Mrs. Weldon, "can you tell us 
 where we are ? " 
 
 " Where ? '' exclaimed the man, with every indication of 
 surprise at her question; "why, on the coast of South 
 America, of course ! '' 
 
 " But on what part ? are we near Peru ? '' Dick inquired 
 eagerly. 
 
 " No, my lad, no ; you are more to the south ; you are on 
 the coast of Bolivia ; close to the borders of Chili." 
 
 ''A good distance, I suppose, from Lima?" asked Dick. 
 
A STRANGER. 149 
 
 " From Lima ? yes, a long way ; Lima is far to the 
 north." 
 
 "And what is the name of that promontory?'' Dick said, 
 pointing to the adjacent headland. 
 
 " That, I confess, is more than I am able to tell you," re- 
 plied the stranger ; " for although I have travelled a great 
 deal in the interior of the country, I have never before visited 
 this part of the coast." 
 
 Dick pondered in thoughtful silence over the information 
 he had thus received. He had no reason to doubt its accu- 
 racy ; according to his own reckoning he would have ex- 
 pected to come ashore somewhere between the latitudes of 
 27 and 30 ; and by this stranger's showing he had made 
 the latitude 25 ; the discrepancy was not very great ; it was 
 not more than might be accounted for by the action of the 
 currents, which he knew he had been unable to estimate ; 
 moreover,, the deserted character of the whole shore inclined 
 him to believe more easily that he was in Lower Bolivia. 
 
 Whilst this conversation was going on, Mrs. Weldon, 
 whose suspicions had been excited by Negoro's disappearance, 
 had been scrutinizing the stranger with the utmost attention ; 
 but she could detect nothing either in his manner or in his 
 words to give her any cause to doubt his good faith. 
 
 " Pardon me," she said presently ; " but you do not seem 
 to me to be a native of Peru ? " 
 
 " No ; like yourself, I am an American, Mrs. ;" he 
 
 paused, as if waiting to be told her name. 
 
 The lady smiled, and gave her name ; he thanked her, 
 and continued, — ■ 
 
 " My name is Harris. I was born in South Carolina ; but 
 it is now twenty years since I left my home for the pampas 
 of Bolivia ; imagine, therefore, how much pleasure it gives 
 me to come across some countrymen of my own." 
 
 "Do you live in this part of the province, Mr. Harris?" 
 Mrs. Weldon asked. 
 
150 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 " No, indeed ; far away ; I live down to the south, close 
 to the borders of Chili. At present I am taking a journey- 
 north-eastwards to Atacama." 
 
 "Atacama ! " exclaimed Dick ; " are we anywhere near the 
 desert of Atacama ? v 
 
 "Yes, my young friend," rejoined Harris, "you are just on 
 the edge of it. It extends far beyond those mountains which 
 you see on the horizon, and is one of the most curious and 
 least explored parts of the continent." 
 
 " And are you travelling through it alone ? " Mrs. Weldon 
 inquired. 
 
 " Yes, quite, alone ; and it is not the first time I have 
 performed the journey. One of my brothers owns a large 
 farm, the hacienda of San Felice, about 200 miles from 
 here, and I have occasion now and then to pay him business 
 visits." 
 
 After a moment's hesitation, as if he were weighing a sud- 
 den thought, he continued, — 
 
 " I am on my way there now, and if you will accompany 
 me I can promise you a hearty welcome, and my brother 
 will be most happy to do his best to provide you with 
 means of conveyance to San Francisco." 
 
 Mrs. Weldon had hardly begun to express her thanks for 
 the proposal when he said abruptly, — 
 
 " Are these negroes your slaves ? " 
 
 " Slaves ! sir," replied Mrs. Weldon, drawing herself up 
 proudly ; " we have no slaves in the United States. The 
 south has now long followed the example of the north. 
 Slavery is abolished." 
 
 " I beg your pardon, madam. I had forgotten that the 
 war of 1862 had solved that question. But seeing these fel- 
 lows with you, I thought perhaps they might be in your 
 service," he added, with a slight tone of irony. 
 
 " We are very proud to be of any service to Mrs. Weldon," 
 Tom interposed with dignity, "but we are no man's pro- 
 
A STRANGER. 151 
 
 petty. It is true I was sold for a slave when I was six years 
 old ; but I have long since had my freedom ; and so has 
 my son. Bat here, and all his friends, were born of free 
 parents." 
 
 "Ah ! well then, I have to congratulate you,'' replied 
 Harris, in a manner that jarred very sensibly upon Mrs. 
 Weldon's feelings ; but she said nothing. 
 
 Harris added, — ■ 
 
 " I can assure you that you are as safe here in Bolivia as 
 you would be in New England." 
 
 He had not finished speaking, when Jack, followed by Nan, 
 came out of the grotto. The child was rubbing his eyes, 
 having only just awakened from his night's sleep. Catching 
 sight of his mother, he darted towards her. 
 
 " What a charming little boy ! " exclaimed Harris. 
 
 " He is my little son," said Mrs. Weldon, kissing the child 
 by way of morning greeting. 
 
 " Ah, madam, I am sure you must have suffered doubly on 
 his account. Will the little man let me kiss him too ?" 
 
 But there was something in the stranger's appearance 
 that did not take Jack's fancy, and he shrank back timidly to 
 his mother's side. 
 
 " You must excuse him, sir ; he is very shy." 
 
 "Never mind," said Harris; "we shall be better ac- 
 quainted by-and-by. When we get to my brother's, he shall 
 have a nice little pony to ride." 
 
 But not even this tempting offer seemed to have any effect 
 in coaxing Jack into a more genial mood. He kept fast hold 
 of his mother's hand, and she, somewhat vexed at his be- 
 haviour, and anxious that no offence should be given to a 
 man who appeared so friendly in his intentions, hastened to 
 turn the conversation to another topic. 
 
 Meantime Dick Sands had been considering Harris's pro- 
 posal. Upon the whole, the plan of making their way 
 to the hacienda of San Felice seemed to commend itself 
 
152 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 to his judgment ; but he could not conceal from himself 
 that a journey of 200 miles across plains and forests, without 
 any means of transport, would be extremely fatiguing. On 
 expressing his doubts on this point, he was met with the 
 reply,— 
 
 " Oh, that can be managed well enough, young man ; just 
 round the corner of the cliff there I have a horse, which is 
 quite at the disposal of the lady and her son; and by easy 
 stages of ten miles or so a day, it will do the rest of us no 
 harm to travel on foot. Besides," he added, " when I spoke 
 of the journey being 200 miles, I was thinking of following, 
 as I usually do. the course of the river ; but by taking a short 
 cut across the forest, we may reduce the distance by nearly 
 eighty miles." 
 
 Mrs. Weldon was about to say how grateful she was, but 
 Harris anticipated her. 
 
 " Not a word, madam, I beg you. You cannot thank me 
 better than by accepting my offer. I confess I have never 
 crossed this forest, but I am so much accustomed to the 
 pampas that I have little fear of losing my way. The only 
 difficulty is in the matter of provisions, as I have only 
 supplied myself with enough to carry me on to San 
 Felice." 
 
 " As to provisions," replied Mrs. Weldon, " we have enough 
 and to spare ; and we shall be more than willing to share 
 everything with you." 
 
 ''That is well," answered Harris; "then there can be no 
 reason why we should not start at once." 
 
 He was turning away with the intention of fetching his 
 horse, when Dick Sands detained him. True to his sea- 
 man's instincts, the young sailor felt that he should be much 
 more at his ease on the sea-shore than traversing the heart 
 of an unknown forest. 
 
 " Pardon me, Mr. Harris," he began, " but instead of 
 taking so long a journey across the desert of Atacama, 
 
A STRANGER. 1 53 
 
 would it not be far better for us to follow the coast either 
 northwards or southwards, until we reach the nearest sea- 
 port ? " 
 
 A frown passed over Harris's countenance. 
 
 " I know very little about the coast," he answered ; " but 
 I know enough to assure you that there is no town to the 
 north within 300 or 400 miles." 
 
 "Then why should we not go south ?" persisted Dick. 
 
 '' You would then have to travel to Chili, which is almost 
 as far ; and, under your circumstances, I should not advise 
 you to skirt the pampas of the Argentine Republic. For my 
 own part, I could not accompany you.'' 
 
 '' But do not the vessels which ply between Chili and 
 Peru come within sight of this coast?'' interposed Mrs. Wel- 
 don. 
 
 " No, madam ; they keep out so far to sea that there would 
 not be the faintest chance of your hailing one." 
 
 " You seem to have another question to ask Mr. Harris," 
 Mrs. Weldon continued, addressing Dick, who still looked 
 rather doubtful. 
 
 Dick replied that he was about to inquire at what port he 
 would be likely to find a ship to convey their party to San 
 Francisco. 
 
 " That I really cannot tell you, my young friend," rejoined 
 Harris ; " I can only repeat my promise that we will furnish 
 you with the means of conveyance from San Felice to Ata- 
 cama, where no doubt you will obtain all the information you 
 require." 
 
 " I hope you will not think that Dick is insensible to your 
 kindness, Mr. Harris,'' said Mrs. Weldon, apologetically. 
 
 " On the contrary," promptly observed Dick ; " I fully 
 appreciate it ; I only wish we had been cast ashore upon a 
 spot where we should have had no need to intrude upon his 
 generosity." 
 
 " I assure you, madam, it gives me unbounded pleasure to 
 
.154 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 serve you in any way," said Harris ; "it is, as I have told 
 you, not often that I come in contact with any of my own 
 countrymen." 
 
 " Then we accept your offer as frankly as it is made," replied 
 the lady ; adding, "but I cannot consent to deprive you of 
 your horse. I am a very good walker." 
 
 " So am I," said Harris, with a bow, " and consequently I 
 intend you and your little son to ride. I am used to long 
 tramps through the pampas. Besides, it is not at all unlikely 
 that we shall come across some of the workpeople belonging 
 to the hacienda ; if so, they will be able to give us a mount." 
 
 Convinced that it would only be thwarting Mrs. Weldon's 
 wishes to throw any further impediment in the way, Dick 
 Sands suppressed his desire to raise fresh obstacles, and 
 simply asked how soon they ought to start. 
 
 " This very day, at once," said Harris quickly. 
 
 "So soon ? " asked Dick. 
 
 " Yes. The rainy season begins in April, and the sooner 
 we are at San Felice the better. The way through the forest 
 is the safest as well as the shortest, for we shall be less likely 
 to meet any of the nomad Indians, who are notorious 
 robbers." 
 
 Without making any direct reply, Dick proceeded to instruct 
 the negroes to choose such of the provisions as were most 
 easy of transport, and to make them up into packages, that 
 every one might carry a due share. Hercules with his usual 
 good-nature professed himself willing to carry the entire load ; 
 a proposal, however, to which Dick would not listen for a 
 moment. 
 
 " You are a fine fellow, Hercules," said Harris, scrutinizing 
 the giant with the eye of a connoisseur ; " you would be worth 
 something in the African market.'-' 
 
 "Those who want me now must catch me first," retorted 
 Hercules, with a grin. 
 
 The services of all hands were enlisted, and in a compara- 
 
A STRANGER. 155 
 
 tively short time sufficient (pod was packed up to supply the 
 party for about ten days' march. 
 
 " You must allow us to show you what hospitality is in our 
 power," said Mrs. Weldon, addressing her new acquaintance ; 
 " our breakfast will be ready in a quarter of an hour, and we 
 shall be happy if you will join us." 
 
 " It will give me much pleasure," answered Harris, gaily ; 
 " I will employ the interval in fetching my horse, who has 
 breakfasted already." 
 
 " I will accompany you," said Dick. 
 
 " By all means, my young friend ; come with me, and I 
 will show you the lower part of the river." 
 
 While they were gone, Hercules was sent in search of Cousin 
 Benedict, who was wandering on the top of the cliff in quest 
 of some wonderful insect, which, of course, was not to be 
 found. Without asking his permission, Hercules uncere 
 moniously brought him back to Mrs. Weldon, who explained 
 how they were about to start upon a ten days' march into the 
 interior of the country. The entomologist was quite satisfied 
 with the arrangement, and declared himself ready for a march 
 across the entire continent, as long as he was free to be adding 
 to his collection on the way. 
 
 Thus assured of her cousin's acquiescence in her plans, 
 Mrs. Weldon proceeded to prepare such a substantial meal 
 as she hoped would invigorate them all for the approaching 
 journey. 
 
 Harris and Dick Sands, meantime, had turned the corner 
 of the cliff, and walked about 300 paces along the shore until 
 they came to a tree to which a horse was tethered. The 
 creature neighed as it recognized its master. It was a 
 strong-built animal, of a kind that Dick had not seen be- 
 fore, although its long neck and crupper, short loins, flat 
 shoulders and arched forehead indicated that it was of 
 Arabian breed. 
 
 " Plenty of strength here," Harris said, as after unfastening 
 
156 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 the horse, he took it by the bridle and began to lead it along 
 the shore. 
 
 Dick made no reply ; he was casting a hasty glance at the 
 forest which enclosed them on either hand ; it was an unat- 
 tractive sight, but he observed nothing to give him any 
 particular ground for uneasiness. 
 
 Turning round, he said abruptly, — 
 
 " Did you meet a Portuguese last night, named Negoro ? " 
 
 " Negoro ? who is Negoro ? " asked Harris, in a tone of 
 surprise. 
 
 "He was our ship's cook ; but he has disappeared." 
 
 " Drowned, probably," said Harris indifferently. 
 
 " No, he was not drowned ; he was with us during the 
 evening, but left afterwards ; I thought perhaps you might 
 have met him along the river-side, as you came that 
 way." 
 
 " No," said Harris, " I saw no one ; if your cook ventured 
 alone into the forest, most likely he has lost his way ; it is 
 possible we may pick him up upon our road." 
 
 When they arrived at the grotto, they found breakfast duly 
 prepared. Like the supper of the previous evening it consisted 
 main x y of corned beef and biscuit. Harris did ample justice 
 to the repast. 
 
 " There is no fear of our starving as we go," he observed 
 to Mrs. Weldon ; " but I can hardly say so much for the 
 unfortunate Portuguese, your cook, of whom my young friend 
 here has been speaking." 
 
 " Ah ! has Dick been telling you about Negoro ? " Mrs. 
 Weldon said. 
 
 Dick explained that he had been inquiring whether Mr. 
 Harris had happened to meet him in the direction he had 
 come. 
 
 " I saw nothing of him," Harris repeated ; "and as he has 
 deserted you, you need not give yourselves any concern about 
 him. 1 ' And apparently glad to turn the subject, he said, 
 
A STRANGER. 1 57 
 
 " Now, madam, I am at your service ; shall we start at 
 once? " 
 
 It was agreed that there was no cause for delay. Each one 
 took up the package that had been assigned him. Mrs. 
 Weldon, with Hercules' help, mounted the horse, and Jack, 
 with his miniature gun slung across his shoulder, was placed 
 astride in front of her. Without a thought of acknowledging 
 the kindness of the good-natured stranger in providing him 
 so enjoyable a ride, the heedless little fellow declared himself 
 quite capable of guiding the "gentleman's horse," and when 
 to indulge him the bridle was put into his hand, he looked 
 as proud as though he had been appointed leader of the 
 whole caravan. 
 
158 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN, 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 THROUGH THE FOREST. 
 
 Although there was no obvious cause for apprehension, it 
 cannot be denied that it was with a certain degree of fore- 
 boding that Dick Sands first entered that dense forest, through 
 which for the next ten days they were all to wend their 
 toilsome way. 
 
 Mrs. Weldon, on the contrary, was full of confidence and 
 hope. A woman and a mother, she might have been expected 
 to be conscious of anxiety at the peril to which she might be 
 exposing herself and her child ; and doubtless she would 
 have been sensible of alarm if her mind had not been fully 
 satisfied upon two points ; first, that the portion of the 
 pampas they were about to traverse was little infested either 
 by natives or by dangerous beasts ; and secondly, that she 
 was under the protection of a guide so trustworthy as she 
 believed Harris to be. 
 
 The entrance to the forest was hardly more than three 
 hundred paces up the river. An order of march had been 
 arranged which was to be observed as closely as possible 
 throughout the journey. At the head of the troop were 
 Harris and Dick Sands, one armed with his long gun, the 
 other with his Remington ; next came Bat and Austin, each 
 carrying a gun and a cutlass, then Mrs. Weldon and Jack, 
 on horseback, closely followed by Tom and old Nan, while 
 Actaeon with the fourth Remington, and Hercules with a 
 
THROUGH THE FOREST. 1 59 
 
 huge hatchet in his waist-belt, brought up the rear. Dingo 
 had no especial place in the procession, but wandered, to and 
 fro at his pleasure. Ever since he had been cast ashore 
 Dick had noticed a remarkable change in the dog's behaviour ; 
 the animal was in a constant state of agitation, always ap- 
 parently on the search for some lost scent, and repeatedly 
 giving vent to a low growl, which seemed to proceed from 
 grief rather than from rage. 
 
 As for Cousin Benedict, his movements were permitted 
 to be nearly as erratic as Dingo's ; nothing but a leading- 
 string could possibly have kept him in the ranks. With 
 his tin box under his arm, and his butterfly net in his 
 hand, and his huge magnifying-glass suspended from his 
 neck, he would be sometimes far ahead, sometimes a long 
 way behind, and at the risk of being attacked by some 
 venomous snake, would make frantic dashes into the tall 
 grass whenever he espied some attractive orthoptera or 
 other insect which he thought might be honoured by a 
 place in his collection. 
 
 In one hour after starting Mrs. Weldon had called to him 
 a dozen times without the slightest effect. At last she told 
 him seriously that if he would not give up chasing the insects 
 at a distance, she should be obliged to take possession of his 
 tin box. 
 
 " Take away my box ! " he cried, with as much horror as if 
 she had threatened to tear out his vitals. 
 
 " Yes, your box and your net too ! " 
 
 " My box and my net ! but surely not my spectacles ! " 
 almost shrieked the excited entomologist. 
 
 " Yes, and your spectacles as well ! " added Mrs. Weldon 
 mercilessly ; " I am glad you have reminded me of another 
 means of reducing you to obedience ! " 
 
 The triple penalty of which he was thus warned had the 
 effect of keeping him from wandering away for the best part 
 of the next hour, but he was soon once more missing from the 
 
 L 
 
l6o DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN 
 
 ranks ; he was manifestly incorrigible ; the deprivation of 
 box, net, and spectacles would, it was acknowledged, be utterly 
 without avail to prevent him from rambling. Accordingly it 
 was thought better to let him have his own way, especially as 
 Hercules volunteered to keep his eye upon him, and to en- 
 deavour to guard the worthy naturalist as carefully as he 
 would himself protect some precious specimen of a lepi- 
 doptera. Further anxiety on his account was thus put to 
 rest. 
 
 In spite of Harris's confident assertion that they were 
 little likely to be molested by any of the nomad Indians, 
 the whole company rejoiced in feeling that they were well 
 armed, and they resolved to keep in a compact body. 
 The way across the forest could scarcely be called a path ; 
 it was, in fact, little more than the track of animals, 
 and progress along it was necessarily very slow ; indeed 
 it seemed impossible, at the rate they started, to accom- 
 plish more than five or six miles in the course of twelve 
 hours. 
 
 The weather was beautifully fine ; the sun ascended 
 nearly to the zenith, and its rays, descending almost per- 
 pendicularly, caused a degree of heat which, as Harris 
 pointed out, would have been unendurable upon the open 
 plain, but was here pleasantly tempered by the shelter of the 
 foliage. 
 
 Most of the trees were quite strange to them. To an ex- 
 perienced eye they were such as were remarkable more for 
 their character than for their size. Here, on one side, was 
 the bauhinia, or mountain ebony ; there, on the other, the 
 molompi or pterocarpus, its trunk exuding large quantities 
 of resin, and of which the strong light wood makes excellent 
 oars or paddles ; further on were fustics, heavily charged 
 with colouring matter, and guaiacums, twelve feet in diameter, 
 surpassing the ordinary, kind in magnitude, yet far inferior 
 in quality. 
 
THROUGH THE FOREST. l6l 
 
 Dick Sands kept perpetually asking Harris to tell him the 
 names of all these trees and plants. 
 
 " Have you never been on the coast of South America 
 before?" replied Harris, without giving the explicit informa- 
 tion that was sought. 
 
 " Never," said Dick; "never before. Nor do I recollect 
 ever having seen any one who has." 
 
 " But surely you have explored the coasts of Columbia or 
 Patagonia," Harris continued. 
 
 Dick avowed that he had never had the chance. 
 
 "But has Mrs. Weldon never visited these parts? Our 
 countrymen, I know, are great travellers." 
 
 "No," answered Mrs. Weldon ; "my husband's business 
 called him occasionally to New Zealand, but I have accom- 
 panied him nowhere else. With this part of Lower Bolivia 
 we are totally unacquainted.'' 
 
 " Then, madam, I can only assure you that you will see a 
 most remarkable country, in every way a very striking con- 
 trast to the regions of Peru, Brazil, and the Argentine republic. 
 Its animal and vegetable products would fill a naturalist with 
 unbounded wonder. May I not declare it a lucky chance that 
 has brought you here ? " 
 
 "Do not say chance, Mr. Harris, if you please." 
 
 " Well, then, madam ; providence, if you prefer it," said 
 Harris, with the air of a man incapable of recognizing the 
 distinction. 
 
 After finding that there was no one amongst them who was 
 acquainted in any way with the country through which they 
 were travelling, Harris seemed to exhibit an evident pleasure 
 in pointing out and describing by name the vai-ious wonders 
 of the forest. Had Cousin Benedict's attainments included 
 a knowledge of botany he would have found himself in a fine 
 field for researches, and might perchance have discovered 
 novelties to which his own name could be appended in the 
 catalogues of science. But he was no botanist ; in fact, as a 
 
 L 2 
 
1 62 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 rule, he held all blossoms in aversion, on the ground that they 
 entrapped insects into their corolla?, and poisoned them 
 sometimes with venomous juices. New and rare insects, 
 however, seemed hereabouts to be wanting. 
 
 Occasionally the soil became marshy, and they all had to 
 wend their way over a perfect network of tiny rivulets that 
 were affluents of the river from which they had started. 
 Sometimes these rivulets were so wide that they could not 
 be passed without a long search for some spot where they 
 could be forded ; their banks were all very damp, and in 
 many places abounded with a kind of reed, which Harris 
 called by its proper name of papyrus. 
 
 As soon as the marshy district had been passed, the forest 
 resumed its original aspect, the footway becoming narrow 
 as ever. Harris pointed out some very fine ebony-trees, 
 larger than the common sort, and yielding a wood darker 
 and more durable than what is ordinarily seen in the market. 
 There were also more mango-trees than might have been 
 expected at this distance from the sea ; a beautiful white 
 ichen enveloped their trunks like a fur ; but in spite of their 
 luxuriant foliage and delicious fruit, Harris said that there 
 was not a native who would venture to propagate the species, 
 as the superstition of the country is that "whoever plants a 
 mango, dies ! " 
 
 At noon a halt was made for the purpose of rest and re- 
 freshment. During the afternoon they arrived at some 
 gently rising ground, not the first slopes of hills, but an 
 insulated plateau which appeared to unite mountains and 
 plains. 
 
 Notwithstanding that the trees were far less crowded and 
 more inclined to grow in detached groups, the numbers of her- 
 baceous plants with which the soil was covered rendered pro- 
 gress no less difficult than it was before. The general aspect 
 of the scene was not unlike an East Indian jungle. Less 
 luxuriant indeed than in the lower valley of the river, the 
 
THROUGH THE FOREST. 163 
 
 vegetation was far more abundant than that of the temperate 
 zones either of the Old or New continents. Indigo grew in 
 great profusion, and, according to Harris's representation, 
 was the most encroaching plant in the whole country ; no 
 sooner, he said, was a field left untilled, than it was overrun 
 by this parasite, which sprang up with the rank growth of 
 thistles or nettles. 
 
 One tree which might have been expected to be common 
 in this part of the continent seemed entirely wanting. This 
 was the caoutchouc. Of the various trees from which 
 India-rubber is procured, such as the Ficus prinoides, the 
 Castilloa elastica, the Cecropia peltata, the Callophora utilis, 
 the Cameraria latifolia, and especially the Siphonia elastica, 
 all of which abound in the provinces of South America, not a 
 single specimen was to be seen. Dick had promised to show 
 Jack an India-rubber-tree, and the child, who had conjured 
 up visions of squeaking dolls, balls, and other toys growing 
 upon its branches, was loud and constant in his expressions 
 of disappointment. 
 
 " Never mind, my little man,'' said Harris ; " have patience, 
 and you shall see hundreds of India-rubber-trees when you 
 get to the hacienda." 
 
 "And will they be nice and elastic?" asked Jack, whose 
 ideas upon the subject were of the vaguest order. 
 
 " Oh, yes, they will stretch as long as you like," Harris 
 answered, laughing. " But here is something to amuse you," 
 he added, and as he spoke, he gathered a fruit that looked as 
 tempting as a peach. 
 
 " You are quite sure that it is safe to give it him ? " said 
 Mrs. Weldon anxiously. 
 
 "To satisfy you, madam, I will eat one first myself." 
 
 The example he set was soon followed by all the rest. 
 The fruit was a mango ; that which had been so oppor- 
 tunely discovered was of the sort that ripens in March 
 or April ; there is a later kind which ripens in September. 
 
1 64 DICK, SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 With his mouth full of juice, Jack pronounced that it was 
 very nice, but did not seem to be altogether diverted from 
 his sense of disappointment at not coming to an India- 
 rubber-tree. Evidently the little man thought himself rather 
 injured. 
 
 "And Dick promised me some humming-birds too !" he 
 murmured. 
 
 " Plenty of humming-birds for you, when you get to 
 the farm ; lots of them where my brother lives," said 
 Harris. 
 
 And to say the truth, there was nothing extravagant in the 
 way the child's anticipations had been raised, for in Bolivia 
 humming-birds are found in great abundance. The Indians, 
 who weave their plumage into all kinds of artistic designs, 
 have bestowed the most poetical epithets upon these gems of 
 the feathered race. They call them " rays of the sun," and 
 " tresses of the day-star ;" at one time they will describe 
 them as "king of flowers,' 5 at another as "blossoms of 
 heaven kissing blossoms of earth," or as " the jewel that re- 
 flects the sunbeam." In fact their imagination seems to have 
 shaped a suitable distinction for almost every one of the 150 
 known species of this dazzling little beauty. 
 
 But however numerous humming-birds might be expected 
 to be in the Bolivian forest, they proved scarce enough at 
 present, and Jack had to content himself with Harris's re- 
 presentations that they did not like solitude, but would be 
 found plentifully at San Felice, where they would be heard 
 all day long humming like a spinning-wheel. Already 
 Jack said he longed to be there, a wish that was so unani- 
 mously echoed by all the rest, that they resolved that no 
 stoppage should be allowed beyond what was absolutely 
 indispensable. 
 
 After a time the forest began to alter its aspect. The 
 trees were even less crowded, opening now and then into 
 wide glades. The soil, cropping up above its carpet of ver- 
 
THROUGH THE FOREST. 1 65 
 
 dure, exhibited veins of rose granite and syenite, like plates of 
 lapis lazuli; on some of the higher ground, the fleshy tubers 
 of the sarsaparilla plant, growing in a hopeless entangle- 
 ment, made progress a matter of still greater difficulty than 
 in the narrow tracks of the dense forest. 
 
 At sunset the travellers found that they had accomplished 
 about eight miles from their starting-point. They could not 
 prognosticate what hardships might be in store for them on 
 future days, but it was certain that the experiences of the 
 first day had been neither eventful nor very fatiguing. It was 
 now unanimously agreed that they should make a halt for the 
 night, and as little was to be apprehended from the attacks 
 either of man or beast, it was considered unnecessary to form 
 anything like a regular encampment. One man on guard, to 
 be relieved every few hours, was presumed to be sufficient. 
 Admirable shelter was offered by an enormous mango, the 
 spreading foliage of which formed a kind of natural verandah, 
 sweeping the ground so thoroughly that any one who chose 
 could find sleeping-quarters in its very branches. 
 
 Simultaneously with the halting - of the party there was 
 heard a deafening tumult in the upper boughs. The mango 
 was the roosting-place of a colony of grey parrots, a noisy, 
 quarrelsome, and rapacious race, of whose true characteris- 
 tics the specimens seen in confinement in Europe give no 
 true conception. Their screeching and chattering were such 
 a nuisance that Dick Sands wanted to fire a shot into the 
 middle of them, but Harris seriously dissuaded him, urging 
 that the report of fire-arms would only serve to reveal their 
 own presence, whilst their greatest safety lay in perfect 
 silence. 
 
 Supper was prepared. There was little need of cooking. 
 The meal, as before, consisted of preserved meat and 
 biscuit. Fresh water, which they flavoured with a few drops 
 of rum, was obtained from an adjacent stream which trickled 
 through the grass. By way of dessert they had an abundance 
 
1 66 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 of ripe mangoes, and the only drawback to their general 
 enjoyment was the discordant outcry which the parrots kept 
 up, as it were in protest against the invasion of what they held 
 to be their own rightful domain. 
 
 It was nearly dark when supper was ended. The evening 
 shade crept slowly upwards to the tops of the trees, which 
 soon stood out in sharp relief against the lighter background 
 of the sky, while the stars, one by one, began to peep. The 
 wind dropped, and ceased to murmur through the foliage ; to 
 the general relief, the parrots desisted from their clatter ; and 
 as Nature hushed herself to rest, she seemed to be inviting 
 all her children to follow her example. 
 
 " Had we not better light a good large fire ? " asked Dick. 
 
 " By no means," said Karris ; " the nights are not cold, 
 and under this wide-spreading mango the ground is not likely 
 to be damp. Besides, as I have told you before, our best 
 security consists in our taking care to attract no attention 
 whatever from without." 
 
 Mrs. Weldon interposed, — 
 
 "It may be true enough that we have nothing to dread 
 from the Indians, but is it certain that there are no 
 dangerous quadrupeds against which we are bound to be 
 upon our guard ? " 
 
 Harris answered, — 
 
 " I can positively assure you, madam, that there are no 
 animals here but such as would be infinitely more afraid of 
 you than you would be of them." 
 
 "Are there any woods without wild beasts ? " asked Jack. 
 
 "All woods are not alike, my boy," replied Harris ; " this 
 wood is a great park. As the Indians say, ( Es como el 
 Pariso ;' it is like Paradise." 
 
 Jack persisted. — 
 
 "There must be snakes, and lions, and tigers." 
 
 " Ask your mamma, my boy," said Harris, " whether she 
 ever heard of lions and tigers in America ?" 
 
THROUGH THE FOREST. 167 
 
 Mrs. Weldon was endeavouring to put her little boy at his 
 ease on this point, when Cousin Benedict interposed, saying 
 that although there were no lions or tigers, there were plenty 
 of jaguars and panthers in the New World. 
 
 "And won't they kill us?" demanded Jack eagerly, his 
 apprehensions once more aroused. 
 
 " Kill you ? " laughed Harris ; " why, your friend Hercules 
 here could strangle them, two at a time, one in each hand ! '» 
 
 " But, please, don't let the panthers come near me ! " 
 pleaded Jack, evidently alarmed. 
 
 " No, no, Master Jack, they shall not come near you. I 
 will give them a good grip first," and the giant displayed his 
 two rows of huge white teeth. 
 
 Dick Sands proposed that it should be the four younger 
 negroes who should be assigned the task of keeping watch 
 during the night, in attendance upon himself; but Actseon 
 insisted so strongly upon the necessity of Dick's having his 
 full share of rest, that the others were soon brought to the 
 same conviction, and Dick was obliged to yield. 
 
 Jack valiantly announced his intention of taking one watch, 
 but his sleepy eyelids made it only too plain that he did not 
 know the extent of his own fatigue. 
 
 " I am sure there are wolves here," he said. 
 
 " Only such wolves as Dingo would swallow at a mouth- 
 ful," said Harris. 
 
 " But I am sure there are wolves," he insisted, repeating 
 the word " wolves " again and again, until he tumbled off to 
 sleep against the side of old Nan. Mrs. Weldon gave her 
 little son a silent kiss ; it was her loving "good-night." 
 
 Cousin Benedict was missing. Some little time before, 
 he had slipped away in search of " cocuyos," or fire-flies, 
 which he had heard were common in South America. Those 
 singular insects emit a bright bluish light from two spots on 
 the side of the thorax, and their colours are so brilliant that 
 they are used as ornaments for ladies' head-dresses. Hoping 
 
l68 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 to secure some specimens for his box, Benedict would have 
 wandered to an unlimited distance ; but Hercules, faithful to 
 his undertaking, soon discovered him, and heedless of the 
 naturalist's protestations and vociferations, promptly escorted 
 him back to the general rendezvous. 
 
 Hercules himself was the first to keep watch, but with this 
 exception, the whole party, in another hour, were wrapped 
 in peaceful slumber. 
 
MISGIVINGS. 169 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 MISGIVINGS. 
 
 Most travellers who have passed a night in a South 
 American forest have been roused from their slumbers by a 
 matinie musicale more fantastic than melodious, performed 
 by monkeys, as their ordinary greeting of the dawn. The 
 yelling, chattering, screeching, howling, all unite to form a 
 chorus almost unearthly in its hideousness. 
 
 Amongst the various specimens of the numerous family 
 of the quadrumana ought to be recognized the little mari- 
 kina ; the sagouin, with its parti-coloured face ; the grey 
 mora, the skin of which is used by the Indians for covering 
 their gun-locks ; the sapajou, with its singular tuft over the 
 forehead, and, most remarkable of all, the guariba (Simia 
 Beelsebtil) with its prehensile tail and diabolical counte- 
 nance. 
 
 At the first streak of daylight the senior member, as 
 choragus, will start the key-note in a sonorous barytone, the 
 younger monkeys join in tenor and alto, and the concert 
 begins. But this morning there was no concert at all. 
 There was nothing of the wonted serenade to break the 
 silence of the forest. The shrill notes resulting from the 
 rapid vibration of the hyoid bones of the throat were not to 
 be heard. Indians would have been disappointed and per- 
 plexed ; they are very fond of the flesh of the guariba when 
 smoked and dried, and they would certainly have missed the 
 
iyo DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 chant of the monkey " paternosters ;" but Dick Sands and 
 his companions were unfamiliar with any of these things, 
 and accordingly the singular quietude was to them a matter 
 of no surprise. 
 
 They all awoke much refreshed by their night's rest, 
 which there had been nothing to disturb. Jack was by no 
 means the latest in opening his eyes, and his first words 
 were addressed to Hercules, asking him whether he had 
 caught a wolf with his teeth. Hercules had to acknowledge 
 that he had tasted nothing all night, and declared himself 
 quite ready for breakfast. The whole party were unani- 
 mous in this respect, and after a brief morning prayer, 
 breakfast was expeditiously served by old Nan. The meal 
 was but a repetition of the last evening's supper, but with 
 their appetites sharpened by the fresh forest air, and anxious 
 to fortify themselves for a good day's march, they did not 
 fail to do ample justice to their simple fare. Even Cousin 
 Benedict, for once in his life at least, partook»pf his food as 
 if it were not utterly a matter of indifference to him ; but 
 he grumbled very much at the restraint to which he con- 
 sidered himself subjected ; he could not see the good of 
 coming to such a country as this, if he were to be obliged 
 to walk about with his hands in his pockets ; and he pro- 
 tested that if Hercules did not leave him alone and permit 
 him to catch fire- flies, there would be a bone to pick be- 
 tween them. Hercules did not look very much alarmed at 
 the threat. Mrs. Weldon, however, took him aside, and 
 telling him that she did not wish to deprive the enthusiast 
 entirely of his favourite occupation, instructed him to allow 
 her cousin as much liberty as possible, provided he did not 
 lose sight of him. 
 
 The morning meal was over, and it was only seven o'clock 
 when the travellers were once more on their way towards 
 the east, preserving the same marching-order as on the day 
 before. 
 
MISGIVINGS. 171 
 
 The path was still through luxuriant forest. The vege- 
 table kingdom reigned supreme. As the plateau was imme- 
 diately adjacent to tropical latitudes, the sun's rays during 
 the summer months descended perpendicularly upon the 
 virgin soil, and the vast amount of heat thus obtained com- 
 bined with the abundant moisture retained in the sub-soil, 
 caused vegetation to assume a character which was truly 
 magnificent. 
 
 Dick Sands could not overcome a certain sense of mysti- 
 fication. Here they were, as Harris told them, in the region 
 of the pampas, a word which he knew in the Ouichna dialect 
 signifies " a plain ;" but he had always read that these 
 plains were characterized by a deficiency alike of water, of 
 trees, and rocks ; he had always understood that during the 
 rainy season, thistles spring up in great abundance and 
 grow until they form thickets that are well-nigh impene- 
 trable ; he had imagined that the few dwarf trees and prickly 
 shrubs that exist during the summer only stamp the gene- 
 ral scene with.- an aspect of yet more thorough bareness 
 and desolation. But how different was everything to all 
 this ! The forest never ceased to stretch away interminably 
 to the horizon. There were no tokens of the rough naked- 
 ness that he had expected. Dick seemed to be driven to 
 the conclusion that Harris was right in describing this 
 plateau of Atacama, which he had for his part most firmly 
 believed to be a vast desert between the Andes and the 
 Pacific, as a region that was quite exceptional in its natural 
 features. 
 
 It was not in Dick's character to keep his reflections to 
 himself. In the course of the morning he expressed his 
 extreme surprise at finding the pampas answer so little to 
 his preconceived ideas. 
 
 " Have I not understood correctly," he said, " that the 
 pampas is similar to the North American savannahs, only 
 less marshy ? " 
 
172 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 Harris replied that such was indeed a correct description 
 of the pampas of Rio Colorado, and the llanos of Venezuela 
 and the Orinoco. 
 
 " But," he continued, " I own I am as much astonished 
 as yourself at the character of this region ; I have never 
 crossed the plateau before, and I must confess it is altogether 
 different to what you find beyond the Andes towards the 
 Atlantic." 
 
 " You don't mean that we are going to cross the Andes ? " 
 said Dick, in sudden alarm. 
 
 Harris smiled. 
 
 " No, no, indeed. With our limited means of transport 
 such an undertaking would have been rash in the extreme. 
 We had better have kept to the coast for ever rather than 
 incur such a risk. Our destination, San Felice, is on this 
 side of the range, and in order to reach it, we shall not have 
 to leave the plateau, of which the greatest elevation is but 
 little over 1500 feet." 
 
 " And you say," Dick persisted, " that you have really no 
 fear of losing your way in a forest such as this, a forest 
 into which you have never set foot before ? " 
 
 " No fear whatever," Harris answered ; " so accustomed 
 am I to travelling of this kind, that I can steer my way by 
 a thousand signs revealing themselves in the growth of the 
 trees, and in the composition of the soil, which would never 
 present themselves to your notice. I assure you that I 
 anticipate no difficulties." 
 
 This conversation was not heard by any of the rest of the 
 party. Harris seemed to speak as frankly as he did fear- 
 lessly, and Dick felt that there might be, after all, no just 
 grounds for any of his own misgivings. 
 
 Five days passed by, and the 12th of April arrived with- 
 out any special incident. Nine miles had been the average 
 distance accomplished in a day ; regular periods of rest had 
 been taken, and, except that Jack's spirits had somewhat 
 
MISGIVINGS. 173 
 
 flagged, the fatigue did not seem to have interfered with the 
 general good health of the travellers. 
 
 First disappointed of his India-rubber-tree, and then of 
 his humming-birds, Jack had inquired about the beautiful 
 parrots which he had been led to expect he should see in 
 this wonderful forest. Where were the bright green macaws ? 
 where were the gaudy aras with their bare white cheeks and 
 pointed tails, which seem never to light upon the ground ? 
 and where, too, were all the brilliant parroquets, with their 
 feathered faces, and indeed the whole variety of those forest 
 chatterers of which the Indians affirm that they speak the 
 language of nations long extinct? 
 
 It is true that there was no lack of the common grey 
 parrots with crimson tails, but these were no novelty ; Jack 
 had seen plenty of them before, for owing to their reputation 
 of being the most clever in mimicry of the Psittacidce, they 
 have been domesticated everywhere in both the Old and 
 New worlds. 
 
 But Jack's dissatisfaction was nothing compared to Cousin 
 Benedict's, In spite of being allowed to wander away from 
 the rank, he had failed to discover a single insect which was 
 worth the pursuit; not even a fire-fly danced at night; 
 nature seemed to be mocking him, and his ill-humour in- 
 creased accordingly. 
 
 In this way the journey was continued for four days 
 longer, and on the 16th it was estimated that they must 
 have travelled between eighty and ninety miles north-east- 
 wards from the coast. Harris positively asserted that they 
 could not be much more than twenty miles from San Felice, 
 and that by pushing forwards they might expect in eight- 
 and-forty hours to find themselves lodged in comfortable 
 quarters. 
 
 But although they had thus succeeded in traversing this 
 vast table-land, they had not seen one human inhabitant. 
 Dick was more than ever perplexed, and it was a subject of 
 
174 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 bitter regret to him that they had not stranded upon some 
 more frequented part of the shore, near some village or plan- 
 tation where Mrs. Weldon might long since have found a 
 suitable refuge. 
 
 Deserted, however, as the country apparently was by 
 man, it had latterly shown itself much more abundantly 
 tenanted by animals. Many a time a long, plaintive cry 
 was heard, which Harris attributed to the tardigrades or 
 sloths often found in wooded districts, and known by the 
 name of * ais ;" and in the middle of the dinner-halt on 
 this day, a loud hissing suddenly broke upon the air which 
 made Mrs. Weldon start to her feet in alarm. 
 
 "A serpent!" cried Dick, catching up his loaded 
 gun. 
 
 The negroes, following Dick's example, were in a moment 
 on the alert. 
 
 " Don't fire ! " cried Harris. 
 
 There was indeed nothing improbable in the supposition 
 that a " sucuru," a species of boa, sometimes measuring forty 
 feet in length, had just moved itself in the long grass at their 
 side, but Harris affirmed that the "sucuru" never hisses, 
 and declared that the noise had really come from animals 
 of an entirely inoffensive character. 
 
 "What animals ?" asked Dick, always eager for informa- 
 tion, which it must be granted Harris seemed always equally 
 anxious to give. 
 
 " Antelopes," replied Harris ; " but, hush ! not a sound, 
 or you will frighten them away." 
 
 "Antelopes ! " cried Dick; "I must see them; I must get 
 close to them." 
 
 " More easily said than done," answered Harris, shaking 
 his head ; but Dick was not to be diverted from his purpose, 
 and, gun in hand, crept into the grass. He had not advanced 
 many yards before a herd of about a dozen gazelles, graceful 
 in body, with short, pointed horns, dashed past him like a 
 
MISGIVINGS. 175 
 
 glowing cloud, and disappeared in the underwood without 
 giving him time to take a shot. 
 
 tl I told you beforehand what you would have to expect," 
 said Harris, as Dick, with a considerable sense of disappoint- 
 ment, returned to the party. 
 
 Impossible, however, as it had been fairly to scrutinize 
 the antelopes, such was hardly the case with another herd 
 of animals, the identification of which led to a somewhat 
 singular discussion between Harris and the rest. 
 
 About four o'clock in the afternoon of the same day, the 
 travellers were halting for a few moments near an opening 
 in the forest, when three or four large animals emerged 
 from a thicket about a hundred paces ahead, and scampered 
 off at full speed. In spite of what Harris had urged, 
 Dick put his gun to his shoulder, and was on the veiy 
 point of firing, . when Harris knocked the rifle quickly 
 aside. 
 
 " They were giraffes! " shouted Dick. 
 
 The announcement awakened the curiosity of Jack, who 
 quickly scrambled to his feet upon the saddle on which he 
 was lounging. 
 
 " My dear Dick," said Mrs. Weldon, "there are no giraffes 
 in America ! " 
 
 "Certainly not," cried Harris; "they were not giraffes, 
 they were ostriches which you saw ! " 
 
 '' Ostriches with four legs ! that will never do ! what do 
 you say, Mrs. Weldon?" 
 
 Mrs. Weldon replied that she had certainly taken the 
 animals for quadrupeds, and all the negroes were under the 
 same impression. 
 
 Laughing heartily, Harris said it was far from an un- 
 common thing for an inexperienced eye to mistake a large 
 ostrich for a small giraffe ; the shape of both was so similar, 
 that it often quite escaped observation as to whether the 
 long necks terminated in a beak or a muzzle ; besides, what 
 
 M 
 
176 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 need of discussion could there be when the fact was esta- 
 blished that giraffes are unknown in the New World ? The 
 reasoning was plausible enough, and Mrs. Weldon and the 
 negroes were soon convinced. But Dick was far from 
 satisfied. 
 
 " I did not know that there was an American ostrich ! " 
 he again objected. 
 
 " Oh, yes," replied Harris promptly, " there is a species 
 called the nandu, which is very well known here ; we shall 
 probably see some more of them." 
 
 The statement was correct ; the nandu is common in the 
 plains of South America, and is distinguished from the 
 African ostrich by having three toes, all furnished with 
 claws. It is a fine bird, sometimes exceeding six feet in 
 height ; it has a short beak, and its wings are furnished 
 with blue-grey plumes. Harris appeared well acquainted 
 with the bird, and proceeded to give a very precise account 
 of its habits. In concluding his remarks, he again pressed 
 upon Dick his most urgent request that he should abstain 
 from firing upon any animal whatever. It was of the utmost 
 consequence. 
 
 Dick made no reply. He was silent and thoughtful. 
 Grave doubts had arisen in his mind, and he could neither 
 explain nor dispel them. 
 
 When the march was resumed on the following day, 
 Harris asserted his conviction that another four-and-twenty 
 hours would bring them to the hacienda. 
 
 " And there, madam," he said, addressing Mrs. Weldon, 
 "we can offer you every essential comfort, though you may 
 not find the luxuries of your own home in San Francisco." 
 
 Mrs. Weldon repeated her expression of gratitude for the 
 proffered hospitality, owning that she should now be ex- 
 ceedingly glad to reach the farm, as she was anxious about 
 her little son, who appeared to be threatened with the 
 symptoms of incipient fever. 
 
MISGIVINGS. 177 
 
 Harris could not deny that although the climate was 
 usually very healthy, it nevertheless did occasionally produce 
 a kind of intermittent fever during March and April. 
 
 " But nature has provided the proper remedy," said 
 Dick ; and perceiving that Harris did not comprehend his 
 meaning, he continued, "Are we not in the region of the 
 quinquinas, the bark of which is notoriously the medicine 
 with which attacks of fever are usually treated ? for my 
 part, I am amazed that we have not seen numbers of them 
 already." 
 
 " Ah ! yes, yes ; I know what you mean," answered 
 Harris, after a moment's hesitation; " they are trees, how- 
 ever, not always easy to find ; they rarely grow in groups, 
 and in spite of their large leaves and fragrant red blossom, 
 the Indians themselves often have a difficulty in recognizing 
 them ; the feature that distinguishes them most is their 
 evergreen foliage." 
 
 At Mrs. Weldon's request, Harris promised to point out 
 the tree if he should see one, but added that when she reached 
 the hacienda, she would be able to obtain some sulphate of 
 quinine, which was much more efficacious than the unpre- 
 pared bark. 1 
 
 The day passed without further incident. No rain had 
 fallen at present, though the warm mist that rose from 
 the soil betokened an approaching change of weather ; 
 the rainy season was certainly not far distant, but to 
 travellers who indulged the expectation of being in a few 
 hours in a place of shelter, this was not a matter of great 
 concern. 
 
 Evening came, and a halt was made for the night beneath 
 a grove of lofty trees. If Harris had not miscalculated, 
 they could hardly be more than about six miles from their 
 
 1 This bark, reduced to powder, was formerly known as " Pulvis 
 Jesuiticus," because in the year 1649 the Jesuits in Rome imported 
 a large quantity of it from their missionaries in South America. 
 
 M 2 
 
178 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 destination ; so confirmed, however, was Dick Sands in his 
 strange suspicions, that nothing could induce him to relax 
 any of the usual precautions, and he particularly insisted 
 upon the negroes, turn by turn, keeping up the accustomed 
 watch. 
 
 Worn out by fatigue, the little party were glad to lie down, 
 but they had scarcely dropped off to sleep when they were 
 aroused by a sharp cry. 
 
 " Who's that ? who's there ? what's the matter ? " exclaimed 
 Dick, the first to rise to his feet. 
 
 " It is I," answered Benedict's voice ; " I am bitten. 
 Something has bitten me." 
 
 " A snake ! " exclaimed Mrs. .Weldon in alarm. 
 
 " No, no, cousin, better than that ! it was not a snake ; I 
 believe it was an orthoptera ; I have it all right," he shouted 
 triumphantly. 
 
 " Then kill it quickly, sir ; and let us go to sleep again in 
 peace," said Harris. 
 
 " Kill it ! not for the world ! I must have a light, and 
 look at it ! " 
 
 Dick Sands indulged him, for reasons of his own, in 
 getting a light. The entomologist carefully opened his hand 
 and displayed an insect somewhat smaller than a bee, of a 
 dull colour, streaked with yellow on the under portion of 
 the body. He looked radiant with delight. 
 
 " A diptera ! " he exclaimed, half beside himself with joy, 
 " a most famous diptera ! " 
 
 " Is it venomous?" asked Mrs. Weldon. 
 
 " Not at all to men ; it only hurts elephants and buffa- 
 loes." 
 
 " But tell us its name ! what is it ? " cried Dick impetu- 
 ously. 
 
 The naturalist began to speak in a slow, oracular tone. 
 
 " This insect is here a prodigy ; it is an insect totally un- 
 known in this country, — in America." 
 
MISGIVINGS. 179 
 
 " Tell us its name ! " roared Dick. 
 
 " It is a tzetzy, sir, a true tzetzy." 
 
 Dick's heart sank like a stone. He was speechless. He 
 did not, dared not, ask more. Only too well he knew where 
 the tzetzy could alone be found. He did not close his eyes 
 again thct night. 
 
l8o TICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN, 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII 
 
 A TERRIBLE DISCOVERY. 
 
 The morning of the 18th dawned, the day on which, accord- 
 ing to Harris's prediction, the travellers were to be safely 
 housed at San Felice. Mrs. Weldon was really much 
 relieved at the prospect, for she was aware that her strength 
 must prove inadequate to the strain of a more protracted 
 journey. The condition of her little boy, who was alter- 
 nately flushed with fever, and pale with exhaustion, had 
 begun to cause her great anxiety, and unwilling to resign the 
 care of the child even to Nan his faithful nurse, she insisted 
 upon carrying him in her own arms. Twelve days and nights, 
 passed in the open air, had done much to try her powers of 
 endurance, and the charge of a sick child in addition would 
 soon break down her strength entirely. 
 
 Dick Sands, Nan, and the negroes had all borne the march 
 very fairly. Their stock of provisions, though of course 
 considerably diminished, was still far from small. As for 
 Harris, he had shown himself pre-eminently adapted for 
 forest-life, and capable of bearing any amount of fatigue. 
 Yet, strange to say, as he approached the end of the journey, 
 his manner underwent a remarkable change ; instead of 
 conversing in his ordinary frank and easy way, he became 
 silent and preoccupied, as if engrossed in his own thoughts. 
 Perhaps he had an instinctive consciousness that "his young 
 friend," as he was in the habit of addressing Dick, was en- 
 tertaining hard suspicions about him. 
 
A TERRIBLE DISCOVERY. l8l 
 
 The march was resumed. The trees once again ceased to 
 be crowded in impenetrable masses, but stood in clusters at 
 considerable distances apart. Now, Dick tried to argue with 
 himself, they must be coming to the true pampas, or the man 
 must be designedly misleading them ; and yet what motive 
 could he have ? 
 
 Although during the earlier part of the day there 
 occurred nothing that could be said absolutely to justify 
 Dick's increasing uneasiness, two circumstances transpired 
 which did not escape his observation, and which, he felt, 
 might be significant. The first of these was a sudden 
 change in Dingo's behaviour. The dog, throughout the 
 march, had uniformly run along with his nose upon the 
 ground, smelling the grass and shrubs, and occasionally 
 uttering a sad low whine ; but to-day he seemed all 
 agitation ; he scampered about with bristling coat, with his 
 head erect, and ever and again burst into one of those 
 furious fits of barking, with which he had formerly been 
 accustomed to greet Negoro's appearance upon the deck of 
 the " Pilgrim." 
 
 The idea that flitted across Dick's mind was shared by 
 Tom. 
 
 " Look, Mr. Dick, look at Dingo ; he is at his old ways 
 again," said he ; " it is just as if Negoro — " 
 
 "Hush!" said Dick to the old man, who continued in a 
 lower voice, — ■ 
 
 " It is just as if Negoro had followed us ; do you think it 
 is likely?" 
 
 " It might perhaps be to his advantage to follow us, if he 
 doesn't know the country ; but if he does know the country 
 why then — " 
 
 Dick did not finish his sentence, but whistled to Dingo. 
 The dog reluctantly obeyed the call. 
 
 As soon as the dog was at his side, Dick patted him, 
 repeating, — 
 
 " Good dog ! good Dingo ! where's Negoro ? " 
 
1 82 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 The sound of Negoro's name had its usual effect ; it seemed 
 to irritate the animal exceedingly, and he barked furiously, 
 and apparently wanted to dash into the thicket. 
 
 Harris had been an interested spectator of the scene, and 
 now approached with a peculiar expression on his counte- 
 nance, and inquired what they were saying to Dingo. 
 
 " Oh, nothing much," replied Tom ; " we were only asking 
 him for news of a lost acquaintance." 
 
 "Ah, I suppose you mean that Portuguese cook of 
 yours." 
 
 "Yes," answered Tom; "we fancied from Dingo's 
 behaviour that Negoro must be somewhere close at hand.'' 
 
 " Why don't you send and search the underwood ? perhaps 
 the poor wretch is in distress." 
 
 "No need of that, Mr. Harris ; Negoro, I have no doubt, 
 is quite capable of taking care of himself." 
 
 " Well, just as you please, my young friend," said Harris, 
 with an air of indifference. 
 
 Dick turned away ; he continued his endeavours to pacify 
 Dingo, and the conversation dropped. 
 
 The other thing that had arrested Dick's attention was 
 the behaviour of the horse. If they had been as near the 
 hacienda as Harris described, would not the animal have 
 pricked up its ears, sniffed the air, and with dilated nostril, 
 exhibited some sign of satisfaction, as being upon familiar 
 ground ? 
 
 But nothing of the kind was to be observed; the horse 
 plodded along as unconcernedly as if a stable were as far 
 away as ever. 
 
 Even Mrs. Weldon was not so engrossed with her child, 
 but what she was fain to express her wonder at the deserted 
 aspect of the country. No trace of a farm-labourer was 
 anywhere to be seen ! She cast her eye at Harris, who was 
 in his usual place in front, and observing how he was looking 
 first to the left, and then to the right, with the air of a man 
 who was uncertain of his path, she asked herself whether it 
 
A TERRIBLE DISCOVERY. 1 83 
 
 was possible their guide might have lost his way. She 
 dared not entertain the idea, and averted her eyes, that she 
 might not be harassed by his movements. 
 
 After crossing an open plain about a mile in width, the 
 travellers once again entered the forest, which resumed 
 something of the same denseness that had characterized it 
 farther to the west. In the course of the afternoon, they 
 came to a spot which was marked very distinctly by the 
 vestiges of some enormous animals, which must have passed 
 quite recently. As Dick looked carefully about him, he 
 observed that the branches were all torn off or broken to a 
 considerable height, and that the foot-tracks in the trampled 
 grass were much too large to be those either of jaguars or 
 panthers. Even if it were possible that the prints on the 
 ground had been made by ais or other tardigrades, this 
 would fail to account in the least for the trees being broken 
 to such a height. Elephants alone were capable of working 
 such destruction in the underwood, but elephants were un- 
 known in America. Dick was puzzled, but controlled him- 
 self so that he would not apply to Harris for any enlighten- 
 ment ; his intuition made him aware that a man who had 
 once tried to make him believe that giraffes were ostriches, 
 would not hesitate a second time to impose upon his cre- 
 dulity. 
 
 More than ever was Dick becoming convinced that Harris 
 was a traitor, and he was secretly prompted to tax him with 
 his treachery. Still he was obliged to own that he could not 
 assign any motive for the man acting in such a manner with 
 the survivors of the " Pilgrim," and consequently hesitated 
 before he actually condemned him for conduct so base and 
 heartless. What could be done ? he repeatedly asked him- 
 self. On board ship the boy captain might perchance 
 have been able to devise some plan for the safety of those 
 so strangely committed to his charge, but here on an 
 unknown shore, he could only suffer from the burden of this 
 
1 84 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 responsibility the more, because he was so utterly powerless 
 to act. 
 
 He made up his mind on one point. He determined not 
 to alarm the poor anxious mother a moment before he was 
 actually compelled. It was his carrying out this deter- 
 mination that explained why on subsequently arriving at a 
 considerable stream, where he saw some huge heads, swollen 
 muzzles, long tusks, and unwieldy bodies rising from amidst 
 the rank wet grass, he uttered no word and gave no gesture 
 of surprise ; but only too well he knew, at a glance, that he 
 must be looking at a herd of hippopotamuses. 
 
 It was a weary march that day ; a general feeling of 
 depression spread involuntarily from one to another ; hardly 
 conscious to herself of her weariness, Mrs. Weldon was 
 exhibiting manifest symptoms of lassitude ; and it was only 
 Dick's moral energy and sense of duty that kept him from 
 succumbing to the prevailing dejection. 
 
 About four o'clock, Tom noticed something lying in the 
 grass, and stooping down he picked up a kind of knife ; it 
 was of peculiar shape, being very wide and flat in the blade, 
 while its handle, which was of ivory, was ornamented with a 
 good deal of clumsy carving. He carried it at once to Dick, 
 who, when he had scrutinized it, held it up to Harris, with 
 the remark, — 
 
 " There must be natives not far off." 
 
 " Quite right, my young friend ; the hacienda must be a 
 very few miles away, — but yet, but yet — " 
 
 He hesitated. 
 
 " You don't mean that you are not sure of your way,'' said. 
 Dick sharply. 
 
 " Not exactly that," replied Harris ; " yet in taking this 
 short cut across the forest, I am inclined to think I am a 
 mile or so out of the way. Perhaps I had better walk on a 
 little way, and look about me." 
 
 " No ; you do not leave us here," cried Dick firmly. 
 
"Look here ! here are hands, men's hands !" 
 
A TERRIBLE DISCOVERY. 1 87 
 
 " Not against your will ; but remember, I do not under- 
 take to guide you in the dark.'' 
 
 " We must spare you the necessity for trnt. I can answer 
 for it that Mrs. Weldon will raise no objection to spending 
 another night in the open air. We can start off to-morrow 
 morning as early as we like, and if the distance be only 
 what you represent, a few hours will easily accomplish it." 
 
 " As you please," answered Harris, with cold civility. 
 
 Just then, Dingo again burst out into a vehement fit of 
 barking, and it required no small amount of coaxing on 
 Dick's part to make him cease from his noise. 
 
 It was decided that the halt should be made at once. 
 Mrs. Weldon, as it had been anticipated, urged nothing 
 against it, being preoccupied by her immediate attentions 
 to Jack, who was lying in her arms, suffering from a decided 
 attack of fever. The shelter of a large thicket had just 
 been selected by Dick as a suitable resting-place for the 
 night, when Tom, who was assisting in the necessary pre- 
 parations, suddenly gave a cry of horror. 
 
 "What is it, Tom?" asked Dick very calmly. 
 
 " Look ! look at these trees ! they are spattered with 
 blood ! and look here ! here are hands, men's hands, cut 
 off and lying on the ground ! " 
 
 " What ? " cried Dick, and in an instant was at his side. 
 
 His presence of mind did not fail him ; he whispered, — 
 
 " Hush ! Tom ! hush ! not a word ! " 
 
 But it was with a shudder that ran through his veins 
 that he witnessed for himself the mutilated fragments of 
 several human bodies, and saw, lying beside them, some 
 broken forks, and some bits of iron chain. 
 
 The sight of the gory remains made Dingo bark fero- 
 ciously, and Dick, who was most anxious that Mrs. 
 Weldon's attention should not be called to the discovery, 
 had the greatest difficulty in driving him back ; but fortu- 
 nately the lady's mind was so engrossed with her patient, 
 that she did not observe the commotion. Harris stood 
 
1 88 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 aloof; there was no one to notice the change that passed 
 over his countenance, but the expression was almost dia- 
 bolical in its malignity. 
 
 Poor old Tom himself seemed perfectly spell-bound. 
 With his hands clenched, his eyes dilated, and his breast 
 heaving with emotion, he kept repeating without anything 
 like coherence, the words, — 
 
 " Forks ! chains ! forks ! . . . long ago . . . remember 
 . . . too well . . . chains ! " 
 
 " For Mrs. Weldon's sake, Tom, hold your tongue ! " Dick 
 implored him. 
 
 Tom, however, was full with some remembrance of the past; 
 he continued to repeat, — 
 
 " Long ago . . . forks . . . chains ! " until Dick led him 
 out of hearing. 
 
 A fresh halting-place was cho en a short distance further 
 on, and supper was prepared. But the meal was left 
 almost untasted ; not so much that hunger had been over- 
 come by fatigue, but because the indefinable feeling of 
 uneasiness, that had taken possession of them all, had 
 entirely destroyed all appetite. 
 
 Gradually the night became very dark. The sky was 
 covered with heavy storm-clouds, and on the western 
 horizon flashes of summer lightning now and then glim- 
 mered through the trees. The air was perfectly still ; not 
 a leaf stirred, and the atmosphere seemed so charged with 
 electricity as to be incapable of transmitting sound of any 
 kind. 
 
 Dick himself, with Austin and Bat in attendance, re- 
 mained on guard, all of them eagerly straining both eye 
 and ear to catch any light or sound that might disturb the 
 silence and obscurity. Old Tom, with his head sunk upon 
 his breast, sat motionless, as in a trance ; he was gloomily 
 revolving the awakened memories of the past. Mrs. Weldon 
 was engaged with her sick child. Scarcely one of the party 
 was really asleep, except indeed it might be Cousin Benedict, 
 
A TERRIBLE DISCOVERY. 1 89 
 
 whose reasoning faculties were not of an order to carry him 
 forwards into any future contingencies. 
 
 Midnight was still an hour in advance, when the dull air 
 seemed filled with a deep and prolonged roar, mingled with 
 a peculiar kind of vibration. 
 
 Tom started to his feet. A fresh recollection of his early 
 days had struck him. 
 
 " A lion ! a lion ! " he shouted. 
 
 " In vain Dick tried to repress him ; but he repeated, — 
 
 " A lion ! a lion ! " 
 
 Dick Sands seized his cutlass, and, unable any longer to 
 control his wrath, he rushed to the spot where he had left 
 Harris lying. 
 
 The man was gone, and his horse with him ! 
 
 All the suspicions that had been so long pent up within 
 Dick's mind now shaped themselves into actual reality. A 
 flood of light had broken in upon him. Now he was con- 
 vinced, only too certainly, that it was not the coast of 
 America at all upon which the schooner had been cast 
 ashore ! it was not Easter Island that had been sighted far 
 away in the west ! the compass had completely deceived 
 him ; he was satisfied now that the strong currents had 
 carried them quite round Cape Horn, and that they had 
 really entered the Atlantic. No wonder that quinquinas, 
 caoutchouc, and other South American products, had failed 
 to be seen. This was neither the Bolivian pampas nor the 
 plateau of Atacama. They were giraffes, not ostriches, that 
 had vanished down the glade ; they were elephants that had 
 trodden down the underwood ; they were hippopotamuses 
 that were lurking by the river ; it was indeed the dreaded 
 tzetzy that Cousin Benedict had so triumphantly discovered; 
 and, last of all, it was a lion's roar that had disturbed the 
 silence of the forest. That chain, that knife, those forks, 
 were unquestionably the instruments of slave-dealers : and 
 what could those mutilated hands be, except the relics of 
 their ill-fated victims ? 
 
190 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 Harris and Negoro must be in a conspiracy ! 
 
 It was with terrible anguish that Dick gnashed his teeth 
 and muttered, — 
 
 "Yes, it is too true; we are in Africa! in equatorial 
 Africa ! in the land of slavery ! in the very haunt of slave- 
 drivers ! " 
 
 END OF FIRST PART. 
 
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The giant clave their skulls with the butt end of his gun. 
 
DICK SANDS 
 
 THE BOY CAPTAIN 
 
 BY 
 
 JULES VERNE. 
 
 PART II. 
 
 AUTHOR'S ILLUSTRATED EDITION. 
 
 Itontton : 
 SAMPSON LOW, MARSTON, SEARLE, & RIVINGTON, 
 
 CROWN BUILDINGS, 1 88, FLEET STREET. 
 1882. 
 
 {All rights reserved.'] 
 
IONDON ; 
 0IM1EKT AND 1UVINGTOJT, LIMITED, 
 
 ST. join's sqttvkE. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAP. PACE 
 
 I. THE DARK CONTINENT 199 
 
 II. ACCOMPLICES 2IO 
 
 III. ON THE MARCH AGAIN 221 
 
 IV. ROUGH TRAVELLING 23I 
 
 V. WHITE ANTS 242 
 
 VI. A DIVING-BELL 250 
 
 VII. A SLAVE CARAVAN 26l 
 
 VIII. NOTES BY THE WAY . . . ... . . 269 
 
 IX. KAZONNDE 277 
 
 X. MARKET-DAY 285 
 
 XI. A BOWL OF PUNCH 296 
 
 XII. ROYAL OBSEQUIES 307 
 
 XIII. IN CAPTIVITY 3l6 
 
 XIV. A RAY OF HOPE 323 
 
 XV. AN EXCITING CHASE , 336 
 
 XVI. A MAGICIAN 344 
 
 XVII. DRIFTING DOWN THE STREAM 353 
 
 XVIII. AN ANXIOUS VOYAGE 361 
 
 XIX. AN ATTACK 372 
 
 XX. A HAri'Y RE-UNION 380 
 
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 THE GIANT CLAVE THEIR SKULLS WITH THE BUTT END OF 
 
 His gun Frontispiece 
 
 DINGO DISAPPEARED AGAIN AMONGST THE BUSHES . . 2l8 
 
 IT WAS A SCENE ONLY TOO COMMON IN CENTRAL AFRICA. 233 
 ALL FIRED SIMULTANEOUSLY AT THE NEAREST BOAT . . 257 
 
 THE CARAVAN HAD BEEN ATTACKED ON THE FLANK BY A 
 
 DOZEN OR MORE CROCODILES 273 
 
 THE POTENTATE BENEATH WHOSE SWAY THE COUNTRY 
 
 TREMBLED FOR A HUNDRED MILES ROUND . . . 297 
 
 DR. LIVINGSTONE 325 
 
 THE ENTIRE CROWD JOINED IN 349 
 
 HE STOOD FACE TO FACE WITH HIS FOE .... 363 
 
DICK SANDS, 
 
 THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 THE DARK CONTINENT. 
 
 The " slave-trade '' is an expression that ought never to 
 have found its way into any human language. After being 
 long practised at a large profit by such European nations as 
 had possessions beyond the seas, this abominable traffic has 
 now for many years been ostensibly forbidden ; yet even in 
 the enlightenment of this nineteenth century, it is still 
 largely carried on, especially in Central Africa, inasmuch as 
 there are several states, professedly Christian, whose 
 signatures have never been affixed to the deed of abolition. 
 
 Incredible as it should seem, this barter of human beings 
 still exists, and for the due comprehension of the second 
 part of Dick Sands' story it must be borne in mind, that for 
 the purpose of supplying certain colonies with slaves, there 
 continue to be prosecuted such barbarous " man-hunts " as 
 threaten almost to lay waste an entire continent with blood, 
 fire, and pillage. 
 
 The nefarious traffic as far as regards negroes does not 
 appear to have arisen until the fifteenth centu^r. The 
 following are said to be the circumstances under which it 
 
200 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 had its origin. After being banished from Spain, the 
 Mussulmans crossed the straits of Gibraltar and took refuge 
 upon the shores of Africa, but the Portuguese who then 
 occupied that portion of the coast persecuted the fugitives 
 with the utmost severity, and having captured them in large 
 numbers, sent them as prisoners into Portugal. They were 
 thus the first nucleus of any African slaves that entered 
 Western Europe since the commencement of the Christian 
 era. The majority, however, of these Mussulmans were 
 members of wealthy families, who were prepared to pay 
 almost any amount of money for their release ; but no 
 ransom was exorbitant enough to tempt the Portuguese to 
 surrender them ; more precious than gold were the strong 
 arms that should work the resources of their young and 
 rising colonies. Thus baulked in their purpose of effecting 
 a direct ransom of their captured relatives, the Mussulman 
 families next submitted a proposition for exchanging them 
 for a larger number of African negroes, whom it would be 
 quite easy to procure. The Portuguese, to whom the proposal 
 was in every way advantageous, eagerly accepted the offer ; 
 and in this way the slave-trade was originated in Europe. 
 
 By the end of the sixteenth century this odious traffic had 
 become permanently established ; in principle it contained 
 nothing repugnant to the semi-barbarous thought and cus- 
 toms then existing ; all the great states recognized it as 
 the most effectual means of colonizing the islands of the 
 New World, especially as slaves of negro blood, well acclima- 
 tized to tropical heat, were able to survive where white men 
 must have perished by thousands. The transport of slaves 
 to the American colonies was consequently regularly effected 
 by vessels specially built for that purpose, and large depots 
 for this branch of commerce were established at various 
 points of the African coast. The " goods " cost compara- 
 tively little in production, and the profits were enormous. 
 
 Yet, after all, however indispensable it might be to com- 
 plete the foundation of the trans-atlantiq colonies, there was 
 
THE DARK CONTINENT. 201 
 
 nothing to justify this shameful barter of human flesh and 
 blood, and the voice of philanthropy began to be heard in 
 protestation, calling upon all European governments, in the 
 name of mercy and common humanity, to decree the aboli- 
 tion of the trade at once. 
 
 In 175 1, the Quakers put themselves at the head of the 
 abolitionist movement in North America, that very land 
 where, a hundred years later, the war of secession burst 
 forth, in which the question of slavery bore the most con- 
 spicuous part. Several of the Northern States, Virginia, 
 Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania prohibited 
 the trade, liberating the slaves, in spite of the cost, who had 
 been imported into their territories. 
 
 The campaign, thus commenced, was not limited to a few 
 provinces of the New World ; on this side of the Atlantic, 
 too, the partisans of slavery were subject to a vigorous 
 attack. England and France led the van, and energetically 
 beat up recruits to serve the righteous cause. " Let us lose 
 our colonies rather than sacrifice our principles," was the 
 magnanimous watchword that resounded throughout Europe, 
 and notwithstanding the vast political and commercial 
 interests involved in the question, it did not go forth in 
 vain. A living impulse had been communicated to the 
 liberation-movement. In 1807, England formally prohibited 
 the slave-trade in her colonies ; France following her 
 example in 18 14. The two great nations then entered upon 
 a treaty on the subject, which was confirmed by Napoleon 
 during the Hundred Days. 
 
 Hitherto, however, the declaration was purely theoretical. 
 Slave-ships continued to ply their illicit trade, discharging 
 their living cargo at many a colonial port. It was evident 
 that more resolute and practical measures must be taken to 
 repress the enormity. Accordingly the United States in 
 1820, and Great Britain in 1824, declared the slave-trade to 
 be an act of piracy and its perpetrators to be punishable 
 with death. France soon gave in her adherence to the new 
 
202 DICK SANDS, TllE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 treaty, but the Southern States of America, and the Spanish 
 and Portuguese, not having signed the act of abolition, con- 
 tinued the importation of slaves at a great profit, and this 
 in defiance of the recognized reciprocal right of visitation to 
 verify the flags of suspected ships. 
 
 But although the slave-trade by these measures was in a 
 considerable measure reduced, it continued to exist ; new 
 slaves were not allowed, but the old ones did not recover 
 their liberty. England was now the first to set a noble 
 example. On the 14th of May, 1833, an Act of Parliament, 
 by a munificent vote of millions of pounds, emancipated all 
 the negroes in the British Colonies, and in August, 1838, 
 670,000 slaves were declared free men. Ten years later, in 
 1848, the French Republic liberated the slaves in her 
 colonies to the number of 260,000, and in 1859 the war 
 which broke out between the Federals and Confederates 
 in the United States finished the work of emancipation by 
 extending it to the whole of North America. 
 
 Thus, three great powers have accomplished their task 
 of humanity, and at the present time the slave-trade is 
 carried on only for the advantage of the Spanish and 
 Portuguese colonies, or to supply the requirements of the 
 Turkish or Arab populations of the East. Brazil, although 
 she has not emancipated her former slaves, does not 
 receive any new, and all negro children are pronounced 
 free-born. 
 
 In contrast, however, to all this, it is not to be concealed 
 that, in the interior of Africa, as the result of wars between 
 chieftains waged for the sole object of making captives, 
 entire tribes are often reduced to slavery, and are carried off 
 in caravans irr two opposite directions, some westwards to 
 the Portuguese colony of Angola, others eastwards to 
 Mozambique. Of these miserable creatures, of whom a very 
 small proportion ever reach their destination, some are 
 despatched to Cuba or Madagascar, others to the Arab or 
 Turkish provinces of Asia, to Mecca or Muscat. The 
 
THE DARK CONTINENT. 203 
 
 French and English cruisers have practically very little 
 power to control the iniquitous proceedings, because the 
 extent of coast to be watched is so large that a strict and 
 adequate surveillance cannot be maintained. The extent 
 of the odious export is very considerable ; no less than 
 24,000 slaves annually reach the coast, a number that 
 hardly represents a tenth part of those who are massacred 
 or otherwise perish by a deplorable end. After the frightful 
 butcheries, the fields lie devastated, the smouldering villages 
 are void of inhabitants, the rivers reek with bleeding corpses, 
 and wild beasts take undisputed possession of the soil. 
 Livingstone, upon returning to a district, immediately after 
 one of these ruthless raids, said that he could never have 
 recognized it for the same that he had visited only a few 
 months previously ; and all other travellers, Grant, Speke, 
 Burton, Cameron, Stanley, describe the wooded plateau of 
 Central Africa as the principal theatre of the barbarous 
 warfare between chief and chief. In the region of the great 
 lakes, throughout the vast district which feeds the market of 
 Zanzibar, in Bornu and Fezzan, further south on the banks 
 of the Nyassa and Zambesi, further west in the districts of 
 the Upper Zaire, just traversed by the intrepid Stanley, 
 everywhere there is the recurrence of the same scenes of 
 ruin, slaughter, and devastation. Ever and again the 
 question seems to be forced upon the mind whether slavery 
 is not to end in the entire annihilation of the negro race, so 
 that, like the Australian tribes of South Holland, it will 
 become extinct. Who can doubt that the day must dawn 
 which will herald the closing of the markets in the Spanish 
 and Portuguese colonies, a day when civilized nations shall 
 no longer tolerate the perpetration of this barbarous wrong ? 
 It is hardly too much to say that another year ought to 
 witness the emancipation of every slave in the possession 
 of Christian states. It seems only too likely that for years 
 to come the Mussulman nations will continue to depopulate 
 the continent of Africa ; to them is due the chief emigra- 
 
204 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 tion of the natives, who, torn from their provinces, are sent 
 to the eastern coast in numbers that exceed 40,000 annually. 
 Long before the Egyptian expedition the natives of Sennaar 
 were sold to the natives of Darfur and vice versa; and even 
 Napoleon Buonaparte purchased a considerable number of 
 negroes, whom he organized into regiments after the fashion 
 of the mamelukes. Altogether it may be affirmed, that 
 although four-fifths of the present century have passed away, 
 slave-traffic in Africa has been increased rather than 
 diminished. 
 
 The truth is that Islamism really nurtures the slave-trade. 
 In Mussulman provinces, the black slave has taken the 
 place of the white slave of former times ; dealers of the most 
 questionable character bear their part in the execrable 
 business, bringing a supplementary population to races 
 which, unregenerated by their own labour, would otherwise 
 diminish and ultimately disappear. 
 
 As in the time of Buonaparte, these slaves often become 
 soldiers ; on the Upper Niger, for instance, they still form 
 half the army of certain chieftains, under circumstances in 
 which their lot is hardly, if at all, inferior to that of free 
 men. Elsewhere, where the slave is not a soldier, he counts 
 merely as current coin ; and in Bornu and even in Egypt, 
 we are told by William Lejean, an eye-witness, that officers 
 and other functionaries have received their pay in this 
 form. 
 
 Such, then, appears to be the present actual condition of 
 the slave-trade; and it is stern justice that compels the 
 additional statement that there are representatives of cer- 
 train great European powers who still favour the unholy 
 traffic with an indulgent connivance, and whilst cruisers are 
 watching the coasts of the Atlantic and of the Indian Ocean, 
 kidnapping goes on regularly in the interior, caravans pass 
 along under the very eyes of certain officials, and massacres 
 are perpetrated in which frequently ten negroes are sacrificed 
 in the capture of a single slave. 
 
THE DARK CONTINENT. 205 
 
 It was the knowledge, more or less complete, of all this, 
 that wrung from Dick Sands his bitter and heart-rending 
 cry :— 
 
 " We are in Africa ! in the very haunt of slave-drivers ! " . 
 
 Too true it was that he found himself and his companions 
 in a land fraught with such frightful peril. He could only 
 tremble when he wondered on what part of the fatal conti- 
 nent the " Pilgrim " had stranded. Evidently it was at 
 some point of the west coast, and he had every reason to 
 fear that it was on the shores of Angola, the rendezvous for 
 all the caravans that journey in that portion of Africa. 
 
 His conjecture was correct ; he really was in the very 
 country that a few years later and with gigantic effort was 
 to be traversed by Cameron in the south and Stanley in the 
 north. Of the vast territory, with its three provinces, Congo, 
 Angola, and Benguela, little was then known except the 
 coast. It extends from the Zaire on the north to the Nourse 
 on the south, and its chief towns are the ports of Benguela 
 and of St. Paul de Loanda, the capital of the colony, which 
 is a dependency of the kingdom of Portugal. The interior 
 of the country had been almost entirely unexplored. Very 
 few were the travellers who had cared to venture far inland, 
 for an unhealthy climate, a hot, damp soil conducive to 
 fever, a permanent warfare between the native tribes, some 
 of which are cannibals, and the ill-feeling of the slave- 
 dealers against any stranger who might endeavour to dis- 
 cover the secrets of their infamous craft, all combine to 
 render the region one of the most hazardous in the whole of 
 Equatorial Africa. 
 
 It was in 1816 that Tuckey ascended the Congo as far 
 as the Yellaba Falls, a distance not exceeding 200 miles ; 
 but the journey was too short to give an accurate idea of 
 the interior of the country, and moreover cost the lives of 
 nearly all the officers and scientific men connected with the 
 expedition. 
 
 Thirty-seven years afterwards, Dr. Livingstone had 
 
2o6 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 advanced from the Cape of Good Hope to the Upper Zam- 
 besi ; thence, with a fearlessness hitherto unrivalled, he 
 crossed the Coango, an affluent of the Congo, and after 
 having traversed the continent from the extreme south to 
 the east he reached St. Paul de Loanda on the 31st of May, 
 1854, the first explorer of the unknown portions of the great 
 Portuguese colony. 
 
 Eighteen years elapsed, and two other bold travellers 
 crossed the entire continent from east to west, and after en- 
 countering unparalleled difficulties, emerged, the one to the 
 south, the other to the north of Angola. 
 
 The first of these was Verney Lovett Cameron, a lieutenant 
 in the British navy. In 1872, when serious doubts were en- 
 tertained as to the safety of the expedition sent out under 
 Stanley to the relief of Livingstone in the great lake district, 
 Lieutenant Cameron volunteered to go out in search of the 
 noble missionary explorer. His offer was accepted, and 
 accompanied by Dr. Dillon, Lieutenant Cecil Murphy, and 
 Robert Moffat, a nephew of Livingstone, he started from 
 Zanzibar. Having passed through Ugogo, he met Living- 
 stone's corpse, which was being borne to the eastern coast 
 by his faithful followers. Unshaken in his resolve to make 
 his way right across the continent, Cameron still pushed 
 onwards to the west. He passed through Unyanyembe and 
 Uganda, and reached Kawele, where he secured all Living- 
 stone's papers. After exploring Lake Tanganyika he crossed 
 the mountains of Bambarre, and finding himself unable to de- 
 scend the course of the Lualaba, he traversed the provinces 
 devastated and depopulated by war and the slave-trade, Ki- 
 lemba, Urua, the sources of the Lomani, Ulanda, and Lovale, 
 and having crossed the Coanza, he sighted the Atlantic and 
 reached the port of St. Philip de Benguela, after a journey 
 that had occupied three years and five months. Cameron's 
 two companions, Dr. Dillon and Robert Moffat, both suc- 
 cumbed to the hardships of the expedition. 
 
 The intrepid Englishman was soon to be followed into the 
 
THE DARK CONTINENT. 207 
 
 field by an American, Mr. Henry Moorland Stanley. It 
 is universally known how the undaunted correspondent of 
 the New York Herald, having been despatched in search of 
 Livingstone, found the veteran missionary at Ujiji, on the 
 borders of Lake Tanganyika, on the 31st of October, 1871. 
 But what he had undertaken in the cause of humanity 
 Stanley longed to continue in the interests of science, his 
 prime object being to make a thorough investigation of the 
 Lualaba, of which, in his first expedition, he had only been 
 able to get a partial and imperfect survey. Accordingly, 
 whilst Cameron was still deep in the provinces of Central 
 Africa, Stanley started from Bagamoyo in November, 1874. 
 Twenty-one months later he quitted Ujiji, which had been 
 decimated by small-pox, and in seventy-four days accom- 
 plished the passage of the lake and reached Nyangwe, a 
 great slave-market previously visited both by Livingstone 
 and Cameron. He was also present at some of the horrible 
 razzias, perpetrated by the officers of the Sultan of Zanzibar 
 in the districts of the Marunzu and Manyuema. 
 
 In order to be in a position to descend the Lualaba to its 
 very mouth, Stanley engaged at Nyangwe 140 porters and 
 nineteen boats. Difficulties arose from the very outset, and 
 not only had he to contend with the cannibals of Ugusu,but, 
 in order to avoid many unnavigable cataracts, he had to 
 convey his boats many miles by land. Near the equator, 
 just at the point where the Lualaba turns north-north-west, 
 Stanley's little convoy was attacked by a fleet of boats, 
 manned by several hundred natives, whom, however, he 
 succeeded in putting to flight. Nothing daunted, the resolute 
 American pushed on to lat. 20 N. and ascertained, beyond 
 room for doubt, that the Lualaba was really the Upper Zaire 
 or Congo, and that, by following its course, he should come 
 directly to the sea. 
 
 Beset with many perils was the way. Stanley was in 
 almost daily collision with the various tribes upon the river- 
 banks ; on the 3rd of June, 1877, he lost one of his com- 
 
208 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 » 
 
 panions, Frank Pocock, at the passage of the cataracts of 
 Massassa, and on the 18th of July he was himself carried 
 in his boat into the Mbelo Falls, and escaped by little short 
 of a miracle. 
 
 On the 6th of August, the daring adventurer arrived at the 
 village of Ni Sanda, only four days from the sea ; two days 
 later he received a supply of provisions that had been sent by 
 two Emboma merchants to Banza M'buko, the little coast- 
 town where, after a journey of two years and nine months, 
 fraught with every kind of hardship and privation, he com- 
 pleted his transit of the mighty continent. His toil told, at 
 least temporarily, upon his years, but he had the grand 
 satisfaction of knowing that he had traced the whole course 
 of the Lualaba, and had ascertained, beyond reach of ques- 
 tion, that as the Nile is the great artery of the north, and the 
 Zambesi of the east, so Africa possesses in the west a third 
 great river, which in a course of no less than 2900 miles, 
 under the names of the Lualaba, Zaire, and Congo, unites 
 the lake district with the Atlantic Ocean. 
 
 In 1873, however, the date at which the " Pilgrim '' foun- 
 dered upon the coast, very little was known of the province 
 of Angola, except that it was the scene of the western 
 slave-trade, of which the markets of Bihe, Cassanga, and 
 Kazunde were the chief centres. This was the country in 
 which Dick Sands now found himself, a hundred miles from 
 shore, in charge of a lady exhausted with fatigue and anxiety, 
 a half-dying child, and a band of negroes who would be a 
 most tempting bait to the slave-driver. 
 
 His last illusion was completely dispelled. He had no 
 longer the faintest hope that he was in America, that land 
 where little was to be dreaded from either native, wild beast, 
 or climate ; he could no more cherish the fond impression 
 that he might be in the pleasant region between the Cordil- 
 leras and the coast, where villages are numerous and missions 
 afford hospitable shelter to every traveller. Far, far away 
 were those provinces of Bolivia and Peru, to which (unless a 
 
THE DARK CONTINENT. 209 
 
 criminal hand had interposed) the " Pilgrim " would certainly 
 have sped her way. No : too truly this was the terrible 
 province of Angola ; and worse than all, not the district near 
 the coast, under the surveillance of the Portuguese authori- 
 ties, but the interior of the country, traversed only by slave 
 caravans, driven under the lash of the havildars. 
 
 Limited, in one sense, was the knowledge that Dick Sands 
 possessed of this land of horrors ; but he had read the 
 accounts that had been given by the missionaries of the six- 
 teenth and seventeenth centuries, by the Portuguese traders 
 who frequented the route from St. Paul de Loanda, by San 
 Salvador to the Zaire, as well as by Dr. Livingstone in his 
 travels in 1853, and consequently he knew enough to awaken 
 immediate and complete despair in any spirit less indomitable 
 than his own. 
 
 Anyhow, his position was truly appalling 
 
 PART II. O 
 
2IO DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 ACCOMPLICES. 
 
 On the day following that on which Dick Sands and his 
 party had made their last halt in the forest, two men met 
 by appointment at a spot about three miles distant. 
 
 The two men were Harris and Negoro, the one lately 
 landed from New Zealand, the other pursuing his wonted 
 occupation of slave-dealer in the province of Angola. They 
 were seated at the foot of an enormous banyan-tree, on the 
 banks of a rushing torrent that streamed between tall borders 
 of papyrus. After the conversation had turned awhile upon 
 the events of the last few hours, Negoro said abruptly, — 
 
 " Couldn't you manage to get that young fifteen-year-old 
 any farther into the interior? " 
 
 '' No, indeed ; it was a hard matter enough to bring him 
 thus far ; for the last few days his suspicions have been 
 wide awake." 
 
 "But just another hundred miles, you know," continued 
 Negoro, " would have finished the business off well, and those 
 black fellows would have been ours to a dead certainty." 
 
 " Don't I tell you, my dear fellow, that it was more than 
 time for me to give them the slip ?" replied Harris, shrugging 
 his shoulders. '' Only too well I knew that our young friend 
 was longing to put a shot into my body, and that was a 
 sugar-plum I might not be able to digest." 
 
 The Portuguese gave a grunt of assent, and Harris went 
 on, — 
 
 " For several days I succeeded well enough. I managed 
 
ACCOMPLICES. 211 
 
 to palm off the country as the forest of Atacama, which 
 you may recollect I once visited ; but when the youngster 
 began to ask for gutta-percha and humming-birds, and his 
 mother wanted quinquina-trees, and when that old fool of a 
 cousin was bent on finding cocuyos, I was rather nonplussed. 
 One day I had to swear that giraffes were ostriches, but 
 the young captain did not seem to swallow the dose at all 
 easily. Then we saw traces of elephants and hippopota- 
 muses, which of course are as often seen in America as an 
 honest man in a Benguela penitentiary ; then that old nigger 
 Tom discovered a lot of forks and chains left by some run- 
 away slaves at the foot of a tree ; but when, last of all, a lion 
 roared, — and the noise, you know, is rather louder than the 
 mewing of a cat, — I thought it was time to take my horse 
 and decamp." 
 
 Negoro repeated his expression of regret that the whole 
 party had not been carried another hundred miles into the 
 province. 
 
 " It really cannot be helped," rejoined the American ; " I 
 have done the best I could ; and I think, mate," he added 
 confidentially, " that you have done wisely in following the 
 caravan at a good distance ; that dog of theirs evidently owes 
 you a grudge, and might prove an ugly customer." 
 
 " I shall put a bullet into that beast's head before long,'' 
 growled Negoro. 
 
 " Take care you don't get one through your own first,'' 
 laughed Harris ; "that young Sands, I warn you, is a first- 
 rate shot, and between ourselves, is rather a fine fellow of his 
 kind." 
 
 " Fine fellow, indeed !'' sneered Negoro ; " whatever he 
 is, he is a young upstart, and I have a long score to wipe off 
 against him ;" and, as he spoke, an expression of the utmost 
 malignity passed over his countenance. 
 
 Harris smiled. 
 
 " Well, mate," he said ; " your travels have not improved 
 your temper, I see. But come now, tell me what vou have 
 
 O 2 
 
212 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 been doing all this time. When I found you just after the 
 wreck, at the mouth of the Longa, you had only time to ask 
 me to get this party, somehow or other, up into the country. 
 But it is just upon two years since you left Cassange with 
 that caravan of slaves for our old master Alvez. What have 
 you been doing since ? The last I heard of you was that you 
 had run foul of an English cruiser, and that you were con- 
 demned to be hanged." 
 
 " So I was very nearly," muttered Negoro. 
 
 " Ah, well, that will come sooner or later," rejoined the 
 American with philosophic indifference; " men of our trade 
 can't expect to die quietly in our beds, you know. But were 
 you caught by the English ? " 
 
 " No, by the Portuguese." 
 
 " Before you had got rid of your cargo ? " 
 
 Negoro hesitated a moment before replying. 
 
 " No,'' he said, presently, and added, " The Portuguese 
 have changed their game : for a long time they carried on 
 the trade themselves, but now they have got wonderfully 
 particular ; so I was caught, and condemned to end my days 
 in the penitentiary at St. Paul de Loanda." 
 
 " Confound it ! " exclaimed Harris, " a hundred times better 
 be hanged ! '' 
 
 " Pm not so sure of that," the Portuguese replied, " for 
 when I had been at the galleys about a fortnight I managed 
 to escape, and got into the hold of an English steamer bound 
 for New Zealand. I wedged myself in between a cask of 
 water and a case of preserved meat, and so managed to exist 
 for a month. It was close quarters, I can tell you, but I 
 preferred to travel incognito rather than run the risk of being 
 handed over again to the authorities at Loanda." 
 
 " Well done ! w exclaimed the American, " and so you had 
 a free passage to the land of the Maoris. But you didn't 
 come back in the same fashion ? " 
 
 " No ; I always had a hankering to be here again at my 
 old trade ; but for a year and a half . . . ." 
 
ACCOMPLICES. 213 
 
 He stopped abruptly, and grasped Harris by the arm. 
 
 " Hush/' he whispered, " didn't you hear a rustling in that 
 clump of papyrus ?'' 
 
 In a moment Harris had caught up his loaded gun ; and 
 both men, starting to their feet, looked anxiously around 
 them. 
 
 " It was nothing,' 5 said Harris presently ; " the stream is 
 swollen by the storm, that is all ; your two years' travelling 
 has made you forget the sounds of the forest, mate. Sit 
 down again, and go on with your story. When I know the 
 past, I shall be better able to talk about the future." 
 
 They reseated themselves, and Negoro went on, — 
 
 " For a whole year and a half I vegetated at Auckland. I 
 left the hold of the steamer without a dollar in my pocket, 
 and had to turn my hand to every trade imaginable in order 
 to get a living.'' 
 
 " Poor fellow ! I daresay you even tried the trade of being 
 an honest man," put in the American. 
 
 " Just so," said Negoro, " and in course of time the ' Pil- 
 grim,' the vessel by which I came here, put in at Auckland. 
 While she was waiting to take Mrs. Weldon and her party . 
 on board, I applied to the captain for a post, for I was once 
 mate on board a slaver, and know something of seamanship. 
 The ' Pilgrim's ' crew was complete, but fortunately the ship's 
 cook had just deserted ; I offered to supply his place ; in 
 default of better my services were accepted, and in a few 
 days we were out of sight of New Zealand." 
 
 " I have heard something about the voyage from young 
 Sands," said Harris, " but even now I can't understand how 
 you reached here." 
 
 " Neither does he," said Negoro, with a malicious grin. 
 " I will tell you now, and you may repeat the story to your 
 young friend if you like." 
 
 " Well, go on,'' said Harris. 
 
 "When we started," continued Negoro, "it was my inten- 
 tion to sail only as far as Chili : that would have brought me 
 
214 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 nearly half way to Angola ; but three weeks after leaving 
 Auckland, Captain Hull and all his crew were lost in chasing 
 a whale, and I and the apprentice were the only seamen left 
 on board.'" 
 
 " Then why in the name of peace didn't you take command 
 of the ship ? '' exclaimed Harris. 
 
 " Because there were five strong niggers who didn't trust 
 me ; so, on second thoughts, I determined to keep my old 
 post as cook." 
 
 " Then do you mean to say that it was mere accident that 
 brought you to the coast of Africa ? " 
 
 " Not a bit of it ; the only accident, — and a very lucky one 
 it was — was meeting you on the very spot where we stranded. 
 But it was my doing that we got so far. Young Sands 
 understood nothing more of navigation than the use of the 
 log and compass. Well, one fine day, you understand, the 
 log remained at the bottom of the sea, and one night the 
 compass was tampered with, so that the ' Pilgrim,' scudding 
 along before a tempest, was carried altogether out of her 
 course. You may imagine the young captain was puzzled at 
 the length of the voyage ; it would have bewildered a more 
 experienced head than his. Before he was aware of it, we 
 had rounded Cape Horn ; I recognized it through the mist. 
 Then at once I put the compass to rights again, and the 
 ' Pilgrim ' was carried north-eastwards by a tremendous 
 hurricane to the very place I wanted. The island Dick 
 Sands took for Easter Island was really Tristan d'Acunha." 
 
 " Good ! '' said Harris ; " I think I understand now 
 how our friends have been persuaded to take Angola for 
 Bolivia. But they are undeceived now, you know," he 
 added. 
 
 " I know all about that," replied the Portuguese. 
 
 " Then what do you intend to do?" said Harris. 
 
 " You will see," answered Negoro significantly ; " but first 
 of all tell me something about our employer, old Alvez ; how 
 is he ? " 
 
ACCOMPLICES.! 215 
 
 " Oh, the old rascal is well enough, and will be delighted 
 to see you again,'' replied Harris. 
 
 " Is he at the market at Bihe ?" 
 
 " No, he has been at his place at Kazounde for a year or 
 more." 
 
 " And how does business go on ? " 
 
 " Badly enough, on this coast," said Harris ; " plenty of 
 slaves are waiting to be shipped to the Spanish colonies, 
 but the difficulty is how to get them embarked. The Portu- 
 guese authorities on the one hand, and the English cruisers 
 on the other, almost put a stop to exportation altogether ; 
 down to the south, near Mossamedes, is the only part where 
 it can be attempted with any chance of success. To pass a 
 caravan through Benguela or Loande is an utter impos- 
 sibility ; neither the governors nor the chefe's ] will listen to 
 a word of reason. Old Alvez is therefore thinking of going 
 in the other direction towards Nyangwe and Lake Tangan- 
 yika ; he can there exchange his goods for slaves and ivory, 
 and is sure to do a good business with Upper Egypt and 
 the coast of Mozambique, which supplies Madagascar. But 
 I tell you, Negoro," he added gravely, " I believe the time 
 is coming when the slave-trade will come to an end altogether. 
 The English missionaries are advancing into the interior. 
 That fellow Livingstone, confound him ! has finished his tour 
 of the lakes, and is now working his way towards Angola ; 
 then there is another man named Cameron who is talking 
 about crossing the continent from east to west, and it is 
 feared that Stanley the American will do the same. All this 
 exploration, you know, is ruinous to our business, and it is to 
 our interest that not one of these travellers should be allowed 
 to return to tell tales of us in Europe." 
 
 Harris spoke like a merchant embarrassed by a temporary 
 commercial crisis. The atrocious scenes to which the slave- 
 dealers are accustomed seems to render them impervious to 
 all sense of justice or humanity, and they learn to regard 
 1 Subordinate Portuguese governors at secondary stations. 
 
2l6 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 their living merchandise with as small concern as though 
 they were dealing with chests of tea or hogsheads of sugar. 
 
 But Harris was right when he asserted that civilization 
 must follow the wake of the intrepid pioneers of African dis- 
 covery. Livingstone first, and after him, Grant, Speke, 
 Burton, Cameron, Stanley, are the heroes whose names will 
 ever be linked with the first dawnings of a brighter age upon 
 the dark wilds of Equatorial Africa. 
 
 Having ascertained that his accomplice had returned un- 
 scrupulous and daring as ever, and fully prepared to pursue 
 his former calling as an agent of old Alvez the slave-dealer, 
 Harris inquired what he proposed doing with the survivors 
 of the " Pilgrim" now that they were in his hands. 
 
 " Divide them into two lots,'' answered Negoro, without a 
 moment's hesitation, " one for the market, the other . . . ." 
 
 He did not finish his sentence, but the expression of his 
 countenance was an index to the malignity of his purpose. 
 
 " Which shall you sell ?" asked the American. 
 
 " The niggef s, of course. The old one is not worth much, 
 but the other four ought to fetch a good price at KazoundeV' 
 
 ft Yes, you are right,'' said Harris ; 'American-born slaves, 
 with plenty of work in them, are rare articles, and very 
 different to the miserable wretches we get up the country. 
 But you never told me," he added, suddenly changing the 
 subject, "whether you found any money on board the 
 ' Pilgrim ' ! " 
 
 " Oh, I rescued a few hundred dollars from the wreck, that 
 was all," said the Portuguese carelessly ; "but I am expect- 
 ing . . . ." he stopped short. 
 
 "What are you expecting?" inquired Harris eagerly. 
 
 '' Oh, nothing, nothing,'' said Negoro, apparently annoyed 
 that he had said so much, and immediately began talking 
 of the means of securing the living prey which he had been 
 taking so many pains to entrap. Harris informed him that 
 on the Coanza, about ten miles distant, there was at the 
 present time encamped a slave caravan, under the control of 
 
Dingo disappeared again amongst the bushes. 
 
ACCOMPLICES. 219 
 
 an Arab named Ibn Hamish ; plenty of native soldiers were 
 there on guard, and if Dick Sands and his people could only 
 be induced to travel in that direction, their capture would be 
 a matter of very little difficulty. He said that of course Dick 
 Sands' first thought would naturally be how to get back to the 
 coast ; it was not likely that he would venture a second time 
 through the forest, but would in all probability try to make 
 his way to the nearest river, and descend its course on a raft 
 to the sea. The nearest river was undoubtedly the Coanza, 
 so that he and Negoro might feel quite sure of meeting 
 " their friends " upon its banks. 
 
 u If you really think so," said Negoro, ''there is not much 
 time to be lost; whatever young Sands determines to do, he 
 will do at once : he never lets the grass grow under his feet." 
 
 " Let us start, then, this very moment, mate," was Harris's 
 reply. 
 
 Both rose to their feet, when they were startled by the 
 same rustling in the papyrus which had previously aroused 
 Negoro's fears. Presently a low growl was heard, and a large 
 dog, showing his teeth, emerged from the bushes, evidently 
 prepared for an attack. 
 
 " It's Dingo ! " exclaimed Harris. 
 
 " Confound the brute ! he shall not escape me this time," 
 said Negoro. 
 
 He caught up Harris's gun, and raising it to his shoulder, 
 he fired just as the dog was in the act of springing at his 
 throat. A long whine of pain followed the report, and Dingo 
 disappeared againamongst the bushes that fringed the stream. 
 Negoro was instantly upon his track, but could discover 
 nothing beyond a few blood-stains upon the stalks of the 
 papyrus, and a long crimson trail upon the pebbles on the 
 bank. 
 
 " I think I have done for the beast now," was Negoro's 
 remark as he returned from his fruitless search. 
 
 Harris, who had been a silent spectator of the whole 
 scene, now asked coolly, — 
 
220 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 " What makes that animal have such an inveterate dislike 
 to you ? " 
 
 " Oh, there is an old score to settle between us," replied 
 the Portuguese. 
 
 " What about ? " inquired the American. 
 
 Negoro made no reply, and finding him evidently disin- 
 clined to be communicative on the subject, Harris did not 
 press the matter any further. 
 
 A few moments later the two men were descending the 
 stream, and making their way through the forest towards the 
 Coan; a. 
 
OX THE MARCH AGAIN. 221 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 ON THE MARCH AGAIN. 
 
 " Africa ! Africa!" was the terrible word that echoed and 
 re-echoed in the mind of Dick Sands. As he pondered over 
 the events of the preceding weeks he could now understand 
 why, notwithstanding the rapid progress of the ship, the land 
 seemed ever to be receding, and why the voyage had been 
 prolonged to twice its anticipated length. It remained, how- 
 ever, a mystery inexplicable as before, how and when they 
 had rounded Cape Horn and passed into another ocean. 
 Suddenly the idea flashed upon him that the compass must 
 have been tampered with ; and he remembered the fall of the 
 first compass ; he recalled the night when he had been roused 
 by Tom's cry of alarm that Negoro had fallen against the 
 binnacle. As he recollected these circumstances he became 
 more and more convinced that it was Negoro who was the 
 mainspring of all the mischief ; that it was he who had con- 
 trived the loss of the " Pilgrim," and compromised the safety 
 of all on board. 
 
 What had been the career, what could be the motives of 
 a man who was capable of such vile machinations ? 
 
 But shrouded in mystery as were the events of the past, 
 the present offered a prospect equally obscure. 
 
 Beyond the fact that he was in Africa and a hundred miles 
 from the coast, Dick knew absolutely nothing. He could 
 only conjecture that he was in the fatal province of 
 Angola, and assured as he was that Harris had acted the 
 
222 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 traitor, he was led to the conclusion that he and Negoro had 
 been playing into each other's hands. The result of the 
 collision, he feared, might be very disastrous to the sur- 
 vivors of the " Pilgrim." Yet, in what manner would the 
 odious stratagem be accomplished ? Dick could well under- 
 stand that the negroes would be sold for slaves ; he could 
 only too easily imagine that upon himself Negoro would 
 wreak the vengeance he had so obviously been contemplat- 
 ing ; but for Mrs. Weldon and the other helpless members 
 of the party what fate could be in store ? 
 
 The situation was terrible, but yet Dick did not flinch ; he 
 had been appointed captain, and captain he would remain ; 
 Mrs. Weldon and her little son had been committed to his 
 ckarge, and he was resolved to carry out his trust faithfully to 
 the end. 
 
 For several hours he remained wrapped in thought, pon- 
 dering over the present and the future, weighing the evil 
 chances againsl me good, only to be convinced that the evil 
 much preponderated. At length he rose, firm, resolute, calm. 
 The first glimmer of dawn was breaking upon the forest. All 
 the rest of the party, except Tom, were fast asleep. Dick 
 Sands crept softly up to the old negro, and whispered,— 
 
 " Tom, you know now where we are ! " 
 
 "Yes, yes, Mr. Dick, only too well I know it. We are 
 in Africa ! " 
 
 The old man sighed mournfully. 
 
 " Tom," said Dick, in the same low voice, " you must keep 
 this a secret ; you must not say a word to let Mrs. Weldon 
 or any of the others know." 
 
 The old man murmured his assent, and Dick con- 
 tinued : — 
 
 " It will be quite enough for them to learn that we have 
 been betrayed by Harris, and that we must consequently 
 practise extra care and watchfulness; they will merely think 
 we are taking precautions against being surprised by nomad 
 Indians. I trust to your good sense, Tom, to assist me in 
 this." 
 
ON THE MARCH AGAIN. 223 
 
 " You may depend upon me, Mr. Dick ; and I can pro- 
 mise you that we will all do our best to prove our courage, 
 and to show our devotion to your service." 
 
 Thus assured of Tom's co-operation, Dick proceeded to 
 deliberate upon his future line of action. He had every 
 reason to believe that the treacherous American, startled by 
 the traces cf the slaves and the unexpected roaring of the 
 lion, had taken flight before he had conducted his victims 
 to the spot where they were to be attacked, and that con- 
 sequently some hours might elapse before he would be joined 
 by Negoro, who (to judge from Dingo's strange behaviour) 
 had undoubtedly for the last few days been somewhere on 
 their track. 
 
 Here was a delay that might be turned to good account, 
 and no time was to be lost in taking advantage of it to com- 
 mence their return journey to the coast. If, as Dick had 
 every reason to suppose, he was in Angola, he hoped to find, 
 either north or south, some Portuguese settlement whence he 
 could obtain the means of transporting his party to their 
 several homes. 
 
 But how was this return journey to be accomplished ? 
 It would be difficult, not to say imprudent, to retrace their 
 footsteps through the forest ; it would merely bring them to 
 their starting-point, and would, moreover, afford an easy 
 track for Negoro or his accomplices to follow. The safest 
 and most secret means of reaching the coast would assuredly 
 be by descending the course of some river. This would have 
 to be effected by constructing a strong raft, from which the 
 little party, well armed, might defend themselves alike from 
 attacks either of the natives or of wild beasts, and which 
 would likewise afford a comfortable means of transport for 
 Mrs. Weldon and her little boy, who were now deprived of 
 the use of Harris's horse. The negroes, it is true, would be 
 only too pleased to carry the lady on a litter of branches, but 
 this would be to occupy the services of two out of five, and 
 under the circumstances it was manifestly advisable that all 
 
224 DICK SANDS, THE EOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 hands should be free to act on the defensive. Another great 
 inducement towards the plan was that Dick Sands felt him- 
 self much more at home in travelling by water than by land, 
 and was longing to be once again upon what to him was, as 
 it were, his native element. He little dreamt that he was 
 devising for himself the very plan that Harris, in his specula- 
 tions, had laid down for him ! 
 
 The most urgent matter was now to find such a stream as 
 would suit their purpose. Dick had several reasons for feel- 
 ing sure that one existed in the neighbourhood. He knew 
 that the little river, which fell into the Atlantic near the spot 
 where the " Filgrim " stranded, could not extend very far 
 either to the north or east, because the horizon was bounded 
 in both directions by the chain of mountains which he had 
 taken for the Cordilleras. If the stream did not rise in those 
 hills it must incline to the south, so that in either case Dick 
 was convinced he could not be long in discovering it or one 
 of its affluents. Another sign, which he recognized as hope- 
 ful, was that during the last few miles of the march the soil 
 had become moist and level, whilst here and there the appear- 
 ance of tiny rivulets indicated that an aqueous network 
 existed in the subsoil. On the previous day, too, the 
 caravan had skirted a rushing torrent, of which the waters 
 were tinged with oxide of iron from its sloping banks. 
 
 Dick's scheme was to make his way back as far as this 
 stream, which, though not navigable itself, would in all 
 probability empty itself into some affluent of greater import- 
 ance. The idea, which he imparted to Tom, met with the 
 old negro's entire approval. 
 
 As the day dawned the sleepers, one by one, awoke. Mrs. 
 Weldon laid little Jack in Nan's arms. The child was still 
 dozing ; the fever had abated, but he looked painfully white 
 and exhausted after the attack. 
 
 " Dick," said Mrs. Weldon, after looking round her, ''where 
 is Mr. Harris ? I cannot see him." 
 
 "Harris has left us," answered Dick very quietly. 
 
ON THE MARCH AGAIN. 225 
 
 " Do you mean that he has gone on ahead ?" 
 
 " No, madam, I mean that he has left us, and gone 
 away entirely : he is in league with Negoro." 
 
 "In league with Negoro!" cried Mrs. Weldon. "Ah, I 
 have had a fancy lately that there has been something 
 wrong : but why ? what can be their motive ? " 
 
 " Indeed I am unable to tell you," replied Dick ; " I only 
 know that we have no alternative but to return to the coast 
 immediately if we would escape the two rascals." 
 
 " I only wish I could catch them," said Hercules, who had 
 overheard the conversation ; " I would soon knock their 
 heads together ;" and he shook his two fists in giving 
 emphasis to his words. 
 
 " But what will become of my boy ? '' cried Mrs. Weldon, in 
 tones of despondency ; " I have been so sanguine in pro- 
 curing him the comforts of San Felice." 
 
 " Master Jack will be all right enough, madam, when we 
 get into a more healthy situation near the coast," said Tom. 
 
 " But is there no farm anywhere near ? no village ? no 
 shelter?" she pleaded. 
 
 " None whatever, madam ; I can only repeat that it is 
 absolutely necessary that we make the best of our way 
 back to the sea-shore." 
 
 "Are you quite sure, Dick, that Mr. Harris has deceived 
 
 us 
 
 ?» 
 
 Dick felt that he should be glad to avoid any discussion 
 on the subject, but with a warning glance at Tom, he pro- 
 ceeded to say that on the previous night he and Tom had- 
 discovered the American's treachery, and that if he had not 
 instantly taken to his horse and fled he would have answered 
 for his guilt with his life. Without, however, dwelling for a 
 moment more than he could avoid upon the past, he hurried 
 on to detail the means by which he now proposed to reach 
 the sea, concluding by the assertion that he hoped a very 
 few miles' march would bring them to a stream on which 
 they might be able to embark. 
 
 PART 11. P 
 
226 DICK SANDS, THE DOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 Mrs. Weldon, thoroughly ignoring her own weakness, 
 professed her readiness not only to walk, but to carry Jack 
 too. Bat and Austin at once volunteered to carry her in a 
 litter ; of this the lady would not hear, and bravely repeated 
 her intention of travelling on foot, announcing her willing- 
 ness to start without further delay. Dick Sands was only 
 too glad to assent to her wish. 
 
 " Let me take Master Jack," said Hercules ; " I shall be 
 out of my element if I have nothing to carry." 
 
 The giant, without waiting for a reply, took the child from 
 Nan's arms so gently that he did not even rouse him from 
 his slumber. s 
 
 The weapons were next carefully examined, and the pro- 
 visions, having been repacked into one parcel, were con- 
 signed to the charge of Actaeon, who undertook to carry them 
 on his back. 
 
 Cousin Benedict, whose wiry limbs seemed capable of 
 bearing any amount of fatigue, was quite ready to start. It 
 was doubtful whether he had noticed Harris's disappearance ; 
 he was suffering from a loss which to him was of far 
 greater importance. He had mislaid his spectacles and 
 magnifying-glass. It had happened that Bat had picked 
 them up in the long grass, close to the spot where the 
 amateur naturalist had been lying, but acting on a hint from 
 Dick Sands, he said nothing about them ; in this way the 
 entomologist, who, without his glasses could scarcely see a 
 yard beyond his face, might be expected to be kept without 
 trouble in the limits of the ranks, and having been placed be- 
 tween Actaeon and Austin with strict injunctions not to leave 
 their side, he followed them as submissively as a blind man 
 in leading-strings. 
 
 The start was made. But scarcely had the little troop 
 advanced fifty yards upon their way, when Tom suddenly 
 Cried out, "Where's Dingo ?" 
 
 With all the force of his tremendous lungs, Hercules gave a 
 series of reverberating shouts : — ■ 
 
ON THE MARCH AGAIN. 227 
 
 "Bingo ! Dingo ! Dingo !" 
 
 Not a bark could be distinguished in reply. 
 
 " Dingo ! Dingo ! Dingo ! " again echoed in the air. 
 
 But all was silence. 
 
 Dick was intensely annoyed at the non-appearance of the 
 dog ; his presence would have been an additional safeguard 
 in the event of any sudden surprise. 
 
 " Perhaps he has followed Harris," suggested Tom. 
 
 " Far more likely he is on the track of Negoro," rejoined 
 Dick. 
 
 "Then Negoro, to a dead certainty," said Hercules, "will 
 put a bullet into his head." * 
 
 " It is to be hoped," replied Bat, " that Dingo will strangle 
 him first." 
 
 Dick Sands, disguising his vexation, said, — 
 
 "At any rate, we have no time to wait for the animal 
 now : if he is alive, he will not fail to find us out. Move 
 on, my lads ! move on ! " 
 
 The weather was very hot ; ever since daybreak heavy 
 clouds had been gathering upon the horizon, and it seemed 
 hardly likely that the day would pass without a storm. 
 Fortunately the woods were sufficiently light to ensure a 
 certain amount of freshness to the surface of the soil. Here 
 and there were large patches of tall, rank grass enclosed by 
 clumps of forest trees. In some places, fossilized trunks, 
 lying on the ground, betokened the existence of one of the 
 coal districts that are common upon the continent of Africa. 
 Along the glades the carpet of verdure was relieved by 
 crimson stems and a variety of flowers ; ginger-blossoms, 
 blue and yellow, pale lobelias, and red orchids fertilized by 
 the numerous insects that incessantly hovered about them. 
 The trees did not grow in impenetrable masses of one 
 species, but exhibited themselves in infinite variety. There 
 was also a species of palm producing an oil locally much 
 valued ; there were cotton-plants growing in bushes eight or 
 ten feet high, the cotton attached in long shreds to the lig- 
 
 P 2 
 
228 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 neous stalks ; and there were copals from which, pierced by 
 the proboscis of certain insects, exudes an odorous resin 
 that flows on to the ground and is collected by the natives. 
 Then there were citrons and wild pomegranates, and a score 
 of other arborescent plants, all testifying to the fertility of 
 this plateau of Central Africa. In many places, too, the air 
 was fragrant with the odour of vanilla, though it was not 
 possible to discover the shrub from which the perfume 
 emanated. 
 
 In spite of it being the dry season, so that the soil had 
 only been moistened by occasional storms, all trees and 
 plants were flourishing in great luxuriance. It was the time of 
 year for fever, but according to Dr. Livingstone's observation, 
 the disorder may generally be cured by quitting the locality 
 where it has been contracted. Dick expressed his hope that, 
 in little Jack's case, the words of the great traveller would 
 be verified, and in encouragement of this sanguine view, 
 pointed out to Mrs. Weldon that although it was past the 
 time for the periodical return of the fever, the child was 
 still slumbering quietly in Hercules' arms. 
 
 The march was continued with as much rapidity as was 
 consistent with caution. Occasionally, where the bushes 
 and brushwood had been broken down by the recent pas- 
 sage of men or beasts, progress was comparatively easy ; 
 but much more frequently, greatly to Dick's annoyance, 
 obstacles of various sorts impeded their advance. Climbing 
 plants grew in such inextricable confusion that they could 
 only be compared to a ship's rigging involved in hopeless 
 entanglement ; there were creepers resembling curved 
 scimitars, thickly covered with sharp thorns ; there were 
 likewise strange growths, like vegetable serpents, fifty or 
 sixty feet long, which seemed to have a cruel faculty for 
 torturing every passenger with their prickly spines. Axe 
 in hand, the negroes had repeatedly to cut their road through 
 these bewildering obstructions that clothed the trees from 
 their summit to their base. 
 
ON THE MARCH AGAIN. 229 
 
 Animal life was no less remarkable in its way than the 
 vegetation. Birds in great variety flitted about in the 
 ample foliage, secure from any stray shot from the little 
 band, whose chief object it was to preserve its incognito. 
 Guinea-fowls were seen in considerable numbers, francolins 
 in several varieties, and a few specimens of the bird to 
 which the Americans, in imitation of their note, have given 
 the name of " whip-poor-will." If Dick had not had too much 
 evidence in other ways to the contrary, he might almost 
 have imagined himself in a province of the New World. 
 
 Hitherto they had been unmolested by any dangerous 
 wild beasts. During the present stage of their march a herd 
 of giraffes, startled by their unexpected approach, rushed 
 fleetly past ; this time, however, without being represented 
 as ostriches. Occasionally a dense cloud of dust on the 
 edge of the prairie, accompanied by the sound like the roll 
 of heavily laden chariots, betokened the flight of a herd of 
 buffaloes ; but with these exceptions no animal of any mag- 
 nitude appeared in view. 
 
 For about two miles Dick followed the course of the 
 rivulet, in the hope that it would emerge into a more impor- 
 tant stream, which would convey them without much diffi- 
 culty or danger direct to the sea. 
 
 Towards noon about three miles had been accomplished, 
 and a halt was made for rest. Neither Negoro nor Harris 
 had been seen, nor had Dingo reappeared. The encamp- 
 ment for the midday refreshment was made under the 
 shelter of a clump of bamboos, which effectually concealed 
 them all. Few words were spoken during the meal. Mrs. 
 "Weldon could eat nothing ; she had again taken her little 
 boy into her arms, and seemed wholly absorbed in watch- 
 ing him. Again and again Dick begged her to take some 
 nourishment, urging upon her the necessity of keeping up 
 her strength. 
 
 "We shall not be long in finding a good current to carry 
 us to the coast," said the lad brightly. 
 
230 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 Mrs. Weldon raised her eyes to his animated features. 
 With so sanguine and resolute a leader, with such devoted 
 servants as the five negroes in attendance, she felt that she 
 ought not utterly to despair. Was she not, after all, on 
 friendly soil? what great harm could Harris perpetrate 
 against her or her belongings ? She would hope still, hope 
 for the best. 
 
 Rejoiced as he was to see something of its former bright- 
 ness return to her countenance, Dick nevertheless had 
 scarcely courage steadily to return her searching gaze. Had 
 she known the whole truth, he knew that her heart must 
 fail her utterly. 
 
ROUGH TRAVELLING. 23 1 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 ROUGH TRAVELLING. 
 
 JUST at this moment Jack woke up and put his arms round 
 his mother's neck. His eyes were brighter, and there was 
 manifestly no return of fever. 
 
 " You are better, darling ! " said Mrs. Weldon, pressing 
 him tenderly to her. 
 
 " Yes, mamma, I am better ; but I am very thirsty." 
 
 Some cold water was soon procured, which the child 
 drank eagerly, and then began to look about him. His 
 first inquiry was for his old friends, Dick and Hercules, 
 both of whom approached at his summons and greeted him 
 affectionately. 
 
 " Where is the horse ? " was the next question. 
 
 " Gone away, Master Jack ; lam your horse now,",5\£ ikj. 
 Hercules. 
 
 " But you have no bridle for me to hold," said Jack, look- 
 ing rather disappointed. 
 
 " You may put a bit in my mouth if you like, Master 
 Jack," replied Hercules, extending his jaws, "and then you 
 may pull as hard as you please." 
 
 " O, I shall not pull very hard," said Jack ; "but haven't 
 we nearly come to Mr. Harris's farm ? " 
 
 Mrs. Weldon assured the child that they should soon be 
 where they wanted to be, and Dick, finding that the con- 
 versation was approaching dangerous ground, proposed that 
 the journey should be now resumed. Mrs. Weldon assented ; 
 
232 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 the encampment was forthwith broken up, and the march 
 continued as before. 
 
 In order not to lose sight of the watercourse, it was neces- 
 sary to cut a way right through the underwood ; progress 
 was consequently very slow ; and a little over a mile was all 
 that was accomplished in about three hours. Footpaths had 
 evidently once existed, but they had all become what the 
 natives term " dead," that is, they had become entirely over- 
 grown with brushwood and brambles. The negroes worked 
 away with a will ; Hercules, in particular, who temporarily 
 resigned his charge to Nan, wielded his axe with marvellous 
 effect, all the time giving vent to stentorian groans and 
 grunts, and succeeded in opening the woods before him as 
 if they were being consumed by a devouring fire. 
 
 Fortunately this heavy labour was not of very long dura- 
 tion. 
 
 After about a mile, an opening of moderate width, con- 
 verging towards the stream and following its bank, was 
 discovered in the underwood. It was a passage formed by 
 elephants, which apparently by hundreds must be in the 
 habit of traversing this part of the forest. The spongy soil, 
 soaked by the downpour of the rainy season, was every- 
 where indented with the enormous impressions of their 
 feet. 
 
 But it soon became evident that elephants were not the 
 only living creatures that had used this track. Human bones 
 gnawed by beasts of prey, whole human skeletons, s\jll 
 wearing the iron fetters of slavery, everywhere strewed the 
 ground. It was a scene only too common in Central Africa, 
 where like cattle driven to the slaughter, poor miserable 
 men are dragged in caravans for hundreds of weary miles, 
 to perish on the road in countless numbers beneath the 
 trader's lash, to succumb to the mingled horrors of fatigue, 
 privation, and disease, or, if provisions fail, to be butchered, 
 without pity or remorse, by sword and gun. 
 
 That slave-caravans had passed that way was too obvious 
 
It was a scene only too common in Central Africa. 
 
ROUGH TRAVELLING. 235 
 
 to permit a doubt. For at least a mile, at almost every step 
 Dick came in contact with the scattered bones ; while ever 
 and again huge goat-suckers, disturbed by the approach of 
 th,3 travellers, rose with flapping wings, and circled round 
 their heads. 
 
 The youth's heart sank with secret dismay lest Mrs. 
 Weldon should divine the meaning of this ghastly scene, and 
 app;al to him for explanation, but fortunately she had again 
 insisted on carrying her little patient, and although the child 
 was fast asleep, he absorbed her whole attention. Nan was 
 by her side, almost equally engrossed. Old Tom alone was 
 fully alive to the significance of his surroundings, and with 
 downcast eyes he mournfully pursued his march. Full of 
 amazement, the other negroes looked right and left upon 
 what might appear to them as the upheaval of some vast 
 cemetery, but they uttered no word of inquiry or surprise. 
 
 Meantime the bed of the stream had increased both in 
 breadth and depth, and the rivulet had in a degree lost its 
 character of a rushing torrent. This was a change which 
 Dick Sands observed hopefully, interpreting it as an indica- 
 tion that it might itself become navigable, or would empty 
 itself into some more important tributary of the Atlantic. 
 His resolve was fixed : he would follow its course at all 
 hazards. As soon, therefore, as he found that the elephant's 
 track was quitting the water's edge, he made up his mind 
 to abandon it, and had no hesitation in again resorting to 
 the use of the axe. Once more, then, commenced the labour 
 of cutting a way through the entanglement of bushes and 
 creepers that were thick upon the soil. It was no longer 
 forest through which they were wending their arduous 
 path ; trees were comparatively rare ; only tall clumps of 
 bamboos rose above the grass, so high, however, that even 
 Hercules could not see above them, and the passage of the 
 little troop could only have been discovered by the rustling 
 in the stalks. 
 
 In the course of the afternoon the soil became soft and 
 
236 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 marshy. It was evident that the travellers were crossing 
 plains that in a long rainy season must be inundated. The 
 ground was carpeted with luxuriant mosses and graceful 
 ferns, and the continual appearance of brown hematite 
 wherever there was arise in the soil, betokened the existence 
 of a rich vein of metal beneath. 
 
 Remembering what he had read in Dr. Livingstone's 
 account of these treacherous swamps, Dick bade his com- 
 panions take their footing warily, fie himself led the way. 
 Tom expressed his surprise that the ground should be so 
 soaked when there had been no rain for some time. 
 
 " I think we shall have a storm soon," said Bat. 
 
 "All the more reason, then," replied Dick, "why we 
 should get away from these marshes as quickly as possible. 
 Carry Jack again, Hercules ; and you, Bat and Austin, keep 
 close to Mrs. Weldon, so as to be able to assist her if she 
 wants your help. But take care, take care, Mr. Benedict ! " 
 he cried out in sudden alarm ; " what are you doing, sir?" 
 ' " I'm slipping in," was poor Benedict's helpless reply. He 
 had trodden upon a kind of quagmire and, as though a trap 
 had been opened beneath his feet, was fast disappearing into 
 the slough. Assistance was immediately rendered, and the 
 unfortunate naturalist was dragged out, covered with mud 
 almost to his waist, but thoroughly satisfied because his 
 precious box of specimens had suffered no injury. Actason 
 undertook for the future to keep close to his side, and 
 endeavour to avoid a repetition of the mishap. 
 
 The accident could not be said to be altogether free from 
 unpleasant consequences. Air-bubbles in great numbers 
 had risen to the surface of the mire from which Benedict 
 had been extricated, and as they burst they disseminated an 
 odious stench that was well-nigh intolerable. The pas- 
 sage of these pestilential districts is not unfrequently very 
 dangerous, and Livingstone, who on several occasions 
 waded through them in mud that reached to his breast, 
 compares them to great sponges composed of black porous 
 
ROUGH TRAVELLING. 237 
 
 earth, in which every footstep causes streams of moisture to 
 ooze out. 
 
 For well-nigh half a mile they had now to wend their 
 cautious way across this spongy soil. Mrs. Weldon, ankle- 
 deep in the soft mud, was at last compelled to come to a 
 stand-still ; and Hercules, Bat, and Austin, all resolved that 
 she should be spared further discomfort, and insisted upon 
 weaving some bamboos into a litter, upon which, after much 
 reluctance to become such a burden, she was induced, with 
 Jack beside her, to take her place. 
 
 After the delay thus caused, the procession again started 
 on its perilous route. Dick Sands continued to walk at the 
 head, in order to test the stability of the footing ; Action 
 followed, holding Cousin Benedict firmly by the arm ; Tom 
 took charge of old Nan, who without his support would 
 certainly have fallen into the quagmire ; and the three other 
 negroes carried the litter in the rear. It was a matter of the 
 greatest difficulty to find a path that was sufficiently firm ; 
 the method they adopted was to pick their way as much as 
 possible on the long rank grass that on the margin of the 
 swamps was tolerably tough ; but in spite of the greatest 
 precaution, there was not one of them who escaped occa- 
 sionally sinking up to his knees in slush. 
 
 At about five o'clock they were relieved by finding them- 
 selves on ground of a more clayey character ; it was still soft 
 and porous below, but its surface was hard enough to give a 
 secure foothold. There were watery pores that percolated 
 the subsoil, and these gave evident witness to the proximity 
 of a river-district. 
 
 The heat would have been intolerably oppressive if it had 
 not been tempered by some heavy storm-clouds which 
 obstructed the direct influence of the sun's rays. Lightning 
 was observed to be playing faintly about the sky, and there 
 was now and again the low growl of distant thunder. The 
 indications of a gathering storm were too manifest to be 
 disregarded, and Dick could not help being very uneasy. He 
 
238 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 had heard of the extreme violence of African storms, and 
 knew that torrents of rain, hurricanes that no tree could 
 resist, and thunderbolt after thunderbolt were the usual 
 accompaniment of these tempests. And here in this lowland 
 desert, which too surely would be completely inundated, 
 there would not be a tree to which they could resort for 
 shelter, while it would likewise be utterly vain to hope to 
 obtain a refuge by excavation, as water would be found only 
 two feet below the surface. 
 
 After scrutinizing the landscape, however, he noticed some 
 low elevations on the north that seemed to form the boundary 
 of the marshy plain. A few trees were scattered along their 
 summits ; if his party could get no other shelter here, he 
 hoped they would be able to find themselves free from any 
 danger caused by the rising flood. 
 
 " Push on, friends, push on ! " he cried ; " three miles more, 
 and we shall be out of this treacherous lowland." 
 
 His words served to inspire a fresh confidence, and in spite 
 of all the previous fatigue, every energy was brought into play 
 with renewed vigour. Hercules, in particular, seemed ready 
 to carry the whole part}-, if it had been in his power. 
 
 The storm was not' long in beginning. The rising ground 
 was still two miles away. Although the sun was above the 
 horizon, the darkness was almost complete ; the over-hanging 
 volumes of vapour sank lower and lower towards the earth, 
 but happily the full force of the deluge which must ultimately 
 come did not descend as yet. Lightning, red and blue, 
 flashed on every side and appeared to cover the ground with 
 a network of flame. 
 
 Ever and again the little knot of travellers were in peril 
 of being struck by the thunderbolts which, on that treeless 
 plain, had no other object of attraction. Poor little Jack, 
 who had been awakened by the perpetual crashes, buried his 
 face in terror in Hercules' breast, anxious, however, not to 
 distress his mother by any outward exhibition of alarm. The 
 good-natured negro endeavoured to pacify him by promises 
 
ROUGH TRAVELLING. "39 
 
 that the lightning should not touch him, and the child, ever 
 confident in the protection of his huge friend, lost something 
 of his nervousness. 
 
 But it could not be long before the clouds would burst and 
 discharge the threatened down-pour. 
 
 (i What are we to do, Tom ? " asked Dick, drawing up 
 close to the negro's side. 
 
 " We must make a rush for it ; push on with all the speed 
 we can." 
 
 " But where ?" cried Dick. 
 
 " Straight on," was the prompt reply ; " if the rain catches 
 us here on the plain, we shall all be drowned." 
 
 (i But where are we to go ? " repeated Dick, in despair ; " if 
 only there were a hut ! But look, look there ! " 
 
 A vivid flash of lightning had lit up the country, and Dick 
 declared that he could see a camp which could hardly be 
 more than a quarter of a mile ahead. 
 
 The negro looked doubtful. 
 
 " I saw it too," he assented : " but if it be a camp at all, 
 it would be a camp of natives ; and to fall into that would 
 involve us in a worse fate than the rain." 
 
 Another brilliant flash brought the camp once again into 
 relief; it appeared to be made up of about a hundred conical 
 tents, arranged very symmetrically, each of them being from 
 twelve to fifteen feet in height. It had the appearance, from 
 a distance, of being deserted ; if it were really so, it would 
 afford just the shelter that was needed ; otherwise, at all 
 hazards, it must be most carefully avoided. 
 
 " I will go in advance," said Dick, after a moment's 
 reflection, " and reconnoitre it." 
 
 " Let one of us, at least, go with you," replied Tom. 
 
 " No, stay where you are ; I shall be much less likely to be 
 discovered if I go alone." 
 
 Without another word, he darted off, and was soon lost 
 in the sombre darkness that was only broken by the frequent 
 liirhtnincr. 
 
C40 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 Large drops of rain were now beginning to fall. 
 
 Tom and Dick had been walking some little distance in 
 advance of the rest of the party, who consequently had not 
 overheard their conversation. A halt being made, Mrs. 
 Weldon inquired what was the matter. Tom explained that 
 a camp or village had been noticed a little way in front, and 
 that the captain had gone forward to investigate it. Mrs. 
 Weldon asked no further questions, but quietly waited the 
 result. It was only a few minutes before Dick returned. 
 
 " You may come on/' he cried. 
 
 u Is the camp deserted ?" asked Tom. 
 
 " It is not a camp at all ; it is a lot of ant-hills ! " 
 
 "Ant-hills!'' echoed Benedict, suddenly aroused into a 
 state of excitement. 
 
 " No doubt of it, Mr. Benedict," replied Dick ; " they are 
 ant-hills twelve feet high at least : and I hope we shall be 
 able to get into then.'' 
 
 " Twelve feet ! " the naturalist repeated ; " they must be 
 those of the termites, the white ants ; there is no other 
 insect that could make them. Wonderful architects are the 
 termites.'' 
 
 il Termites, or whatever they are, they will have to turn 
 out for us," said Dick. 
 
 " But they will eat us up ! " objected Benedict. 
 
 " I can't help that," retorted Dick ; "go we must, and go 
 at once." 
 
 '■' But stop a moment," continued the provoking natu- 
 ralist ; "stop, and tell me: I can't be wrong: I always 
 thought that white ants could never be found elsewhere than 
 in Africa." 
 
 " Come along, sir, I say ; come along, quick ! " shouted 
 Dick, terrified lest Mrs. Weldon should have overheard him. 
 
 They hurried on. A wind had risen ; large spattering 
 drops were now beginning to fall more heavily on the ground, 
 and in a few minutes it would be impossible to stand 
 against the advancing tempest. The nearest of the accumu- 
 
ROUGH TRAVELLING. 241 
 
 lation of ant-hills was reached in time, and however dangerous 
 their occupants might be, it was decided either to expel 
 them, or to share their quarters. Each cone was formed of 
 a kind of reddish clay, and had a single opening at its base. 
 Hercules took his hatchet, and quickly enlarged the aperture 
 till it would admit his own huge body. Not an ant made its 
 appearance. Cousin Benedict expressed his extreme surprise. 
 But the structure unquestionably was empty, and one after 
 another the whole party made their way inside. 
 
 The rain by this time was descending in terrific torrents, 
 strong enough to extinguish, one would think, the most 
 violent explosions of the electric fluid. But the travellers 
 were secure in their shelter, and had nothing to fear for the 
 present ; their tenement was of greater stability than a tent 
 or a native hut. It was one of those marvellous structures 
 erected by little insects, which to Cameron appeared even 
 more wonderful than the upraising of the Egyptian pyramids 
 by human hands. To use his own comparison, it might 
 be likened to the construction of a Mount Everest, the 
 loftiest of the Himalayan peaks, by the united labour of a 
 nation. 
 
 PART II. 
 
24? DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 WHITE ANTS. 
 
 THE storm had now burst in full fury, and fortunate it was 
 that a refuge had been found. The rain did not fall in 
 separate drops as in temperate zones, but descended like the 
 waters of a cataract, in one solid and compact mass, in a 
 way that could only suggest the outpour of some vast aerial 
 basin containing the waters of an entire ocean. Contrary, 
 too, to the storms of higher latitudes, of which the duration 
 seems ordinarily to be in inverse ratio to their violence, 
 these African tempests, whatever their magnitude, often last 
 for whole days, furrowing the soil into deep ravines, changing 
 plains to lakes and brooks to torrents, and causing rivers 
 to overflow and cover vast districts with their inundations. 
 It is hard to understand whence such volumes of vapour 
 and electric fluid can accumulate. The earth, upon these 
 occasions, might almost seem to be carried back to the 
 remote period which has been called the "diluvian age." 
 
 Happily, the walls of the ant-hill were very thick ; no 
 beaver-hut formed of pounded earth could be more perfectly 
 water-tight, and a torrent might have passed over it with- 
 out a particle of moisture making its way through its sub- 
 stance. 
 
 As soon as the party had taken possession of the tene- 
 ment, a lantern was lighted, and they proceeded to examine 
 the interior. The cone, which was about twelve feet high 
 inside, was eleven feet wide at the base, gradually narrow- 
 ing to a sugar-loaf top. The walls and partitions between 
 
WHITE ANTS. 243 
 
 the tiers of cells were nowhere less than a foot thick through- 
 out. 
 
 These wonderful erections, the result of the combined 
 labour of innumerable insects, are by no means uncommon 
 in the heart of Africa. Smeathman, a Dutch traveller of 
 the last century, has recorded how he and four companions 
 all at one time occupied the summit of one of them in 
 Loundd. Livingstone noticed some made of red clay, of 
 which the height varied from fifteen to twenty feet ; and 
 in Nyangwe, Cameron several times mistook one of these 
 colonies for a native camp pitched upon the plain. He 
 described some of these strange edifices as being flanked 
 with small spires, giving them the appearance of a cathedral- 
 dome. 
 
 The reddish clay of which the ant-hill was composed could 
 leave no doubt upon the mind of a naturalist that it had 
 been formed by the species known as " termes bellicosus ;" 
 had it been made of grey or black alluvial soil, it might 
 have been attributed to the " termes mordax " or " termes 
 atrox," formidable names that must awaken anything but 
 pleasure in the minds of all but enthusiast entomologists. 
 
 In the centre was an open space, surrounded by roomy 
 compartments, ranged one upon another, like the berths of 
 a ship's cabin, and lined with the millions of cells that had 
 been occupied by the ants. This central space was in- 
 adequate to hold the whole party that had now made their 
 hurried resort to it, but as each of the compartments was 
 sufficiently capacious to admit one person to occupy it in a 
 sitting posture, Mrs. Weldon, Jack, Nan, and Cousin Bene- 
 dict were exalted to the upper tier, Austin, Bat, and Actason 
 occupied the next story, whilst Tom and Hercules, and Dick 
 Sands himself remained below. 
 
 Dick soon found that the soil beneath his feet was begin- 
 ning to get damp, and insisted upon having some of the dry 
 clay spread over it from the base of the cone. 
 
 " It is a long time, : ' he said, " since we have slept with a 
 
 Q 2 
 
244 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 roof over our heads ; and I am anxious to make our refuge 
 as secure as possible. It may be that we shall have to stay 
 here for a whole day or more ; on the first opportunity I 
 shall go and explore ; it may turn out that we are near the 
 stream we are seeking ; and perhaps we shall have to build 
 a raft before we start again." 
 
 Under his direction, therefore, Hercules took his hatchet, 
 and proceeded to break down the lowest range of cells and 
 to spread the dry, brittle clay of which they were composed 
 a good foot thick over the damp floor, taking care not in any 
 way to block up the aperture by which the fresh air pene- 
 trated into the interior. 
 
 It was indeed fortunate that the termites had abandoned 
 their home ; had it swarmed with its multitudes of vora- 
 cious Neuroptera, the ant-hill would have been utterly un- 
 tenable for human beings. Cousin Benedict's curiosity was 
 awakened, and he was intensely interested in the question 
 of the evacuation, so that he proceeded at once to investi- 
 gate, if he could, whether the emigration had been recent 
 or otherwise. He took the lantern, and as the result of his 
 scrutiny he soon discovered in a recess what he described 
 as the termites' "storehouse," or the place where the inde- 
 fatigable insects keep their provisions. It was a large 
 cavity, not far from the royal cell, which, together with the 
 cells for the reception of the young larvae, had been de- 
 stroyed by Hercules in the course of his flooring operations. 
 Out of this receptacle Benedict drew a considerable quan- 
 tity of gum and vegetable juices, all in a state so liquid as to 
 demonstrate that they had been deposited there quite recently. 
 
 " They have only just gone," he exclaimed, with an air of 
 authority, as if he imagined that some one was about to 
 challenge his assertion. 
 
 "We are not going to dispute your word, Mr. Benedict," 
 said Dick ; " here we are ; we have taken their place, and 
 shall be quite content for them to keep out of the way, with- 
 out caring when they went, or where they have gone." 
 
WHITE ANTS. 243 
 
 "But we must care," retorted Benedict testily ; ''why they 
 have gone concerns us a good deal ; these juices make it 
 evident, from the liquid state in which we find them, that the 
 ants were here this morning ; they have not only gone, but 
 they have carried off their young larvae with them ; they 
 have been sagacious enough to take warning of some 
 impending danger." 
 
 " Perhaps they heard that we were coming," said Hercules, 
 laughing. 
 
 A look of withering scorn was the only answer that the 
 entomologist deigned to give. 
 
 " Yes, I say," repeated Hercules, " perhaps they heard 
 that we were coming." 
 
 " Pshaw !" said Benedict contemptuously; "do you ima- 
 gine they would be afraid of you ? they would reduce your 
 carcase to a skeleton in no time, if they found it across their 
 path." 
 
 " No doubt, if I were dead," replied Hercules, " they could 
 pick my bones pretty clean ; but while I had the use of my 
 limbs I think I could crush them by thousands." 
 
 " Thousands ! " ejaculated Benedict, with increasing 
 warmth ; " you think you could demolish thousands ; but 
 what if they were hundreds of thousands, millions, hundreds 
 of millions ? Alive as much as dead, I tell you, they 
 wouldn't be long in consuming every morsel of you." 
 
 During this brisk little discussion Dick Sands had been 
 pondering over what Benedict had said. There was no 
 doubt that the amateur naturalist was well acquainted with 
 the habits of white ants, and if, as he affirmed, the insects 
 had instinctively quitted their abode on account of some 
 approaching danger, Dick asked himself whether it Avas 
 safe or prudent for his party to remain. But the fury of 
 the storm was still so great that all possibility of removing 
 from the shelter seemed precluded for the present, and, 
 without inquiring farther into the mystery, he merely 
 said, — ■ 
 
246 DICK SANDS, THE fcOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 " Although the ants, Mr. Benedict, have left us their pro- 
 visions, we must not forget that we have brought our own. 
 We will have our supper now, and to-morrow, when the 
 storm is over, we will see what is to be done." 
 
 Fatigue 1 had not taken away the appetite of the energetic 
 travellers, and they gladly set about the preparation of 
 their meal. The provisions, of which they had enough for 
 another two days, had not been injured by the rain. For 
 some minutes the crunching of hard biscuit was the only 
 sound to be heard ; Hercules, in particular, seemed to 
 pound away with his huge jaws as with a pair of mill-stones. 
 Mrs. Weldon was the only one of the party who ate little ; 
 and that little was only taken at Dick's earnest solicitation ; 
 he could not help noticing, with much concern, that although 
 Jack seemed to be satisfactorily recovering, and, without 
 sign of fever, was sleeping calmly enough on a bed made 
 up of clothes spread out in one of the cells, yet his mother 
 had lost much of her courage, and seemed pre-occupied and 
 depressed. 
 
 Cousin Benedict did due honour to the simple evening 
 repast ; not on account of its quantity or quality, but because 
 it gave him an opportunity of holding forth upon the subject 
 of termites. He was much vexed that he had been unable 
 to discover a single specimen in the deserted ant-hill with 
 which he might illustrate his lecture, but notwithstanding 
 this deficiency he continued to talk, heedless whether any 
 one was listening. 
 
 " They are wonderful insects," he said ; " they belong to 
 the order of the Neuroptera, which have the antenna; longer 
 than the head ; their mandibles are well-developed, and the 
 inferior pair of wings is generally as large as the superior. 
 There are five families of them ; the Panorpidae, the Myr- 
 mellonidcE, the Hemerobiidae, the Termitinae, and the Per- 
 lidae. I need hardly say that what we are now occupying is 
 a dwelling of the Termitinae." 
 
 At this point Dick became all attention ; he was anxious 
 
WHITE ANTS. 247 
 
 to ascertain whether this discovery of white ants had aroused 
 any suspicion in Benedict's mind that they must be on 
 African soil. The naturalist, now fairly mounted on a 
 favourite hobby, went on with his discourse. 
 
 " I am sorry not to have a specimen to show you, but 
 these Termitinae have four joints in the tarsi, and strong 
 horny mandibles. The family includes, as genera, the Man- 
 tispa, the Raphidia, and the Tcrmes, the last commonly 
 known as white ants, amongst which are ' Termes fatalis, 
 Termes lucifugans, Termes mordax,' and several others more 
 or less rare." 
 
 " And which of them built this ant-hill ? " inquired Dick. 
 
 " The bellicosi ! " replied Benedict, pronouncing the name 
 with as much pride as if he were eulogizing the Macedonians 
 or some warlike nation of antiquity. " Bellicosi," he con- 
 tinued, " are to be found of every size. There is as much 
 difference between the largest and the smallest of them as 
 there is between Hercules and a dwarf; the workers are 
 about one-fifth of an inch long ; the soldiers, or fighting-ants, 
 are half an inch ; whilst the males and females measure four- 
 fifths of an inch. There is another curious species, called 
 ' sirafoos,' which are about half an inch long, and have pin- 
 cers instead of mandibles, and heads larger than their bodies, 
 like sharks. In fact, if sharks and sirafoos were placed in 
 competition, I should be inclined to back the sirafoos." 
 
 " And where are these sirafoos most generally to be 
 found ? " said Dick cautiously. 
 
 " In Africa, in the southern and central provinces. Africa 
 may truly be termed the land of ants. Livingstone, in the 
 notes brought home by Stanley, describes a battle which he 
 was fortunate enough to witness between an army of black 
 ants and an army of red. The black ants, or drivers, which 
 arc what the natives call sirafoos, got the best of it ; and the 
 red ants, or ' tchoongoos,' after a very resolute defence, were 
 obliged to retire defeated, carrying their eggs and young ones 
 with them. Livingstone avows that he never saw the war- 
 
24 8 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 like instinct so strongly developed as in these sirafoos ; the 
 stoutest man, the largest animal, a lion or an elephant, quails 
 before the grip of their mandibles : no obstacle impedes 
 their progress ; no tree is too lofty for them to scale, and 
 they contrive to cross wide streams by forming their own 
 bodies into a kind of suspension bridge. Equally amazing 
 are their numbers ; Du Chaillu, another African traveller, 
 relates how it took more than twelve hours for a column of 
 ants to file past him, without a moment's pause in their 
 march. These numbers, however, cease to be so surprising 
 when it is explained that their fecundity is such that a single 
 female of the termites bellicosi has been estimated to pro- 
 duce as many as sixty thousand eggs a day. These Neu- 
 roptera furnish the natives with a favourite food, grilled ants 
 being considered a great delicacy." 
 
 "Have you ever tasted them?" asked Hercules, with a 
 grin. 
 
 " Never," answered the naturalist ; "but I am in hopes I 
 shall have a chance of doing so very soon." 
 
 " Surely you don't imagine yourself in Africa ! " said Tom 
 suddenly. 
 
 "Africa! no; why should I?" replied Benedict ; but, as 
 I have already seen a tzetsy in America, I do not despair 
 of having the satisfaction of discovering white ants there 
 too. You do not know the sensation I shall make in 
 Europe when I publish my folio volume and its illustra- 
 tions." 
 
 It was evident that no inkling of the truth had yet entered 
 poor Benedict's brain, and it seemed likely that it would re- 
 quire demonstration far more striking than any natural 
 phenomena to undeceive the minds of such of the party as 
 were not already in possession of the fatal secret. 
 
 Although it was nine o'clock, Cousin Benedict went on 
 talking incessantly, regardless of the fact that one by one 
 his audience were falling to sleep in their separate cells. 
 Dick Sands did not sleep, but neither did he interrupt the 
 
WHITE ANTS. , 249 
 
 entomologist by farther questions ; Hercules kept up his 
 attention longer than the rest, but at length he too suc- 
 cumbed to weariness, and his eyes and ears were closed to all 
 external sights and sounds. 
 
 But endurance has limits, and at last Cousin Benedict, 
 having worn himself out, clambered up to the topmost cell 
 of the cone, which he had chosen for his dormitory, and fell 
 into a peaceful slumber. 
 
 The lantern had been already extinguished. All was 
 darkness and silence within, whilst the storm without still 
 raged with a violence that gave no sign of abatement. 
 
 Dick Sands himself was the only one of the party who was 
 not partaking in the repose that was so indispensable to 
 them all ; but he could not sleep ; his every thought was 
 absorbed in the responsibility that rested on him to rescue 
 those under his charge from the dangers that threatened 
 them. Again and again he recalled every incident that had 
 occurred since the loss of Captain Hull and his crew ; he 
 remembered the occasion when he had stood with his pistol 
 pointed at Negoro's head ; why, oh why, had his hand 
 faltered then ? why had he not at that moment hurled the 
 miserable wretch overboard, and thus relieved himself and 
 his partners in trouble from the catastrophe that had since 
 befallen them ? Peril was still staring them in the face, 
 and his sole drop of consolation in the bitter cup of de- 
 spondency was that Mrs. Weldon was still ignorant of their 
 real situation. 
 
 At that moment, just in the fever of his agony, he felt a 
 light breath upon his forehead ; a hand was laid upon his 
 shoulder, and a gentle voice murmured in his ear, — 
 
 " My poor boy, I know everything. God will help us ! 
 His will be done ! " 
 
250 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 A DIVING-BELL. 
 
 THIS sudden revelation that Mrs. Weldon was acquainted 
 with the true state of things left Dick speechless. Even 
 had he been capable of replying, she gave him no oppor- 
 tunity, but immediately retired to the side of her son. The 
 various incidents of the march had all gradually enlightened 
 her, and perhaps the exclamation of Cousin Benedict on the 
 preceding evening had crowned them all ; anyhow the brave 
 lady now knew the worst. Dick felt, however, that she did not 
 despair ; neither would he. 
 
 He lay and longed for the dawn, when he hoped to ex- 
 plore the situation better, and perchance to find the water- 
 course which he was convinced could not be far distant. 
 Moreover, he was extremely anxious to be out of the reach 
 of the natives whom, it was only too likely, Negoro and 
 Harris might be putting on their track. 
 
 But as yet no glimmer of daylight penetrated the aperture 
 of the cone, whilst the heavy rumblings, deadened as they 
 were by the thickness of the walls, made it certain that the 
 storm was still raging with undiminished fury. Attentively 
 Dick listened, and he could distinctly hear the rain beating 
 around the base of the ant-hill ; the heavy drops splashed 
 again as they fell, in a way altogether different to what they 
 would upon solid ground, so that he felt sure that the ad- 
 jacent land was by this time completely flooded. He was 
 getting very drowsy when it suddenly occurred to him that 
 it was not unlikely the aperture was getting blocked up 
 
A DIVING-BELL. 25 1 
 
 with damp clay ; in that case he knew that the breath of 
 the inmates would quickly vitiate the internal atmosphere. 
 He crept along the ground and had the satisfaction of find- 
 ing that the clay embankment was still perfectly dry ; the 
 orifice was quite unobstructed, allowing not only a free pas- 
 sage to the air, but admitting the glare of the occasional 
 flashes of lightning, which the descending volumes of water 
 did not seem to stay. 
 
 Having thus far satisfied himself that all was well, and 
 that there was no immediate clanger, Dick thought that he 
 might now resign himself to sleep as well as the rest : he 
 took the precaution, however, of stretching himself upon 
 the embankment within easy reach of the opening, and with 
 his head supported against the wall, after a while dozed 
 off. 
 
 How long his light slumber had lasted he could not say, 
 when he was aroused by a sensation of cold. He started 
 up, and to his horror discovered that the water had entered 
 the ant-hill and was rising rapidly ; it could not be long, he 
 saw, before it reached the cells which were occupied by 
 Hercules and Tom. He woke them at once, and told them 
 what he had observed. The lantern was soon lighted, and 
 they set to work to ascertain what progress the water was 
 making. It rose fcr about five feet, when it was found to 
 remain stationary. 
 
 "What is the matter, Dick?" inquired Mrs. Wcldon, 
 disturbed by the movements of the men. 
 
 " Nothing very alarming," answered Dick promptly ; 
 t: only some water has found its way into the lower part of 
 the place ; it will not reach your upper cells ; probably some 
 river has overflowed its boundaries." 
 
 "The very river, perhaps," suggested Hercules assuringly, 
 " that is to carry us to the coast." 
 
 Mrs. Weldon made no reply. 
 
 Cousin Benedict was still sleeping as soundly as if he were 
 himself a white ant ; the negroes were peering down on to 
 
252 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 the sheet of water which reflected back the rays of the 
 lantern, ready to carry out any orders given by Dick, who 
 was quietly gauging the inundation, and removing the pro- 
 visions and fire-arms out of its reach. 
 
 "Did the water get in at the opening, Mr. Dick?" asked 
 Tom. 
 
 "Yes, Tom, and consequently we are coming to the end 
 of our stock of fresh air," was Dick's reply. 
 
 "But why should we not make another opening above the 
 water level ? " Tom inquired. 
 
 "A thing to be thought about," said Dick; "but we 
 have to remember that if we have five feet of water here 
 inside, there is probably a depth of six or seven outside. 
 In rising here the flood has compressed the air, and made 
 it an obstacle to further progress, but if we allow the air to 
 escape, we may perhaps only be letting the water rise too 
 high for our safety. We are just as if we were in a diving- 
 bell." 
 
 " Then what is to be done ? " asked the old negro. 
 
 "No doubt," replied Dick, "we must proceed very cau- 
 tiously. An inconsiderate step will jeopardize our lives." 
 
 Dick Sands was quite correct in comparing the cone to 
 an immersed diving-bell. In that mechanical contrivance, 
 however, the air can always be renewed by means of pumps, 
 so that it can be occupied without inconvenience beyond 
 what is entailed by a somewhat confined atmosphere ; but 
 here the interior space had already been reduced by a third 
 part through the encroachment of the water, and there was 
 no method of communicating with the outer air except by 
 opening a new aperture, an operation in which there was 
 manifest danger. 
 
 Dick did not entertain the slightest apprehension that the 
 ant-hill would be carried away bodily by the inundation ; 
 he knew that it would adhere to its base as firmly as a 
 beaver-hut ; what he really dreaded was that the storm 
 would last so long that the flood would rise high above the 
 
A DIVING-BELL. 253 
 
 plain, perhaps submerging the ant-hill entirely, so that 
 ultimately all air would be expelled by the persistent 
 pressure. 
 
 The more he pondered the more he felt himself driven 
 to the conviction that the inundation would be wide and 
 deep. It could not be, he felt sure, entirely owing to the 
 downpour from the clouds that the rapid flood was rising ; 
 there must have been the sudden overflowing of some stream 
 to cause such a deluge over the low-lying plain. It could 
 not be proved that the ant-hill was not already under water, 
 so that escape might be no longer possible, even from its 
 highest point. 
 
 With all Dick's courage, it was yet evident that he was 
 very uneasy ; he did not know what to do, and asked himself 
 again and again whether patient 'waiting or decisive action 
 would be his more prudent course. 
 
 It was now about three o'clock in the morning. All within 
 the ant-hill were silent and motionless, listening to the in- 
 cessant turmoil which told that the strife of the elements 
 had not yet ceased. 
 
 Presently, old Tom pointed out that the height of the 
 water was gradually increasing, but only by very slow ascent. 
 Dick could only say that if the flood continued to rise, how- 
 ever slowly, it must inevitably drive out the air. 
 
 As if struck by a sudden thought, Bat called out, — 
 
 " Let me try and get outside. Perhaps I might dive and 
 get through the opening." 
 
 " I think I had better make that experiment myself," 
 answered Dick. 
 
 " That you never shall," interposed Tom peremptorily ; 
 " you must let Bat go. It may not be possible to get back, 
 and your presence is indispensable here. Think, sir, think 
 of Mrs. Weldon, and Master Jack," he added in a lower 
 tone. 
 
 "Well, well,'' Dick assented, "if it must be so, Bat shall 
 
254 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 And turning to Bat, he continued, — 
 
 " Do not try to come back again ; we will try, if we can, 
 to follow you the same way ; but if the top of the cone is 
 still above water, knock hard on it with your hatchet, and 
 we shall take it as a signal that we may break our way out. 
 Do you understand ? " 
 
 " All right ! " he said, " all right, sir." 
 
 And after wringing his father's hand, he drew a long 
 breath, and plunged into the water that filled the lower 
 section of the ant-hill. 
 
 It was an exploit that required considerable agility; the 
 diver would have to find the orifice, make his way through 
 it, and, without loss of a moment, let himself rise to the 
 surface outside. Full half a minute elapsed, and Dick was 
 making sure that the negro had been successful in his effort, 
 when his black head emerged from the water. There was 
 a general exclamation of surprise. 
 
 " It is blocked up," gasped Bat, as soon as he had re- 
 covered breath enough to speak. 
 
 " Blocked up ? " cried Tom. 
 
 " Yes," Bat affirmed ; " I have felt all round the wall very 
 carefully with my hand, and I am sure there is no hole left; 
 I suppose the water has dissolved the clay." 
 
 " If you cannoc find a hole," exclaimed Hercules, " I can 
 very soon make one ;" and he was just about to plunge his 
 hatchet into the side of the ant-hill, when Dick prevented 
 him. 
 
 " Stop, stop ! you must not be in such a hurry ! " 
 
 He reflected for a few moments, and went on, — 
 
 "We must be cautious; an impetuous step may be de- 
 struction ; perhaps the water is over the top ; if it is allowed 
 to enter, then at once is an end of all." 
 
 "But whatever we do," urged Tom, "must be done at 
 once ; there is no time to lose." 
 
 He was right ; the water had risen till it was quite six 
 feet deep ; none but Mrs. Wcldon, Jack, Nan, and Cousin 
 
A DIVING-BELL. 255 
 
 Benedict, who were lodged in the upper cells, were fairly 
 above its surface. 
 
 Dick now came to his determination. At about a foot 
 above the water-level, that is, about seven feet from the 
 ground, he resolved to bore a hole through the clay. If he 
 should find himself in communication with the open air, he 
 would have the proof he desired that the top of the cone 
 was still uncovered ; if, on the other hand, he should ascer- 
 tain that he had pierced the wall below the surface of the 
 external water, he would be prepared to plug up the hole 
 instantaneously, and repeat the experiment higher up. It 
 was true that the inundation might have risen even fifteen 
 feet above the plain ; in that case the worst had come and 
 there was no alternative but that they must all die of 
 asphyxia. 
 
 Carefully considering the chances of his undertaking, Dick 
 calmly and steadily set about his task. The best instrument 
 that suggested itself for his purpose was the ramrod of a 
 gun, which, having a sort of corkscrew at the end for ex- 
 tracting the wadding, would serve as an auger. The hole 
 would be very small, but yet large enough for the requisite 
 test. Hercules showed him all the light he could by holding 
 up the lantern. There were several candles left, so that 
 they were not in fear of being altogether in darkness. 
 
 The operation hardly took a minute ; the ramrod passed 
 through the clay without difficulty ; a muffled sound was 
 distinguished as of air-bubbles rushing through a column 
 of water. As the air escaped, the water in the cone rose 
 perceptibly. The hole had been pierced too low. A handful 
 of clay was immediately forced into the orifice, which was 
 thus effectually plugged ; and Dick turned round quietly, 
 and said, — 
 
 " We must try again." 
 
 The water had again become stationary, but its last rise 
 had diminished the amount of breathing space by more than 
 eight inches. The supply of oxygen was beginning to fail 
 
256 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 respiration was becoming difficult, and the flame of the candle 
 burned red and dim. 
 
 About a foot higher than the first hole, Dick now set about 
 boring a second. The experiment might again prove a 
 failure, and the water rise yet higher in the cone ; but the 
 risk must be run. 
 
 Just as the auger was being inserted, a loud exclamation 
 of delight was heard proceeding from Cousin Benedict's 
 cell. Dick paused, and Hercules turned the lantern to- 
 wards the excited naturalist, who seemed beaming with 
 satisfaction. 
 
 " Yes, yes ; I see it all well enough,'' he cried ; " I know 
 now why the termites left their home ; they were wide- 
 awake ; they were more clever than we are ; they knew that 
 the storm was coming ! " 
 
 Finding that this was all the worthy entomologist had to 
 communicate, Dick, without comment, turned back again 
 to his operation. Again the gurgling noise ! again the water's 
 upward rush ! For the second time he had failed to effect 
 an aperture to the outer air ! 
 
 The situation was to the last degree alarming. The 
 water had all but reached Mrs. Weldon, and she was obliged 
 to take her boy into her arms. Every one felt nearly stifled. 
 A loud singing was heard in the ears, and the lantern 
 showed barely any light at all. A few minutes more and 
 the air would be incapable of supporting life. One chance 
 alone remained. They must bore another hole at the very 
 summit of the cone. Not that they were unaware of the 
 imminent danger of this measure, for if the ant-hill were 
 really submerged the water from below would immediately 
 expel the remaining air and death must be instantaneous. 
 A few brief words from Dick explained the emergency of 
 the crisis. Mrs. Weldon recognized the necessity, — 
 
 "Yes, Dick, do it ; there is nothing else to be clone." 
 
 While she was speaking the light flickered out, and they 
 were in total darkness. 
 
All fired simultaneously at the nearest boat. 
 PART II. R 
 
A DIVING-BELL. 2$9 
 
 Mounted on the shoulders of Hercules, who was crouch- 
 ing in one of the side-cells, his head only just above water, 
 Dick proceeded to force the ramrod into the clay, which at 
 the vertex of the ant-hill was considerably harder and thicker 
 than elsewhere. 
 
 A strange mingling of hope and fear thrilled through Dick 
 Sands as he applied his hand to make the opening which 
 was to admit life and air, or the flood of death ! 
 
 The silence of the general expectation was broken by the 
 noise of a sharp hissing ; the water rose for eight inches, 
 but all at once it ceased to rise ; it had found its level. No 
 need this time to close the orifice ; the top of the ant-hill 
 was higher than the top of the flood ; and for the present, 
 at least, they could all rejoice that their lives were spared ! 
 
 A general cheer, led by the stentorian voice of Hercules, 
 involuntarily broke from the party ; cutlasses were brought 
 into action, and the clay crumbled away beneath the vigor- 
 ous assault that was made upon it. The welcome air was 
 admitted through the new-made aperture, bringing with it 
 the first rays of the rising sun. The summit of the ant-hill 
 once removed, it would be quite easy to clamber to the top, 
 whence it was hoped they would soon get away to some high 
 ground out of reach of the flood. 
 
 Dick was the first to mount the summit ; but a cry of 
 dismay burst from his lips ! 
 
 A sound only too well known to travellers in Africa broke 
 upon his ear ; that sound was the whizzing of arrows. 
 
 Hardly a hundred yards away was a large encampment ; 
 whilst, in the water, quite close to the ant-hill where he 
 stood, he saw some long boats full of natives. From one of 
 these had come the volley of arrows which had greeted his 
 appearance above the opening of the cone. 
 
 To tell his people what had happened was the work of a 
 morrtent. He seized his gun, and made Hercules, Bat, and 
 Actaeon take theirs, and all fired simultaneously at the 
 nearest boat. Several of the natives were seen to fall ; but 
 
 R 2 
 
260 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 shouts of defiance were raised, and shots were fired in 
 return. 
 
 Resistance was manifestly useless. What could they do 
 against a hundred natives ? they were assailed on every 
 hand. In accordance with what seemed a preconcerted plan, 
 they were carried off from the ant-hill with brutal violence, in 
 two parties, without the chance of a farewell word or sign. 
 
 Dick Sands saw that Mrs. Weldon, Jack, and Cousin 
 Benedict were placed on board one boat, and were conveyed 
 towards the camp, whilst he himself, with the live negroes 
 and old Nan, was forced into another, and taken in a 
 different direction. Twenty natives formed a body-guard 
 around them, and five boats followed in their rear. 
 
 Useless though it were, Dick and the negroes made one 
 desperate attempt to maintain their freedom ; they wounded 
 several of their antagonists, and would doubtless have paid 
 their lives as a penalty for their daring, if there had not been 
 special orders given that they should be taken aiive. 
 
 The passage of the flood was soon accomplished. The 
 boat had barely touched the shore, when Hercules with a 
 tremendous bound sprang on to the land. Instantly two 
 natives rushed upon him. The giant clave their skulls with 
 the butt end of his gun, and made off. Followed though he 
 was by a storm of bullets, he escaped in safety, and dis- 
 appeared beneath the cover of the woods. 
 
 Dick Sands and the others were guarded to the shore, 
 and fettered like slaves. 
 
A SLAVE CARAVAN. 261 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 A SLAVE CARAVAN. 
 
 The storm of the previous night, by swelling the tributaries 
 of the Coanza, had caused the main river to overflow its 
 banks. The inundation had entirely changed the aspect of 
 the country, transforming the plain into a lake, where the 
 peaks of a number of ant-hills were the sole objects that 
 emerged above the watery expanse. 
 
 The Coanza, which is one of the principal rivers of 
 Angola, falls into the Atlantic about a hundred miles from 
 the spot at which the " Pilgrim " was stranded. The stream, 
 which a few years later was crossed by Cameron on his way 
 to Benguela, seems destined to become the chief highway of 
 traffic between Angola and the interior ; steamers already ply 
 upon its lower waters, and probably ten years will not elapse 
 before they perform regular service along its entire course. 
 
 Dick Sands had been quite right in searching north- 
 wards for the navigable stream he had been so anxious to 
 find ; the rivulet he had been following fell into the Coanza 
 scarce a mile away, and had it not been for this unexpected 
 attack he and his friends might reasonably have hoped to 
 descend the river upon a raft, until they reached one of the 
 Portuguese forts where steam vessels put in. But their fate 
 was ordered otherwise. 
 
 The camp which Dick had descried from the ant-hill was 
 pitched upon an eminence crowned by an enormous syca- 
 more-fig, one of those giant trees occasionally found in 
 Central Africa, of which the spreading foliage will shelter 
 
262 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 some five hundred men. Some of the non-fruit-bearing kind 
 of banyan-trees formed the background of the landscape. 
 
 Beneath the shelter of the sycamore, the caravan which 
 had been referred to in the conversation between Negoro 
 and Harris had just made a halt. Torn from their villages 
 by the agents of the slave- dealer Alvez, the large troop of 
 natives was on its way to the market of Kazonnde, thence to 
 be sent as occasion required either to the west coast, or to 
 Nyangwe", in the great lake district, to be dispersed into 
 Upper Egypt or Zanzibar. 
 
 Immediately on reaching the camp, the four negroes and 
 old Nan were placed under precisely the same treatment as 
 the rest of the captives. In spite of a desperate resistance, 
 they were deprived of their weapons, and fastened two and 
 two, one behind another, by means of a pole about six feet 
 long, forked at each end, and attached to their necks by an 
 iron bolt. Their arms were left free, that they might carry 
 any burdens, and in order to prevent an attempt to escape 
 a heavy chain was passed round their waists. It was thus 
 in single file, unable to turn either right or left, they would 
 have to march hundreds of miles, goaded along their toil- 
 some road by the havildar's whip. The lot of Hercules 
 seemed preferable, exposed though undoubtedly he would 
 be in his flight to hunger, and to the attacks of wild beasts, 
 and to all the perils of that dreary country. But solitude, 
 with its worst privations, was a thing to be envied in com- 
 parison to being in the hands of those pitiless drivers, who 
 did not speak a word of the language of their victims, but 
 communicated with them only by threatening gestures or by 
 actual violence. 
 
 As a white man, Dick was not attached to any other 
 captive. The drivers were probably afraid to subject him 
 to the same treatment as the negroes, and he was left 
 unfettered, but placed under the strict surveillance of a 
 havildar. At first he felt considerable surprise at not seeing 
 Harris or Negoro in the camp, as he could not entertain a 
 
A SLAVE CARAVAN. 263 
 
 doubt that it was at their instigation the attack had been 
 made upon their retreat ; but when he came to reflect that 
 Mrs. Weldon, Jack, and Cousin Benedict had not been 
 allowed to come with them, but had been carried off in some 
 other direction, he began to think it probable that the two 
 rascals had some scheme to carry ©ut with regard to them 
 elsewhere. 
 
 The caravan consisted of nearly eight hundred, including 
 about five hundred slaves of both sexes, two hundred soldiers 
 and freebooters, and a considerable number of havildars and 
 drivers, over whom the agents acted as superior officers. 
 
 These agents are usually of Portuguese or Arab extraction ; 
 and the cruelties they inflict upon the miserable captives are 
 almost beyond conception ; they beat them continually, and 
 if any unfortunate slave sinks from exhaustion, or in any 
 way becomes unfit for the market, he is forthwith either 
 stabbed or shot. As the result of this brutality it rarely 
 happens that fifty per cent, of the slaves reach their destina- 
 tion ; some few may contrive to escape, and many are left 
 as skeletons along the line of route. 
 
 Such of the agents as are Portuguese arc (as it may well 
 be imagined) of the very lowest dregs of society, outlaws, 
 escaped criminals, and men of the most desperate character ; 
 of this stamp were the associates of Negoro and Harris, now 
 in the employ of Jose" Antonio Alvez, one of the most 
 notorious of all the slave-dealers of Central Africa, and of 
 whom Commander Cameron has given some curious infor- 
 mation. 
 
 Most frequently the soldiers who escort the captives are 
 natives hired by the dealers, but they do not possess the 
 entire monopoly of the forays made for the purpose of 
 securing slaves ; the native negro kings make war upon each 
 other with this express design, and sell their vanquished 
 antagonists, men, women, and children, to the traders for 
 calico, guns, gunpowder, and red beads ; or in times of 
 famine, according to Livingstone, even for a few grains of maize. 
 
264 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 The escort of old Alvez's caravan was an average specimen 
 of these African soldiers. It was simply a horde of half- 
 naked banditti, carrying old flint-locked muskets, the barrels 
 of which were decorated with copper rings. The agents 
 are very often put to their wits' end to know how to manage 
 them ; their orders are called in question, halts are continu- 
 ally demanded, and in order to avert desertion they are 
 frequently obliged to yield to the obstreperous will of their 
 undisciplined force. 
 
 Although the slaves, both male and female, are compelled 
 to carry burdens whilst on their march, a certain number of 
 porters, called ftagazis, is specially engaged to carry the more 
 valuable merchandize, and principally the ivory. Tusks 
 occasionally weigh as much as 160 lbs., and require two men 
 to carry them to the depots, whence they are sent to the 
 markets of Khartoom, Natal, and Zanzibar. On their arrival 
 the pagiazz's are paid by the dealers according to contract, 
 which is generally either by about twenty yards of the cotton 
 stuff known as merikani, or by a little powder, by a handful 
 or two of cowries, by some beads, or if all these be scarce, 
 they are paid by being allotted some of the slaves who ars 
 otherwise unsalable. 
 
 Among the five hundred slaves in the caravan, very few 
 were at all advanced in years. The explanation of this cir- 
 cumstance was that whenever a raid is made, and a village 
 is set on fire, every inhabitant above the age of forty is 
 mercilessly massacred or hung upon the neighbouring trees ; 
 only the children and young adults of both sexes are reserved 
 for the market, and as these constitute only a small propor- 
 tion of the vanquished, some idea may be formed of the 
 frightful depopulation which these vast districts of Equi- 
 noctial Africa are undergoing. 
 
 Nothing could be more pitiable than the condition of this 
 miserable herd. All alike were destitute of clothing, having 
 nothing on them but a few strips of the stuff known as mbusa, 
 made from the bark of trees ; many of the women were 
 
A SLAVE CARAVAN. 265 
 
 covered with bleeding wounds from the drivers' lashes, and 
 had their feet lacerated by the constant friction of the road, 
 but in addition to other burdens were compelled to carry 
 their own emaciated children ; young men, too, there were 
 who had lost their voices from exhaustion, and who, to 
 use Livingstone's expression, had been reduced to " ebony 
 skeletons '' by toiling under the yoke of the fork, which is 
 far more galling than the galley-chain. It was a sight that 
 might have moved the most stony-hearted, but yet there was 
 no symptom of compassion on the part of those Arab and 
 Portuguese drivers whom Cameron pronounces " worse than 
 brutes." 1 
 
 The guard over the prisoners was so strict that Dick 
 Sands felt it would be utterly useless for him to make any 
 attempt to seek for Mrs. Weldon. She and her son had 
 doubtless been carried off by Negoro, and his heart sank 
 when he thought of the dangers to which too probably she 
 would be exposed. Again and again he repeated his re- 
 proaches on himself that he had ever allowed either Negoro 
 or Harris to escape his hands. Neither Mrs. Weldon nor 
 Jack could expect the least assistance from Cousin Benedict ; 
 the good man was barely able to consult for himself. All 
 three of them would, he conjectured, be conveyed to some 
 remote district of Angola ; the poor mother, like some miser- 
 
 1 Cameron says, "In order to obtain the fifty women of whom 
 Alvez is the owner, ten villages, containing altogether a population 
 of not less than 1500, were totally destroyed. A few of the in- 
 habitants contrived to escape, but the majority either perished in the 
 flames, were slain in defending their families, or were killed by 
 
 hunger or wild beasts in the jungle The crimes which are 
 
 perpetrated in Africa, by men who call themselves Christians, 
 seem incredible to the inhabitants of civilized countries. It is 
 impossible that the government at Lisbon can be aware of the 
 atrocities committed by those who boast of being subject to her 
 flag." — Tour die Monde. 
 
 N.B. — Against these assertions of Cameron, loud protestations 
 have been made in Portugal. 
 
266 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN 
 
 able slave, would insist upon carrying her own sick son until 
 her strength failed her, and, exhausted by her endurances, 
 she sank down helpless on the the way. 
 
 A prisoner, and powerless to help ! the very thought was 
 itself a torture to poor Dick. Even Dingo was gone! It 
 would have been a satisfaction to have had the dog to send 
 off upon the track of the lost ones. One only hope remained. 
 Hercules still was free. All that human strength could 
 attempt in Mrs. Weldon's behalf, Hercules would not fail to 
 try. Perhaps, too, under cover of the night, it was not alto- 
 gether improbable that the stalwart negro would mingle 
 with the crowd of negroes (amongst whom his dark skin 
 would enable him to pass unnoticed), and make his way to 
 Dick himself; then might not the two together elude the 
 vigilance of the watch ? might they not follow after and 
 overtake Mrs. Weldon in the forest ? would they not per- 
 chance be able either by stealth or by force to liberate her, 
 and once free they would effect an escape to the river, and 
 finally accomplish the undertaking in which they had been 
 so lamentably frustrated. Such were the sanguine visions 
 in which Dick permitted himself to indulge ; his tempera- 
 ment overcame all tendency to despair, and kept him alive 
 to the faintest chance of deliverance. 
 
 The next thing of importance was to ascertain the desti- 
 nation of the caravan. It was a matter of the most serious 
 moment whether the convoy of slaves were going to be 
 carried to one of the depots of Angola, or whether they were 
 to be sent hundreds of miles into the interior to Nyangwe, 
 in the heart of the great lake district that Livingstone was 
 then exploring. To reach the latter spot would occupy some 
 months, and to return thence to the coast, even if they should 
 be fortunate enough to regain their liberty, would be a work 
 of insuperable difficulty. 
 
 He was not long left in suspense. Although he could not 
 understand the half- African, half- Arab dialect that was used 
 by the leaders of the caravan, he noticed that the word 
 
A SLAVE CARAVAN. 267 
 
 Kazonndc occurred very frequently, and knowing it as the 
 name of an important market in the province, he naturally 
 concluded that it was there the slaves were to be disposed 
 of; whether for the advantage of the king of the district, or 
 of one of the rich traders, he had no means of telling. 
 Unless his geographical knowledge was at fault, he was 
 aware that Kazonndc - must be about 400 miles from St. Paul 
 de Loanda, and consequently that it could hardly be more 
 than 250 miles from the part of the Coanza where they were 
 now encamped. Under favourable circumstances it was a 
 journey that could not be accomplished in less than twelve 
 or fourteen days, but allowing for the retarded progress of a 
 caravan already exhausted by a lengthened march, Dick 
 was convinced that they could not reach the place for at 
 least three weeks. 
 
 He was most anxious to communicate to his companions 
 in adversity his impression that they were not to be carried 
 into the heart of the country, and began to cogitate whethei 
 some plan could not be devised for exchanging a few words 
 with them. 
 
 Forked together, as it has been said, two and two, the 
 four negroes were at the right-hand extremity of the camp ; 
 Bat attached to his father, Austin to Actaeon. A havildar, 
 with twelve soldiers, formed their guard. Dick, at first, was 
 about fifty yards away from the group, but being left free to 
 move about, contrived gradually to diminish the distance 
 between himself and them. Tom seemed to apprehend his 
 intention, and whispered a word to his companions that they 
 should be on the look-out. Without moving they were all 
 on their guard in a moment. Dick, careful to conceal his 
 design, strolled backward with a feigned indifference, and 
 succeeded in getting so near that he might have called out 
 and informed Tom that they were going to Kazonndc. But 
 he was desirous of accomplishing more than this ; he wanted 
 to get an opportunity of having some conversation as to 
 their future plans, and he ventured to approach still nearer. 
 
268 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 His heart beat high as he believed he was on the point of 
 attaining his object, when all at once the havildar, becoming 
 aware of his design, rushed upon him like a madman, sum- 
 moned some soldiers, and with considerable violence sent 
 him back to the front. Tom and the others were quickly 
 removed to another part of the encampment. 
 
 Exasperated by the rough attack that was made upon him, 
 Dick had seized the havildar's gun and broken it, almost 
 wrenching it from his hands, when several soldiers simul- 
 taneously assailed him, and would have struck him down and 
 killed him upon the spot, had not one of the chiefs, an Arab 
 of huge stature and ferocious countenance, interfered to 
 stop them. 
 
 This Arab was the Ibn Hamish of whom Harris had 
 spoken to Negoro. He said a few words which Dick could 
 not understand, and the soldiers, with manifest reluctance, 
 relaxed their hold and retired. It was evident that although 
 Dick was not to be permitted to hold any communication 
 with the rest of his party, orders had been given that his 
 life was to be protected. 
 
 It was now nine o'clock, and the beating of drums and 
 the blowing of coodoo - horns gave the signal that the morn- 
 ing march was to be continued. Instantly chiefs, soldiers, 
 porters, and slaves were upon their feet, and arranged 
 themselves in their various groups with a havildar bearing a 
 bright-coloured banner at their head. 
 
 The order was given ; the start was made. A strange 
 song was heard rising in the air. It was a song, not of the 
 victors, but of the vanquished. The slaves were chanting 
 an imprecation on their oppressors ; and the burden of the 
 chorus was that captured, tortured, slain — after death they 
 would return and avenge their wrongs upon their mur- 
 derers ! 
 
 2 Coodoo, a ruminant common in Africa. 
 
NOTES BY THE WAY. 269 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 NOTES BY THE WAY. 
 
 THE storm of the preceding evening had now passed away, 
 but the sky was still cloudy and the weather far from 
 settled. It was the 19th of April, the time of the masika 
 or second period of the rainy season, so that for the next 
 two or three weeks the nights might be expected to be 
 wet. 
 
 On leaving the banks of the Coanza the caravan pro- 
 ceeded due east. Soldiers marched at the head and in the 
 rear, as well as upon the flanks of the troop ; any escape of 
 the prisoners, therefore, even if they had not been loaded 
 with their fetters, would have been utterly impossible. 
 They were all driven along without any attempt at order, 
 the havildars using their whips unsparingly upon them 
 vvhenever they showed signs of flagging. Some poor 
 mothers could be seen carrying two infants, one on each 
 arm, whilst others led by the hand naked children, whose 
 feet were sorely cut by the rough ground over which they 
 had trod. 
 
 Ibn Hamish, the Arab who had interfered between Dick 
 and the havildar, acted as commander to the caravan, and 
 was here, there, and everywhere ; not moved in the least by 
 the sufferings of the captives, but obliged to be attentive to 
 the importunities of the soldiers and porters, who were per- 
 petually clamouring for extra rations, or demanding an 
 immediate halt. Loud were the discussions that arose, 
 
270 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 and the uproar became positively deafening when the 
 quarrelsome voices rose above the shrieks of the slaves, 
 many of whom found themselves treading upon soil already 
 stained by the blood of the ranks in front. 
 
 No chance again opened for Dick to get any communica- 
 tion with his friends, who had been sent to the van of the 
 procession. Urged on by the whip they continued to march 
 in single file, their heads in the heavy forks. If ever the 
 havildar strolled a few yards away, Bat took the opportunity 
 of murmuring a few words of encouragement to his poor 
 old father, while he tried to pick out the easiest path for 
 him, and to relax the pace to suit his enfeebled limbs. 
 Large tears rolled down old Tom's cheeks when he found 
 that his son's efforts only resulted in bringing down upon 
 his back some sharp cuts of the havildnr's whip. Action 
 and Austin, subject to hardly less brutality, followed a few 
 steps behind, but all four could not help feeling envious at 
 the luck of Hercules, who might have dangers to encounter, 
 but at least had his liberty. 
 
 Immediately upon their capture, Tom had revealed to his 
 companions the fact that they were in Africa, and informing 
 them how they had been betrayed by Harris, made them 
 understand that they had no mercy to expect. 
 
 Old Nan had been placed amongst a group of women in 
 the central ranks. She was chained to a young mother with 
 two children, the one at the breast, the other only three years 
 old, and scarcely able to walk. Moved by compassion, 
 Nan took the little one into her own arms, thus not only 
 saving it from fatigue, but from the blows it would very likely 
 have received for lagging behind. The mother shed tears of 
 gratitude, but the weight was almost too much for Nan's 
 strength, and she felt as if she must break down under her 
 self-imposed burden. She thought fondly of little Jack, and 
 imagining him borne along in the arms of his weary mother, 
 could not help asking herself whether she should ever see 
 him or her kind mistress again. 
 
NOTES BY THE WAY. 27 1 
 
 Far in the rear, Dick could not see the head of the 
 caravan except occasionally, when the ground was rather on 
 the rise. The voices of the agents and drivers, harsh and 
 excited as they were, scarcely roused him from his melancholy 
 reflections.' His thoughts were not of himself nor of his own 
 sufferings ; his whole attention was absorbed in looking for 
 some traces of Mrs. Weldon's progress ; if she, too, was 
 being taken to Kazonnde, her route must also lie this way. 
 But he could discover no trace of her having been con- 
 ducted by this line of march, and could only hope that 
 she was being spared the cruelties which he was himself 
 witnessing. 
 
 The forest extended for about twenty miles to the east of 
 the Coanza, but whether it was that the trees had been 
 destroyed by the ravages of insects, or broken down before 
 they had made their growth by being trampled on by 
 elephants, they were growing much less thickly than in the 
 immediate vicinity of the river. There were numbers of 
 cotton-trees, seven or eight feet high, from which are manu- 
 factured the black-and-white striped stuffs that are worn 
 in the interior of the province ; but, upon the whole, progress 
 was not much impeded either by shrubs or underwood. 
 Occasionally the caravan plunged into jungles of reeds 
 like bamboos, their stalks an inch in diameter, so tall that 
 only an elephant or giraffe could have reared above them, 
 and through which none excepting such as had a very 
 intimate knowledge of the country could possibly have made 
 their way. 
 
 Starting every morning at daybreak they marched till noon, 
 when an hour's halt was made. Packets of manioc were 
 then unfastened, and doled out in sparing quantities among 
 the slaves ; sometimes, when the soldiers had plundered 
 some village, a little goat's flesh or some sweet potatoes were 
 added to the meal ; but generally the fatigue, aggravated 
 by inadequate rest, took away the appetite, and when meal- 
 time arrived many of the slaves could hardly eat at all. 
 
272 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 During the first eight days march from the Coanza no less 
 than twenty unfortunate wretches had fallen upon the road, 
 and had been left behind, a prey to the lions, panthers, and 
 leopards that prowled in the wake. As Dick heard their 
 roars in the stillness of the night, he trembled as he thought 
 of Hercules. Nevertheless, had the opportunity offered 
 itself, he would not for a moment have hesitated in making 
 his own escape to the wilderness. 
 
 The two hundred and fifty miles between the river and 
 Kazonnde" were accomplished in what the traders call 
 marches of ten miles each, including the halts at night and 
 midday. The journey cannot be better described than by a 
 few rough notes that Dick Sands made upon his way. 
 
 April 2$ih. — Saw a village surrounded with bamboo 
 palisading, eight or nine feet high. Fields round planted with 
 maize, beans, and sorghum. Two negroes captured, fifteen 
 killed, rest took to flight. 
 
 26th. — Crossed a torrent 150 yards wide. Bridge formed 
 of trunks of trees and creepers. Piles nearly gave way ; 
 two women fastened to a fork ; one of them, carrying a 
 baby, fell into the water. "Water quickly tinged with blood ; 
 crocodiles seen under bridge ; risk of stepping into their 
 very jaws. 
 
 282V/. — Crossed a forest of bauhinias ; great trees, the 
 iron-wood of the Portuguese. Heavy rain ; ground sodden ; 
 marching difficult. Caught sight of Nan in the middle of 
 caravan ; she was toiling along with a black child in her 
 arms ; the woman with her limping, and blood trickling from 
 her shoulder. 
 
 29/72. — Camp at night under a huge baobab, with white 
 flowers and light green leaves. Lions and leopards roaring 
 all night. A soldier fired at a panther. What has become 
 of Hercules ? 
 
 30//?.— Rainy season said to be over till November. First 
 touch of African winter. Dew very heavy. Plains all flooded. 
 Easterly winds : difficulty of respiration ; susceptibility to 
 
The caravan had been attacked on the Hank by a dozen or more crocodiles. 
 PART II. S , 
 
> T OTES BY THE WAY. 275 
 
 fever. No trace of Mrs. Weldon ; cannot tell whether she is 
 ahead. Fear Jack may have a return of fever; 
 
 May $t'i. — Forced to march several stages across flooded 
 plains, water up to the waist ; many leeches sticking to the 
 skin. Lotus and papyrus upon higher ground. Great heavy 
 leaves, like cabbages, beneath the water, make many stumble 
 as they walk. Saw large numbers of little fish, silurus- 
 specics ; these are caught by the natives, and sold to the 
 caravans. 
 
 Jtlj. — Plain still inundated. Last night, no halting-place 
 to be found. Marched on through the darkness. Great 
 misery. Except for Mrs. Weldon, life not worth having ; 
 for her sake must hold out. Loud cries heard. Saw, by the 
 lightning, soldiers breaking large boughs from the resinous 
 trees that emerged from the water. The caravan had been 
 attacked on the flank by a dozen or more crocodiles ; women 
 and children seized and carried off to what Livingstone calls 
 their "pasture-lands," the holes where they deposit their prey 
 until it is decomposed. Myself grazed by the scales of one 
 of them. A slave close beside me torn out of the fork, which 
 was snapped in half. How the poor fellow's cry of agony 
 rings in my ear ! This morning, twenty missing. Tom and 
 the others, thank God, are still alive. They are on in front. 
 Once Bat made a sharp turn, and Tom caught sight of me. 
 Nothing to be seen of Nan ; was she, poor creature, one of 
 those that the crocodiles had got ? 
 
 %th. — After twenty-four hours in the water we have crossed 
 the plain. We have halted on a hill. The sun helps to dry 
 us. Nothing to eat except a little manioc and a few 
 handfuls of maize. Only muddy water to drink. I mpossible 
 for Mrs. Weldon to survive these hardships ; I hope from 
 my heart that she has been taken some other way. Small- 
 pox has broken out in the caravan ; those that have it are to 
 be left behind. 
 
 g//i. — Started at dawn. No stragglers allowed ; sick and 
 weary must be kept together by havildars' whip ; the losses 
 
276 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 were considerable. Living skeletons all round. Rejoiced 
 once more to catch sight of Nan. She was not carrying the 
 child any longer ; she was alone ; the chain was round her 
 waist, but she had the loose end thrown over- her shoulder. 
 I got close to her ; suppose I am altered, as she did not know 
 me. After I had called her by name several times she stared 
 at me, and at last said, " Ah, Mr Dick, is it you ? you will not 
 see me here much longeiY' Her cadaverous look pained my 
 very soul, but I tried to speak hopefully. Poor Nan shook 
 her head. " I shall never see my dear mistress again ; no, 
 nor master Jack ; I shall soon die." Anxious to help her, I 
 would gladly have carried the end of the chain which she had 
 been obliged to bear because her fellow-prisoner was dead. 
 A rough hand was soon upon my shoulder ; a cruel lash had 
 made Nan retreat to the general crowd, whilst, at the bidding 
 of an Arab chief, I was hustled back to the very hindmost 
 rank of the procession. I overheard the word Negoro, in a 
 way that convinced me that it is under the direction of the 
 Portuguese that I am subject to this hard indignity. 
 
 wth. — Last night encamped under some large trees on the 
 skirts of a forest. Several escaped prisoners recaptured; 
 their punishment barbarously cruel. Loud roaring of lions 
 and hyenas heard at nightfall, also snorting of hippopota- 
 muses ; probably some lake or water-course not far off. 
 Tired, but could not sleep ; heard a rustling in the grass ; 
 felt sure that something was going to attack me ; what could 
 I do ? I had no gun. For Mrs. Weldon's sake must, if 
 possible, preserve my life. The night was dark ; no moon ; 
 two eyes gleamed upon rne ; I was about to utter a cry of 
 alarm ; fortunately, I suppressed it ; the creature that had 
 sprung to my feet was Dingo ! The dog licked my hands all 
 over, persisting in rubbing his neck against them, evidently 
 to make me feel there ; found a reed fastened to the well- 
 known collar upon which the initials S.V. had so often 
 awakened our curiosity ; breaking open the reed, I took a 
 note from inside ; it was too dark for me to see to read it 
 
NOTES BY THE WAY. 277 
 
 I tried, by caressing Dingo, to detain him ; but the dog 
 appeared to know that his mission with me was at an end ; 
 he licked my hands affectionately, made a sudden bound, and 
 disappeared in the long grass as mysteriously as he had come. 
 The howling of the wild beasts increased. How I dreaded 
 that the faithful creature would become their prey ! No more 
 sleep this night for me. It seemed that daylight would never 
 dawn ; at length it broke with the suddenness that marks a 
 tropical morn. I was able cautiously to read my note ; the 
 handwriting, I knew at a glance, was that of Hercules ; there 
 were but a few lines in pencil : — ■ 
 
 " Mrs. Weldon and Jack carried away in a kitanda. 
 Harris and Negoro both with them. Mr. Benedict too. 
 Only a few marches ahead, but cannot be communicated 
 with at present. Found Dingo wounded by a gun-shot. 
 Dear Mr. Dick, do not despair ; keep up your courage. I 
 may help you yet. 
 
 " Your ever true and faithful 
 1 "Hercules." 
 
 As far as it went, this intelligence was satisfactory. A 
 kitanda, I know, is a kind of litter made of dry grass, 
 protected by a curtain, and carried on the shoulders of two 
 men by a long bamboo. What a relief to know that Mrs. 
 Weldon and Jack have been spared the miseries, of this 
 dreadful march ! May I not indulge the hope of seeing 
 them at Kazonnde ? 
 
 12/h, — The prisoners getting more and more weary and 
 worn out. Blood-stains on the way still more conspicuous. 
 Many poor wretches are a mass of wounds. One poor woman 
 for two days has carried her dead child, from which she 
 refuses to be parted. 
 
 i6tk. — Small-pox raging; the road strewn with corpses. 
 Still ten days before we reach Kazonnde. Just passed a tree 
 from which slaves who had died from hunger were hanging 
 by the neck. 
 
 i8//5. — Must not give in, but I am almost exhausted. Rains 
 
278 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 have ceased. We are to make what the dealers call irikesa, 
 extra marches in the after-part of the day. Road very steep ; 
 rims through nyassi, tall grass of which the stalks scratch my 
 face, and the seeds get under my tattered clothes and make 
 my skin smart painfully. My boots fortunately are thick, and 
 have not worn out. More slaves sick and abandoned to take 
 their chance. Provisions running very short ; soldiers and 
 pagazis must be satisfied, otherwise they desert ; consequently 
 the slaves are all but starved. " They can eat each other," 
 say the agents. A young- slave, apparently in good health, 
 dropped down dead. It made me think of Livingstone's 
 description of how free-born men, reduced to slavery, will 
 suddenly press their hand on their side, and die of a broken 
 heart. 
 
 2%th. — Twenty captives, incapable any longer of keeping 
 pace with the rest, put to death by the havildars, the Arab 
 chief offering no opposition. Poor old Nan one of the victims 
 of this horrible butchery. My foot struck her corpse as I 
 passed, but I was not permitted to give her a decent burial. 
 Poor old Nan ! the first of the survivors of the " Pilgrim" to 
 sro to her long rest ! Poor old Nan ! 
 
 Every night I watch for Dingo ; but he never comes. Has 
 Hercules nothing more to communicate ? or has any mishap 
 befallen him ? If he is alive he will do what mortal strength 
 can do to aid us. 
 
KAZONNDE. 279 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 KAZONNDE. 
 
 By the 26th of May, when the caravan reached Kazonnde, the 
 number of the slaves had diminished by more than half, so 
 numerous had been the casualties along the road. But the 
 dealers were quite prepared to make a market of their loss ; 
 the demand for slaves was very great, and the price must be 
 raised accordingly. 
 
 Angola at that time was the scene of a large negro-traffic, 
 and as the caravans principally wended their way towards the 
 interior, the Portuguese authorities at Loanda and Benguela 
 had practically no power to prevent it. The barra ckson 
 the shore were crowded to overflowing with prisoners, the 
 few slave-ships that managed to elude the cruisers being quite 
 inadequate to embark the whole number for the Spanish 
 colonies to America. 
 
 Kazonnde, the point whence the caravans diverge to the 
 various parts of the lake district, is situated three miles from 
 the mouth of the Coanza, and is one of the most important 
 lakojiis, or markets of the province. The open market-place 
 where the slaves are exposed for sale is called the chiloka. 
 
 All the larger towns of Central Africa are divided into two 
 distinct parts ; one occupied by the Arab, Portuguese, or 
 native merchants, and containing their slave-barracks ; the 
 other being the residence of the negro king, often a fierce 
 drunken potentate, whose rule is a reign of terror, and who 
 lives by subsidies allowed him by the traders. 
 
2cO DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 The commercial quarter of Kazonnde* now belonged to Jose" 
 Antonio Alvez. It was his largest depot, although he had 
 another at Bihe", and a third at Cassange, where Cameron 
 subsequently met him. It consisted of one long street, on 
 each side of which were groups of flat-roofed houses called 
 /cmlies, built of rough earth, and provided with square yards 
 for cattle. The end of it opened into the chitoka. which was 
 surrounded by the barracks. Above the houses some fine 
 banyan-trees waved their branches, surmounted here and 
 there by the crests of graceful palms. There was at least a 
 score of birds of prey that hovered about the streets, and 
 came down to perform the office of public scavengers. At 
 no great distance flowed the Loohi, a river not yet explored, 
 but which is supposed to be an affluent or sub-affluent of 
 the Congo. 
 
 Adjoining the commercial quarter was the royal residence, 
 nothing more nor less than a collection of dirty huts, extend- 
 ing over an area of nearly a square mile. 
 
 Some of these huts were unenclosed ; others were sur- 
 rounded by a palisade of reeds, or by a hedge of bushy figs. 
 
 In an enclosure within a papyrus fence were about thirty 
 huts appropriated to the king's slaves, another group for his 
 wives, and in the middle, almost hidden by a plantation of 
 manioc, a tembe larger and loftier than the rest, the abode of 
 the monarch himself. 
 
 He had sorely declined from the dignity and importance 
 of his predecessors, and his army, which by the early Portu- 
 guese traders had been estimated at 20,000, now numbered 
 less than 4000 men ; no longer could he afford, as in the good 
 old time, to order a sacrifice of twenty-five or thirty slaves at 
 one offering. 
 
 His name was Moene Loonga. Little over fifty, he was 
 prematurely aged by drink and debauchery, and scarcely 
 better than a maniac. His subjects, officers, and ministers, 
 were all liable to be mutilated at his pleasure, and noses and 
 ears, feet and hands, were cut off unsparingly whenever his 
 
KAZONNDE. 28 1 
 
 caprice so willed it. His death would have been a cause of 
 regret to no one, with the exception, perhaps, of Alvcz, who 
 was on very good terms with him. Alvez, moreover, feared 
 that in the event of the present king's death, the succession 
 of his chief wife, Queen Moena, might be disputed, and that 
 his dominions would he invaded by a younger and more 
 active neighbour, one of the kings of Ukusu, who had already 
 seized upon some villages dependent on the government of 
 Kazonnde", and who was in alliance with a rival trader named 
 Tipp-Tipo, a man of pure Arab extraction, from whom 
 Cameron afterwards received a visit at Nyangwe. 
 
 To all intents and purposes Alvez was the real sovereign 
 of the district, having fostered the vices of the brutalized king 
 till he had him completely in his power. He was a man 
 considerably advanced in years; he was not (as his name 
 might imply) a white man, but had merely assumed his Por- 
 tuguese title for purposes of business ; his true name was 
 Kendele', and he was a pure negro by birth, being a native of 
 Dondo on the Coanza. He had commenced life as a slave- 
 dealer's agent, and was now on his way towards becoming a 
 first-class trader ; that is to say, he was a consummate rascal 
 under the guise of an honest man. He it was whom Cameron 
 met at the end of 1874 at Kilemba, the capital of Urua, of 
 which Kasongo is chief, and with whose caravan he travelled 
 to Eihd, a distance of seven hundred miles. 
 
 It was midday when the caravan entered Kazonnd(5. The 
 journey from the Coanza had lasted thirty-eight days, more 
 than five weeks of misery as great as was within human 
 power to endure. Amidst the noise of drums and coodoo- 
 horns the slaves were conducted to the market-place. The 
 soldiers of the caravan discharged their guns into the air, 
 and old Alvez's resident retinue responded with a similar 
 salute. The bandits, than which the soldiers were nothing 
 better, were delighted to meet again, and would celebrate 
 their return by a season of riot and excess. 
 
 The slaves, reduced to a total of about two hundred and 
 
282 DICK SANDS, THE I30Y CAPTAIN. 
 
 fifty, were many of them almost dead from exhaustion ; the 
 forks were removed from their necks, though the chains were 
 still retained, and the whole of them were driven into barracks 
 that were unfit even for cattle, to await (in company with 
 1 200 to 1500 other captives already there) the great market 
 which would be held two days hence. 
 
 The pagazis, after delivering their loads of ivory, would 
 only stay to receive their payment of a few yards of calico or 
 other stuff, and would then depart at once to join some other 
 caravan. 
 
 On being relieved from the forks which they had carried 
 for so many weary days, Tom and his companions heartily 
 wrung each other's hands, but they could not venture to utter 
 one word of mutual encouragement. The three younger 
 men, more full of life and vigour, had resisted the effects of 
 the fatigue, but poor old Tom was nearly exhausted, and 
 had the march been protracted for a few more days he must 
 have shared Nan's fate and been left behind, a prey to the 
 wild beasts. 
 
 Upon their arrival all four were packed into a narrow cell, 
 where some food was provided, and the door was immediately 
 locked upon them. 
 
 The chitoka was now almost deserted, and Dick Sands was 
 left there under the special charge of a havildar : he lost no 
 opportunity of peering into every hut in the hope of catching 
 a glimpse of Mrs. Weldon, who, if Hercules had not misin- 
 formed him, had come on hither just in front. 
 
 But he was very much perplexed. He could well under- 
 stand that Mrs. Weldon, if still a prisoner, would be kept 
 out of sight, but why Negoro and Harris did not appear to 
 triumph over him in his humiliation was quite a mystery to 
 him. It was likely enough that the presence of either one 
 or the ether of them would be the signal for himself to be 
 exposed to fresh indignity, or even to torture, but Dick would 
 have welcomed the sight of them at Kazonnde, were it only 
 as an indication that Mrs. Weldon and Jack were there also. 
 
KAZONNDE. 2Sj 
 
 It disappointed him, too, that Dingo did not come back. 
 Ever since the dog had brought him the first note, he had kept 
 an answer written ready to send to Hercules, imploring him to 
 look after Mrs. Weldon, and to keep him informed of every- 
 thing. He began to fear that the faithful creature must be 
 dead, perhaps perished in some attempt to reach himself ; it 
 was, however, quite possible that Hercules had taken the 
 clog in some other direction, hoping to gain some depot in the 
 interior. 
 
 But so thoroughly had Dick persuaded himself that 
 Mrs. Weldon had preceded him to Kazonnde that his disap- 
 pointment became more and more keen when he failed to 
 discover her. For a while he seemed to yield to despair, and 
 sat down sorrowful and sick at heart. 
 
 Suddenly a chorus of voices and trumpets broke upon his 
 ear ; he was startled into taking a new interest in what was 
 going on. 
 
 "Alvez! Alvez !'' was the cry again and again repeated 
 by the crowd. 
 
 Here, then, was the great man himself about to appear. 
 Was it not likely that Harris or Negoro might be with him ? 
 
 Dick stood erect and resolute, his eye vivid with expecta- 
 tion ; he felt all eagerness to stand face to face with his 
 betrayers ; boy as he was, he was equal to cope with them 
 both. 
 
 The kitanda, which came in sight at the end of the street, 
 was nothing more than a kind of hammock covered by a 
 faded and ragged curtain. An old negro stepped out of it. 
 His attendants greeted him with noisy acclamations. 
 
 This, then, was the great trader, Jose Antonio Alvez. 
 
 Immediately following him was his friend Coimbra, son of 
 the chief Coimbra of Bihe, and, according to Cameron, the 
 greatest blackguard in the province. This sworn ally of Alvez, 
 this organizer of his slave-raids, this commander, worthy of 
 his own horde of bandits, was utterly loathsome in his 
 appearance, his flesh was filthily dirty, his eyes were blood- 
 
234 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 shot, his skin yellow, and his long hair all dishevelled. He 
 had no other attire than a tattered shirt, a tunic made of grass, 
 and a battered straw hat, under which his countenance 
 appeared like that of some old hag. 
 
 Alvez himself, whose clothes were like those of an old Turk 
 the day after a carnival, was one degree more respectable in 
 appearance than his satellite, not that his looks spoke much 
 for the very highest class of African slave-dealers. To Dick's 
 great disappointment, neither Harris nor Negoro was among 
 his retinue. 
 
 Both Alvez and Coimbra shook hands with Ibn Hamish, 
 the leader of the caravan, and congratulated him on the suc- 
 cess of the expedition. Alvez made a grimace on being told 
 that half the slaves had died on the way, but on the whole 
 he seemed satisfied ; he could meet the demand that at 
 present existed, and would lose no time in bartering the new 
 arrival for ivory or haunas, copper in the shape of a St. 
 Andrew's cross, the form in which the metal is exported in 
 Central Africa. 
 
 After complimenting the havildars upon the way in which 
 they had done their work, the trader gave orders that the 
 porters should be paid and dismissed. The conversations 
 were carried on in a mixture of Portuguese and native 
 idioms, in which the African element abounded so largely 
 that a native of Lisbon would have been at a loss to under- 
 stand them. Dick, of course, could not comprehend what 
 was said, and it was only when he saw a havildar go 
 towards the cell in which Tom and the others were con- 
 fined, that he realized that the talk was about himself and 
 his party. 
 
 When the negroes were brought out, Dick came close up, 
 beine anxious to learn as much as he could of what was in 
 contemplation. The old trader's eyes seemed to brighten 
 as he glanced upon the three strapping young men who, he 
 knew, would soon be restored to their full strength by rest 
 and proper food. They at least would get a good price ; as 
 
KAZONNDE. 285 
 
 for poor old Tom, he was manifestly so broken clown by in- 
 firmity and age, that he would have no value in the market. 
 
 In a few words of broken English, which Alvez had picked 
 up from some of his agents, he ironically gave them all a 
 welcome. 
 
 " Glad to see you ! " he said, with a diabolical grin. 
 
 Tom knew what he meant, and drew himself up proudly. 
 
 " We are free men ! " he protested, " free citizens of the 
 United States ! " 
 
 " Yes, yes ! " replied Alvez, grinning, " you are Americans ; 
 very glad to see you ! " 
 
 " Very glad to see you ! " echoed Coimbra, and walking 
 up to Austin he felt his chest and shoulders, and they 
 proceeded to open his mouth in order to examine his teeth. 
 
 A blow from Austin's powerful fist sent the satellite stag- 
 gering backwards. 
 
 Some soldiers made a dash and seized the young negro, 
 evidently ready to make him pay dearly for his temerity ; 
 but Alvez was by no means willing to have any injury done 
 to his newly-acquired property, and called them off. He 
 hardly attempted to conceal his amusement at Coimbra's 
 discomfiture, although the blow had cost him one of his 
 front teeth. 
 
 After he had recovered somewhat from the shock, Coimbra 
 stood scowling at Austin, as if mentally vowing vengeance 
 on some future occasion. 
 
 Dick Sands was now himself brought forward in the cus- 
 tody of a havildar. It was clear that Alvez had been told 
 all about him, for after scanning him for a moment, he stam- 
 mered out in his broken English, — 
 
 " Ah ! ah ! the little Yankee ! " 
 
 " Yes,"' replied Dick ; " I see you know who I am. What 
 are you going to do with me and my friends ? " 
 
 " Yankee ! little Yankee ! " repeated the trader, who either 
 did not or would not comprehend the meaning of Dick's 
 question. 
 
286 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 Dick turned to Coimbra and made the same inquiry of 
 him ; in spite of his degraded features, now still farther dis- 
 figured by being swollen from the blow, it was easy to recog- 
 nize that he was not of native origin. He refused to answer 
 a word, and only stared again with the vicious glare oi 
 malevolence. 
 
 Meanwhile, Alvez had begun to talk to Ibn Hamish. 
 Dick felt sure that they intended to separate him from the 
 negroes, and accordingly took the opportunity of whispering 
 a few words to them. 
 
 " My friends, I have heard from Hercules. Dingo 
 brought me a note from him, tied round his neck. He says 
 Harris and Negoro have carried oft" Mrs. YVeldon, Jack, and 
 Mr. Benedict, fie did not know where. Have patience, 
 and we will find them yet." 
 
 "And where's Nan ?" muttered Tom, in a low voice. 
 
 "Dead," replied Dick, and was about to add more, when 
 a hand was laid upon his shoulder, and a voice that he knew 
 too well exclaimed, — 
 
 " Well, my young friend, how are you ? I am glad to see 
 you again." 
 
 He turned round quickly. Harris stood before him. 
 
 " Where is Mrs. Weldon ? " asked Dick impetuously. 
 
 '•'Ah, poor thing !" answered Harris, with an air of deep 
 commiseration. 
 
 " What ! is she dead ? ; ' Dick almost shrieked ; " where is 
 her child?" 
 
 " Poor little fellow ! " said Harris, in the same mournful 
 tone. 
 
 These insinuations, that those in whose welfare he was so 
 deeply interested had succumbed to the hardships of the 
 journey, awoke in Dick's mind a sudden and irresistible 
 desire for vengeance. Darting forwards he seized the cutlass 
 that Harris wore in his belt, and plunged it into his heart. 
 
 With a yell and a curse, the American fell dead at his 
 feet. 
 
MARKET-DAY. 287 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 MARKET-DAY. 
 
 So Sudden was Dick's action that it had been impossible to 
 parry his blow. Several of the natives rushed on him, and 
 in all likelihood would have struck him down upon the spot 
 had not Negoro arrived at that very moment. At a sign 
 from him the natives drew back, and proceeded to raise and 
 carry away Harris's corpse. 
 
 Alvez and Coimbra were urgent in their demand that 
 Dick should forthwith be punished by death, but Negoro 
 whispered to them that they would assuredly be the gainers 
 by delay, and they accordingly contented themselves with 
 ordering the youth to be placed under strict supervision. 
 
 This was the first time that Dick had set eyes upon Negoro 
 since he had left the coast ; nevertheless, so heart-broken 
 was he at the intelligence he had just received, that he did 
 not deign to address a word to the man whom he knew to 
 be the real author of all his misery. He cared not now what 
 became of him. 
 
 Loaded with chains, he was placed in the dungeon where 
 Alvez was accustomed to confine slaves who had been con- 
 demned to death for mutiny or violence. That he had no 
 communication with the outer world gave him no concern ; 
 he had avenged the death of those for whose safety he had 
 felt himself responsible, and could now calmly await the fate 
 which he could not doubt was in store for him ; he did not 
 dare to suppose that he had been temporarily spared other- 
 wise than that he might suffer the cruellest tortures that 
 
288 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 native ingenuity could devise. That the " Pilgrim's " cook 
 now held in his power the boy captain he so thoroughly 
 hated was warrant enough that the sternest possible 
 measure of vengeance would be exacted. 
 
 Two days later, the great market, the lakoni, commenced. 
 Although many of the principal traders were there from the 
 interior, it was by no means exclusively a slave-mart ; a 
 considerable proportion of the natives from the neighbour- 
 ing provinces assembled to dispose of the various products 
 of the country. 
 
 Quite early the great cliitoka of Kazonnde" was all alive 
 with a bustling concourse of little under five thousand people, 
 including the slaves of old Alvez, amongst whom were Tom 
 and his three partners in adversity — an item by no means 
 inconsiderable in the dealer's stock. 
 
 Accompanied by Coimbra, Alvez himself was one of the 
 first arrivals. He was going to sell his slaves in lots to be 
 conveyed in caravans into the interior. The dealers for the 
 most part consisted of half-breeds from Ujiji. the principal 
 market on Lake Tanganyika, whilst some of a superior class 
 were manifestly Arabs. 
 
 The natives that were assembled were of both sexes, and 
 of every variety of age, the women in particular displaying 
 an aptitude in making bargains that is shared by their sisters 
 elsewhere of a lighter hue ; and it may be said that no 
 market of the most civilized region could be characterized by 
 greater excitement or animation, for amongst the savages of 
 Africa the customer makes his offer in equally noisy terms 
 as the vendor. 
 
 The lakoni was always considered a kind of fete-day ; 
 consequently the natives of both sexes, though their clothing 
 was scanty in extent, made a point of appearing in a most 
 lavish display of ornaments. Their head-gear was most 
 remarkable. The men had their hair arranged in every 
 variety of eccentric device ; some had it divided into four 
 parts, rolled over cushions and fastened into a chignon, or 
 
MARKET-DAY. 289 
 
 mounted in front into a bunch of tails adorned with red 
 feathers ; others plastered it thickly with a mixture of red 
 mud and oil similar to that used for greasing machinery, and 
 formed it into cones or lumps, into which they inserted a 
 medley of iron pins and ivory skewers ; whilst the greatest 
 dandies had a glass bead threaded upon every single hair, 
 the whole being fastened together by a tattooing-knife driven 
 through the glittering mass. 
 
 As a general rule, the women preferred dressing their 
 hair in little tufts about the size of a cherry, arranging it 
 into the shape of a cap, with corkscrew ringlets on each 
 side of the face. Some wore it simply hanging down their 
 backs, others in French fashion, with a fringe across the 
 forehead ; but every coiffure, without exception, was daubed 
 and caked either with the mixture of mud and grease, or 
 with a bright red extract of sandal-wood called nkola. 
 
 But it was not only on their heads that they made this 
 extraordinary display of ornaments ; the lobes of their ears 
 were loaded till they reached their shoulders with a profusion 
 of wooden pegs, open-work copper rings, grains of maize, or 
 little gourds, which served the purpose of snuff-boxes ; their 
 necks, arms, wrists, legs, and ankles were a perfect mass of 
 brass and copper rings, or sometimes were covered with a lot 
 of bright buttons. Rows of red beads, called satnes-sames, or 
 talakas, seemed also very popular. As they had no pockets, 
 they attached their knives, pipes and other articles to various 
 parts of their body ; so that altogether, in their holiday attire, 
 the rich men of the district might not inappropriately be 
 compared to walking shrines. 
 
 With their teeth they had all played the strangest of 
 vagaries ; the upper and lower incisors had generally been 
 extracted, and the others had been filed to points or carved 
 into hooks, like the fangs of a rattlesnake. Their finger- 
 nails were allowed to grow to such an immoderate length as 
 to render the hands well-nigh useless, and their swarthy 
 skins were tattooed with figures of trees, birds, crescents and 
 
 PART 11. T 
 
290 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 discs, or, not unfrequently, with those zigzag lines which 
 Livingstone thinks he recognizes as resembling those ob- 
 served in ancient Egyptian drawings. The tattooing is 
 effected by means of a blue substance inserted into incisions 
 previously made in the skin. Every child is tattooed in 
 precisely the same pattern as his father before him, and thus 
 it may always be ascertained to what family he belongs. 
 Instead of carrying his armorial bearings upon his plate or 
 upon the panels of his carriage, the African magnate wears 
 them emblazoned on his own bosom ! 
 
 The garments that were usually worn were simply aprons 
 of antelope-skins descending to the knees, but occasionally 
 a short petticoat might be seen made of woven grass and 
 dyed with bright colours. The ladies not unfrequently 
 wore girdles of beads attached to green skirts embroidered 
 with silk and ornamented with bits of glass or cowries, or 
 sometimes the skirts were made of the grass cloth called 
 lambda, which, in blue, yellow, or black, is so much valued 
 by the people of Zanzibar. 
 
 Garments of these pretensions, however, always indicated 
 that the wearers belonged to the upper classes ; the lower 
 orders, such as the smaller dealers, as well as the slaves, had 
 hardly any clothes at all. 
 
 The women commonly acted as porters, and arrived at 
 the market with huge baskets on their backs, which they 
 secured by means of straps passed across the forehead. 
 Having deposited their loads upon the chitoka, they turned 
 out their goods, and then seated themselves inside the 
 empty baskets. 
 
 As the result of the extreme fertility of the country all 
 the articles offered for sale were of a first-rate quality. 
 There were large stores of rice, which had been grown at a 
 profit a hundred times as great as the cost, and maize 
 which, producing three crops in eight months, yielded a 
 profit as large again as the rice. There were also sesame, 
 Urua pepper stronger than Cayenne, manioc, nutmegs, salt, 
 
MARKET-DAY. 29I 
 
 and palm-oil. In the market, too, were hundreds of goats, 
 pigs and sheep, evidently of a Tartar breed, with hair 
 instead of wool ; and there was a good supply of fish and 
 poultry. Besides all these there was an attractive display 
 of bright-coloured pottery, the designs of which were very 
 symmetrical. 
 
 In shrill, squeaky voices, children were crying several 
 varieties of native drinks ; banana-wine, fiombi, which, what- 
 ever it was, seemed to be in great demand ; malofoo, a kind 
 of beer compounded of bananas, and mead, a mixture of 
 honey and water, fermented with malt. 
 
 But the most prominent feature in the whole market was 
 the traffic in stuffs and ivory. The pieces could be counted 
 by thousands of the unbleached merikani from Salem in 
 Massachusetts, of the blue cotton, kam'ki, thirty-four inches 
 wide, and of the checked so/iari, blue and black with its 
 scarlet border. More expensive than these were lots of silk 
 diulis, with red, green, or yellow grounds, which are sold in 
 lengths of three yards, at prices varying from seven dollars 
 to eighty, when they are interwoven with gold. 
 
 The ivory had come from well-nigh every part of Central 
 Africa, and was destined for Khartoom, Zanzibar, and 
 Natal, many of the merchants dealing in this commodity 
 exclusively. 
 
 How vast a number of elephants must be slaughtered to 
 supply this ivory may be imagined when it is remembered 
 that over 200 tons, that is, 1,125,000 lbs , are exported 
 annually to Europe. Of this, much the larger share goes 
 to England, where the Sheffield cutlery consumes about 
 382,500 lbs. From the West Coast of Africa alone the 
 produce is nearly 140 tons. 
 
 The average weight of a pair of tusks is 28 lbs., and the 
 ordinary value of these in 1874 would be about 60/. ; but 
 here in Kazonnde 1 were some weighing, no less than 165 lbs., 
 of that soft, translucent quality which retains its whiteness 
 far better than the ivory from other sources. 
 
 T 2 
 
292 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 As already mentioned, slaves are not unfrequently used 
 as current money amongst the African traders, but the 
 natives themselves usually pay for their goods with Venetian 
 glass beads, of which the chalk-white are called catchokolos, 
 the black bubulus, and the red sikunder etches. Strung in 
 ten rows, or khetes, these beads are twisted twice round the 
 neck, forming what is called a foondo, which is always 
 reckoned of considerable value. The usual measure by 
 which they are sold is the frasilah, containing a weight of 
 about 70 lbs. Livingstone, Cameron and Stanley always 
 took care to be well provided with this kind of currency. 
 In default of beads, the pice', a Zanzibar coin worth some- 
 thing more than a farthing, and vioongooas, shells peculiar 
 to the East Coast, are recognized as a medium of exchange 
 in the market. Amongst the cannibal tribes a certain value 
 is attached to human teeth, and at the lakoni some natives 
 might be seen wearing strings of teeth, the owners of which 
 they had probably, at some previous time, devoured. This 
 species of currency, however, was falling rapidly into disuse. 
 
 Towards the middle of the day the excitement of the 
 market reached its highest pitch, and the uproar became 
 perfectly deafening. The voices of the eager sellers mingled 
 with those of indignant and overcharged customers ; fights 
 were numerous, and as there was an utter absence of any 
 kind of police, no effort was made to restore peace or order 
 amongst the unruly crowd. 
 
 It was just noon when Alvez gave orders that the slaves 
 he wished to dispose of should be placed on view. There- 
 upon nearly two thousand unfortunates were brought 
 forward, many of whom had been confined in the dealer's 
 barracks for several months. Most of the stock, however, 
 had been so carefully attended to that they were in good 
 condition, and it was only the last batch that looked as if 
 they would be improved by another month's rest ; but as 
 the demand upon the East Coast was now very large, 
 Alvez hoped to get a good price for all, and determined to 
 
MARKET-DAY. 293 
 
 part with even the last arrivals for whatever sum he could 
 obtain. 
 
 Amongst these latter, whom the havildars drove like a 
 herd of cattle into the middle of the chitoka, were Tom 
 and his three friends. They were closely chained, and rage 
 and shame were depicted in their countenances. 
 
 Bat passed a quick and scrutinizing gaze around him, 
 and said to the others, — 
 
 " I do not see Mr. Dick." 
 
 Tom answered mournfully, — 
 
 " Mr. Dick will be killed, if he is not dead already. 
 Our only hope is that we may now all be bought in one 
 lot ; it will be a consolation to us if we can be all together." 
 
 Tears rose to Bat's eyes as he thought of how his poor 
 old father was likely to be sold, and carried away to wear 
 out his days as a common slave. 
 
 The sale now commenced. The agents of Alvez pro- 
 ceeded to divide the slaves, men, women, and children, into 
 lots, treating them in no respect better than beasts in a 
 cattle-market. Tom and the others were paraded about 
 from customer to customer, an agent accompanying them 
 to proclaim the price demanded. Strong, intelligent-looking 
 Americans, quite different to the miserable creatures 
 brought from the banks of the Zambesi and Lualaba, they 
 at once attracted the observation of the Arab and half- 
 breed dealers. Just as though they were examining a horse, 
 the buyers felt their limbs, turned them round and round, 
 looked at their teeth, and finally tested their paces by 
 throwing a stick to a distance and making them run to 
 fetch it. 
 
 All the slaves were subjected to similar humiliations ; 
 and all alike, except the very young children, seemed deeply 
 sensible of their degradation. The cruelty exhibited to- 
 wards them was very vile. Coimbra, who was half drunk, 
 treated them with the utmost brutality ; not' that they had 
 any reason to expect any gentler dealings at the hands of 
 
294 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 the new masters who might purchase them for ivory or any 
 other commodity. Children were torn away from their 
 parents, husbands from their wives, brothers from sisters, 
 and without even the indulgence of a parting word, were 
 separated never to meet again'. 
 
 The scenes that occur at such markets as this at Kazonnde" 
 are too heartrending to be described in detail. 
 
 It is one of the peculiar requirements of the slave-trade 
 that the two sexes should have an entirely different desti- 
 nation. In fact, the dealers who purchase men never 
 purchase women. The women, who are required to supply 
 the Mussulman harems, are sent principally to Arab 
 districts to be exchanged for ivory ; whilst the men, who are 
 to be put to hard labour, are despatched to the coast, East 
 and West, whence they are exported to the Spanish colonies, 
 or to the markets of Muscat or Madagascar. 
 
 To Tom and his friends the prospect of being transported 
 to a slave colony was far better than that of being retained 
 in some Central African province, where they could have 
 no chance of regaining their liberty ; and the moment, to 
 them, was accordingly one of great suspense. 
 
 Altogether, things turned out for them better than they 
 dared anticipate. They had at least the satisfaction of 
 finding that as yet they were not to be separated. Alvez, 
 of course, had taken good care to conceal the origin of 
 this exceptional lot, and their own ignorance of the language 
 thoroughly prevented them from communicating it ; but 
 the anxiety to secure so valuable a property rendered the 
 competition for it very keen ; the bidding rose higher and 
 higher, until at length the four men were knocked down to 
 a rich Arab dealer, who purposed in the course of a few days 
 to take them to Lake Tanganyika, and thence to one of the 
 depots of Zanzibar. 
 
 This journey, it is true, would be for 1500 miles across 
 the most unhealthy parts of Central Africa, through districts 
 harassed by internal wars ; and it seemed improbable that 
 
MARKET-DAY. 295 
 
 Tom could survive the hardships he must meet ; like poor 
 old Nan, he would succumb to fatigue ; but the brave fellows 
 did not suffer themselves to fear the future, they were only 
 too happy to be still together ; and the chain that bound 
 them one to another was felt to be easier and lighter to 
 bear. 
 
 Their new master knew that it was for his own interest 
 that his purchase should be well taken care of; he looked 
 to make a substantial profit at Zanzibar, and sent them off 
 at once to his own private barracks ; consequently they saw 
 no more of what transpired at Kazonnde'. 
 
296 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 A BOWL OF PUNCH. 
 
 The afternoon was passing away, and it was now past four 
 o'clock, when the sound of drums, cymbals, and a variety of 
 native instruments was heard at the end of the main thorough- 
 fare. The market was still going on with the same animation 
 as before ; half a day's screeching and fighting seemed neither 
 to have wearied the voices nor broken the limbs of the 
 demoniacal traffickers; there was a considerable number of 
 slaves still to be disposed of, and the dealers were haggling 
 over the remaining lots with an excitement of which a sudden 
 panic on the London Stock Exchange could give a very 
 inadequate conception. 
 
 But the discordant concert which suddenly broke upon 
 the ear was the signal for business to be at once suspended. 
 The crowd might cease its uproar, and recover its breath. 
 The King of Kazoftnde, Moene" Loonga, was about to honour 
 the lakoiii with a visit. 
 
 Attended by a large retinue of wives, officers, soldiers, and 
 slaves, the monarch was conveyed to the middle of the 
 market-place in an old palanquin, from which he was obliged 
 to have five or six people to help him to descend. Alvez 
 and the other traders advanced to meet him with the most 
 exaggerated gestures of reverence, all of which he received 
 as his rightful homage. 
 
 He was a man of fifty years of age, but might easily have 
 
The potentate beneath whose sway the country trembled for a hundred miles 
 
 round. 
 
A BOWL OF PUNCH. 299 
 
 passed for eighty. *He looked like an old, decrepit monkey. 
 On his head was a kind of tiara, adorned with leopards 
 claws dyed red, and tufts of greyish-white hair ; this was the 
 usual crown of the sovereigns of Kazonnde, from his waist 
 hung two skirts of coodoo-hide, stiff as blacksmiths' aprons, 
 and embroidered with pearls. The tattooings on his breast 
 were so numerous that his pedigree, which they declared, 
 might seem to reach back to time immemorial. His wrists 
 and arms were encased in copper bracelets, thickly encrusted 
 with beads ; he wore a pair of top-boots, a present from 
 Alvez some twenty years ago ; in his left hand he carried a 
 great stick surmounted by a silver knob ; in his right a fly- 
 flapper with a handle studded with pearls ; over his head 
 was carried an old umbrella with as many patches as a 
 Harlequin's coat, whilst from his neck hung Cousin Benedict's 
 magnifying-glass, and on his nose were the spectacles which 
 had been stolen from Bat's pocket. 
 
 Such was the appearance of the potentate beneath whose 
 sway the country trembled for a hundred miles round. 
 
 By virtue of his sovereignty Moene' Loonga claimed to be 
 of celestial origin ; and any subject who should have the 
 audacity to raise a question on this point would have been 
 despatched forthwith to another world. All his actions, his 
 eating and drinking, were supposed to be performed by 
 divine impulse. He certainly drank like no other mortal ; 
 his officers and ministers, confirmed tipplers as they were, 
 appeared sober men in comparison with himself, and he 
 seemed never to be doing anything but imbibing strong 
 pombe, and over-proof spirit with which Alvez kept him 
 liberally supplied. 
 
 In his harem Moene Loonga had wives of all ages from 
 forty to fourteen, most of whom accompanied him on his 
 visit to the lakoni. Moena, the chief wife, who was called 
 the queen, was the eldest of them all, and, like the rest, was 
 of royal blood. She was a vixenish-looking woman, very 
 
300 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 gaily attired ; she wore a kind of bright tartan over a skirt of 
 woven grass, embroidered with pearls ; round her throat was 
 a profusion of necklaces, and her hair was mounted up in 
 tiers that toppled high above her head, making her resemble 
 some hideous monster. The younger wives, all of them 
 sisters or cousins of the king, were less elaborately dressed. 
 They walked behind her, ready at the slightest sign to per- 
 form the most menial services. Did his Majesty wish to sit 
 down, two of them would immediately stoop to the ground 
 and form a seat with their bodies, whilst others would have 
 to lie down and support his feet upon their backs : a throne 
 and footstool of living ebony. 
 
 Amidst the staggering, half-tipsy crowd of ministers, 
 officers, and magicians that composed Moene Loonga's suite, 
 there was hardly a man to be seen who had not lost either 
 an eye, an ear, or hand, or nose. Death and mutilation were 
 the only two punishments practised in Kazonnde, and the 
 slightest offence involved the instant amputation of some 
 member of the body. The loss of the ear was considered the 
 severest penalty, as it prevented the possibility of wearing 
 earrings ! 
 
 The governors of districts, or kilolos, whether hereditary 
 or appointed for four years, were distinguished by red waist- 
 coats and zebra-skin caps; in their hands they brandished 
 long rattan j, coated at one extremity with a varnish of magic 
 drugs. 
 
 The weapons carried by the soldiers consisted of wooden 
 bows adorned with fringes and provided with a spare bow- 
 string, knives filed into the shape of serpents' tongues, long, 
 broad lances, and shields of palm wood, ornamented with 
 arabesques. In the matter of uniform, the royal army had 
 no demands to make upon the royal treasury. 
 
 Amongst the attendants of the king there was a consider- 
 able number of sorcerers and musicians. The sorcerers, or 
 mga?iga, were practically the physicians of the court, the 
 
A BOWL OF PUNCH. 301 
 
 savages having the most implicit faith in divinations and 
 incantations of every kind, and employing fetishes, clay of 
 wooden figures, representing sometimes ordinary human 
 beings, and sometimes fantastic animals. Like the rest of 
 the retinue, these magicians were, for the most part, more or 
 less mutilated, an indication that some of their prescriptions 
 on behalf of the king had failed of success. 
 
 The musicians were of both sexes, some performing on 
 shrill rattles, some on huge drums, whilst others played on 
 instruments called marimbas, a kind of dulcimer made of 
 two rows of different-sized gourds fastened in a frame, and 
 struck by sticks with india-rubber balls at the end. To any 
 but native ears the music was perfectly deafening. 
 
 Several flags and banners were carried in the procession, 
 and amongst these was mixed up a number of long pikes, 
 upon which were stuck the skulls of the various chiefs that 
 Moene' Loonga had conquered in battle. 
 
 As the king was helped out of his palanquin, the acclama- 
 tions rose higher and higher from every quarter of the 
 market-place. The soldiers attached to the caravans fired 
 off their old guns, though the reports were almost too feeble 
 to be heard above the noisy vociferations of the crowd ; and 
 the havildars rubbed their black noses with cinnabar 
 powder, which they carried in bags, and prostrated them- 
 selves. Alvez advanced and presented the king with some 
 fresh tobacco, " the appeasing herb," as it is called in the 
 native dialect ; and certainly Moene* Loonga seemed to 
 require some appeasing, as, for some unknown reason, he 
 was in a thoroughly bad temper. 
 
 Coimbra, Ibn Hamish and the dealers all came forward 
 to pay their court to the monarch, the Arabs greeting him 
 with the cry of marhaba, or welcome ; others clapped their 
 hands and bowed to the very ground; while some even 
 smeared themselves with mud, in token of their most servile 
 subjection. 
 
302 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 But Moene" Loonga scarcely took notice of any of them ; 
 he went staggering along, rolling like a ship upon a stormy 
 sea, and made his way past the crowds of slaves, each of 
 whom, no less than their masters, trembled lest he should 
 think fit to claim them for his own. 
 
 Negoro, who kept close at Alvez' side, did not fail to 
 render his homage along with the rest. Alvez and the king 
 were carrying on a conversation in the native language, if 
 that could be called a conversation in which Moend Loonga 
 merely jerked out a few monosyllables from his inflamed 
 and swollen lips. He was asking Alvez to replenish his 
 stock of brandy. 
 
 " We are proud to welcome your majesty at the market of 
 KazonndeV' Alvez was saying. 
 
 " Get me brandy," was all the drunken king's reply. 
 
 " Will it please your majesty to take part in the business 
 of the lakoni ? v Alvez tried to ask. 
 
 " Drink !" blurted out the king, impatiently. 
 
 Alvez continued, — ■ 
 
 " My friend Negoro here is anxious to greet your majesty 
 after his long absence." 
 
 " Drink ! " roared the monarch again. 
 
 " Will the king take pombe or mead ? " asked Alvez, at last 
 obliged to take notice of the demand. 
 
 " Brandy ! give me fire-water ! " yelled the king, in a fury. 
 " For every drop you shall have — " 
 
 "A drop of a white man's blood!" suggested Negoro 
 glancing at Alvez. 
 
 " Yes, yes ; kill a white man," assented Moene* Loonga, 
 his ferocious instincts all aroused by the proposition. 
 
 " There is a white man here," said Alvez, " who has killed 
 my agent. He must be punished for his act." 
 
 " Send him to King Masongo ! " cried the king ; " Ma- 
 songo and the Assuas will cut him up and eat him alive." 
 Only too true it is that cannibalism is still openly practised 
 
A BOWL OF PUNCH. 303 
 
 in certain provinces of Central Africa. Livingstone records 
 that the Manyucmas not only eat men killed in war, but 
 even buy slaves for that purpose ; it is said to be the avowal 
 of these Manyucmas that " human flesh is slightly salt, and 
 requires no seasoning.'' Cameron relates how in the domi- 
 nions of Moend Booga dead bodies were soaked for a few days 
 in running water as a preparation for their being devoured ; 
 and Stanley found traces of a widely-spread cannibalism 
 amongst the inhabitants of Ukusu. 
 
 But however horrible might be the manner of death pro- 
 posed by Moene' Loonga, it did not at all suit Negoro's 
 purpose to let Dick Sands out of his clutches. 
 
 "The white man is here," he said to the king; "it is 
 here he has committed his offence, and here he should be 
 punished." 
 
 "If you will," replied Moend Loonga ! "only I must have 
 fire-water ; a drop of fire-water for every drop of the white 
 man's blood." 
 
 " Yes, you shall have the fire-water," assented Alvez, " and 
 what is more, you shall have it all alight. We will give your 
 majesty a bowl of blazing punch." 
 
 The thought had struck Alvez, and he was himself de- 
 lighted with the idea, that he would set the spirit in flames. 
 Moene Loonga had complained that the "fire-water" did 
 not justify its name as it ought, and Alvez hoped that perhaps, 
 administered in this new form, it might revivify the 
 deadened membranes of the palate of the king. 
 
 Moene" Loonga did not conceal his satisfaction. Wives 
 and courtiers alike were full of anticipation. They had all 
 drunk brandy, but they had not drunk brandy alight. And 
 not only was their thirst for alcohol to be satisfied ; their 
 thirst for blood was likewise to be indulged ; and when it 
 is remembered how, even amongst the civilized, drunken- 
 ness reduces a man below the level of a brute, it may be 
 imagined to what barbarous cruelties Dick Sands was 
 
304 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 likely to be exposed. The idea of torturing a white 
 man was not altogether repugnant to the coloured blood 
 of either Alvez or Coimbra, while with Negoro the spirit of 
 vengeance had completely over powered all feeling of com- 
 punction. 
 
 Night, without any intervening twilight, was soon drawing 
 on, and the contemplated display could hardly fail to be 
 effective. The programme for the evening consisted of two 
 parts ; first, the blazing punch-bowl ; then the torture, 
 culminating in an execution. 
 
 The destined victim was still closely confined in his dark 
 and dreary dungeon ; all the slaves, whether sold or not, had 
 been driven back to the barracks, and the chitoka was cleared 
 of every one except the slave-dealers, the havildars, and the 
 soldiers, who hoped, by favour of the king, to have a share 
 of the flaming punch. 
 
 Alvez did not long delay the proceedings. He ordered a 
 huge caldron, capable of containing more than twenty gallons, 
 to be placed in the centre of the market-place. Into this 
 were emptied several casks of highly-rectified spirit, of a 
 very inferior quality, to which was added a supply of cin- 
 namon and other spices, no ingredient being omitted 
 which was likely to give a pungency to suit the savage 
 palate. 
 
 The whole royal retinue formed a circle round the king. 
 Fascinated by the sight of the spirit, Moene' Loonga 
 came reeling up to the edge of the punch-bowl, and seemed 
 ready to plunge himself head foremost into it. Alvez 
 held him back, at the same time placing a lucifer in his 
 hand. 
 
 " Set it alight ! " cried the slave-dealer, grinning slily as he 
 spoke. 
 
 The king applied the match to the surface of the spirit. 
 The effect was instantaneous. High above the edge of the 
 bowl the blue flame rose and curled. To give intensity to 
 
A BOWL OF PUNCH. 305 
 
 the process Alvez had added a sprinkling of salt to the 
 mixture, and this caused the fire to cast upon the faces of all 
 around that lurid glare which is generally associated with 
 apparitions of ghosts and phantoms. Half intoxicated 
 already, the negroes yelled and gesticulated ; and joining 
 hands, they performed a fiendish dance around their 
 monarch. Alvez stood and stirred the spirit with an enor- 
 mous metal ladle, attached to a pole, and as the flames rose 
 yet higher and higher they seemed to throw a more and more 
 unearthly glamour over the ape-like forms that circled in their 
 wild career. 
 
 Moend Loonga, in his eagerness, soon seized the ladle 
 from the slave-dealer's hands, plunged it deep into the bowl, 
 and bringing it up again full of the blazing punch, raised it 
 to his lips. 
 
 A horrible shriek brought the dancers to a sudden stand- 
 still. By a kind of spontaneous combustion, the king had 
 taken fire internally ; though it was a fire that emitted little 
 heat, it was none the less intense and consuming. In an 
 instant one of the ministers in attendance ran to the king's 
 assistance, but he, almost as much alcoholized as his master, 
 caught fire as well, and soon both monarch and minister lay 
 writhing on the ground in unutterable agony. Not a soul 
 was able to lend a helping hand. Alvez and Negoro were 
 at a loss what to do ; the courtiers dared not expose 
 themselves to so terrible a fate ; the women had all fled 
 in alarm, and Coimbra, awakened to the conviction 
 of the inflammability of his own condition, had rapidly 
 decamped. 
 
 To say the truth, it was impossible to do anything : water 
 would have proved unavailing to quench the pale blue flame 
 that hovered over the prostrate forms, every tissue of which 
 Jiwas so thoroughly impregnated with spirit, that combustion, 
 though outwardly extinguished, would continue its work 
 internally. 
 
 PART II. U 
 
306 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 In a few minutes life was extinct, but the bodies continued 
 long afterwards to burn ; until, upon the spot where they had 
 fallen, a few light ashes, some fragments of the spinal 
 column, some fingers and some toes, covered with a thin 
 layer of stinking soot, were all that remained of the King of 
 Kazonndc and his ill-fated minister. 
 
ROYAL OBSEQUIES. 307 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 ROYAL OBSEQUIES. 
 
 On the following morning the town of Kazonnde* presented 
 an aspect of unwonted desolation. Awe-struck at the event 
 of the previous evening, the natives had all shut themselves 
 up in their huts. That a monarch who was to be assumed 
 as of divine origin should perish with one of his ministers by 
 so horrible a death was a thing wholly unparalleled in their 
 experience. Some of the elder part of the community 
 remembered having taken part in certain cannibal prepara- 
 tions, and were aware that the cremation of a human body 
 is no easy matter, yet here was a case in which two men 
 had been all but utterly consumed without any extraneous 
 application. Here was a mystery that baffled all their 
 comprehension. 
 
 Old Alvez had also retired to the seclusion of his own 
 residence ; having been warned by Negoro that he would 
 probably be held responsible for the occurrence, he deemed 
 it prudent to keep in retirement. Meanwhile Negoro 
 industriously circulated the report that the king's death had 
 been brought about by supernatural means reserved by the 
 great Manitoo solely for his elect, and that it was sacred 
 fire that had proceeded from his body. The superstitious 
 natives readily received this version of the affair, and at once 
 proceeded to honour Moene - Loonga with funeral rites worthy 
 of one thus conspicuously elevated to the rank of the gods. 
 The ceremony (which entailed an expenditure of human 
 
 U 2 
 
308 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 blood incredible except that it is authenticated by Cameron 
 and other African travellers) was just the opportunity that 
 Negoro required for carrying out his designs against Dick, 
 whom he intended to take a prominent part in it. 
 
 The natural successor to the king was the queen Moena. 
 By inaugurating the funeral without delay and thus assuming 
 the semblance of authority, she forestalled the King of Ukusu 
 or any other rival who might venture to dispute her 
 sovereignty ; and moreover, by taking the reins of government 
 into her hands she avoided the fate reserved for the other 
 wives who, had they been allowed to live, might prove 
 somewhat troublesome to the shrew. Accordingly, with the 
 sound of coodoo horns and marimbas, she caused a procla- 
 mation to be made in the various quarters of the town, that 
 the obsequies of the deceased monarch would be celebrated 
 on the next evening with all due solemnity. 
 
 The announcement met with no opposition either from 
 the officials about the court or from the public at large. 
 Alvez and the traders generally were quite satisfied with 
 Moena's assumption of the supremacy, knowing that by a few 
 presents and a little flattery they could make her sufficiently 
 considerate for their own interests. 
 
 Preparations began at once. At the end of the chief 
 thoroughfare flowed a deep and rapid brook, an affluent of the 
 Coango, in the dry bed of which the royal grave was to be 
 formed. Natives were immediately set to work to construct 
 a dam by means of which the water should be diverted, until 
 the burial was over, into a temporary channel across the 
 plain ; the last act in the ceremonial being to undam the 
 stream and allow it to resume its proper course. 
 
 Negoro had formed the resolution that Dick Sands should 
 be one of the victims to be sacrificed upon the king's tomb. 
 Thoroughly aware as he was that the indignation which had 
 caused the death of Harris extended in at least an equal 
 degree to himself, the cowardly rascal would not have 
 ventured to approach Dick under similar circumstances at 
 
ROYAL OBSEQUIES. 309 
 
 the risk of meeting a similar fate ; but knowing him to be a 
 prisoner bound hand and foot, from whom there could be 
 nothing to fear, he resolved to go to him in his dungeon. 
 Not only did he delight in torturing his victims, but he 
 derived an especial gratification from witnessing the torture. 
 
 About the middle of the day, accordingly, he made his 
 way to the cell where Dick was detained under the strict 
 watch of a havildar. There, bound with fetters that 
 penetrated his very flesh, lay the poor boy ; for the last four 
 and twenty hours he had not been allowed a morsel of food, 
 and would gladly have faced the most painful death as a 
 welcome relief to his miseries. 
 
 But at the sight of Negoro all his energy revived ; in- 
 stinctively he made an effort to burst his bonds, and to get a 
 hold upon his persecutor ; but the strength of a giant would 
 have been utterly unavailing for such a design. Dick felt 
 that the struggle he had to make was of another kind, and 
 forcing himself to an apparent composure, he determined to 
 look Negoro straight in the face, but to vouchsafe no reply to 
 anything he might say. 
 
 " I felt bound," Negoro began, " to come and pay my 
 respects to my young captain, and to tell him how sorry I am 
 that he has not the same authority here that he had on board 
 the 'Pilgrim."' 
 
 Finding that Dick returned no answer, he continued, — 
 
 '' You remember your old cook, captain : I have come to 
 know what you would like to order for your breakfast." 
 
 Here he paused to give a brutal kick at Dick's foot, and 
 went on, — 
 
 " I have also another question to ask you, captain ; can 
 you tell me how it was that you landed here in Angola 
 instead of upon the coast of America ? " 
 
 The way in which the question was put more than ever 
 confirmed Dick's impression that the " Pilgrim's" course had 
 been altered by Negoro, but he persevered in maintaining a 
 contemptuous silence. 
 
310 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 " It was a lucky thing for you, captain," resumed the 
 vindictive Portuguese, "that you had a good seaman on 
 board, otherwise the ship would have run aground on some 
 reef in the tempest, instead of coming ashore here in a 
 friendly port." 
 
 Whilst he was speaking, Negoro had gradually drawn 
 nearer to the prisoner, until their faces were almost in con- 
 tact. Exasperated by Dick's calmness, his countenance 
 assumed an expression of the utmost ferocity, and at last he 
 burst forth in a paroxysm of rage. 
 
 " It is my turn now ! I am master now. ! I am captain 
 here ! You are in my power now ! Your life is in my 
 hands ! " 
 
 "Take it, then,'' said Dick quietly ; " death has no terrors 
 for me, and your wickedness will soon be avenged." 
 
 " Avenged ! " roared Negoro ; " do you suppose there is 
 a single soul to care about you ? Avenged ! who will con- 
 cern himself with what befalls you ? except Alvez and me, 
 there is no one with a shadow of authority here ; if you 
 think you are going to get any help from old Tom or any of 
 those niggers, let me tell you that they are every one of them 
 sold and have been sent off to Zanzibar." 
 
 u Hercules is free," said Dick. 
 
 " Hercules !'' sneered Negoro ; " he has been food for lions 
 and panthers long ago. I am only sorry that I did not get 
 the chance of disposing of him myself." 
 
 iC And there is Dingo," calmly persisted Dick; "sure as 
 fate, he will find you out some day." 
 
 "Dingo is dead !" retorted Negoro with malicious glee : 
 " I shot the brute myself, and I should be glad if every 
 survivor of the ' Pilgrim' had shared his fate." 
 
 " But remember," said Dick, " you have to follow them all 
 yourself;" and he fixed a sharp gaze upon his persecutor's 
 eye. 
 
 The Portuguese villain was stung to the quick ; he made 
 a dash towards the youth, and would have strangled him 
 
ROYAL OBSEQUIES. 31I 
 
 upon the spot, but remembering that any such sudden 
 action would be to liberate him from the torture he was 
 determined he should undergo, he controlled his rage, and 
 after giving strict orders to the havildar, who had been a 
 passive spectator of the scene, to keep a careful watch upon 
 his charge, he left the dungeon. 
 
 So far from depressing Dick's spirits, the interview had 
 altogether a contrary effect ; his feelings had undergone a 
 reaction, so that all his energies were restored. Possibly 
 Negoro in his sudden assault had unintentionally loosened 
 his fetters, for he certainly seemed to have greater play for 
 his limbs, and fancied that by a slight effort he might suc- 
 ceed in disengaging his arms. Even that amount of freedom, 
 however, he knew could be of no real avail to him ; he was 
 a closely-guarded prisoner, without hope of succour from 
 without ; and now he had no other wish than cheerfully to 
 meet the death that should unite him to the friends who had 
 gone before. 
 
 The hours passed on. The gleams of daylight that 
 penetrated the thatched roof of the prison gradually faded 
 into darkness ; the few sounds on the chitoka, a great con- 
 trast to the hubbub of the day, became hushed into silence, 
 and night fell upon the town of Kazonnde. 
 
 Dick Sands slept soundly for about a couple of hours, 
 and woke up considerably refreshed. One of his arms, 
 which was somewhat less swollen than the other, he was 
 able to withdraw from its bonds ; it was at any rate a relief 
 to stretch it at his pleasure. 
 
 The havildar, grasping the neck of a brandy-bottle which 
 he had just drained, had sunk into a heavy slumber, and 
 Dick Sands was contemplating the possibility of getting 
 possession of his gaoler's weapons when his attention was 
 arrested by a scratching at the bottom of the door. By the 
 help of his liberated arm he contrived to crawl noiselessly 
 to the threshold, where the scratching increased in violence, 
 For a moment he was in doubt whether the noise proceeded 
 
312 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 from the movements of a man or an animal. He gave a 
 glance at the havildar, who was sound asleep, and placing 
 his lips against the door murmured " Hercules ! '' 
 
 A low whining was the sole reply. 
 
 " It must be Dingo," muttered Dick to himself; " Negoro 
 may have told me a lie ; perhaps, after all, the dog is not 
 dead." 
 
 As though in answer to his thoughts, a dog's paw was 
 pushed below the door. Dick seized it eagerly ; he had no 
 doubt it was Dingo's ; but if the dog brought a message, it 
 was sure to be tied to his neck, and there seemed to be no 
 means of getting at it, except the hole underneath could be 
 made large enough to admit the animal's head. Dick 
 determined to try and scrape away the soil at the threshold, 
 and commenced digging with his nails. But he had scarcely 
 set himself to his task when loud barkings, other than 
 Dingo's, were heard in the distance. The faithful creature 
 had been scented out by the native dogs, and instinct 
 dictated an immediate flight. Alarm had evidently been 
 taken, as several gun-shots were fired ; the havildar half 
 roused himself from his slumber, and Dick was fain to roll 
 himself once more into his corner, there to await the dawn 
 of the day which was intended to be his last. 
 
 Throughout that day, the grave-digging was carried on 
 with unremitted activity. A large number of the natives, 
 under the superintendence of the queen's prime minister, 
 were set to work, and according to the decree of Moena, 
 who seemed resolved to continue the rigorous sway of her 
 departed husband, were bound, under penalty of mutilation, 
 to accomplish their task within the prescribed time. 
 
 As soon as the stream had been diverted into its tempo- 
 rary channel, there was hollowed out in the dry river bed 
 a pit, fifty feet long, ten feet wide, and ten feet deep. This, 
 towards the close of the day, was lined throughout with 
 living women, selected from Moene' Loonga's slaves ; in 
 ordinary cases it would have been their fate to be buried 
 
ROYAL OBSEQUIES. 313 
 
 alive beside their master ; but in recognition of his miracu- 
 lous death it was ordained that they should be drowned 
 beside his remains. 1 
 
 Generally, the royal corpse is arrayed in its richest vest- 
 ments before being consigned to the tomb, but in this case, 
 when the remains consisted only of a few charred bones, 
 another plan was adopted. An image of the king, perhaps 
 rather flattering to the original, was made of wicker-work ; 
 inside this were placed the fragments of bones and skin, and 
 the effigy itself was then arrayed in the robes of state, which, 
 as already mentioned, were not of a very costly description. 
 Cousin Benedict's spectacles were not forgotten, but were 
 firmly affixed to the countenance of the image. The mas- 
 querade had its ludicrous as well as its terrible side. 
 
 When the evening arrived, a long procession was seen 
 wending its way to the place of interment ; the uproar was 
 perfectly deafening ; shouts, yells, the boisterous incanta- 
 tions of the musicians, the clang of musical instruments, 
 and the reports of many old muskets, mingled in wild con- 
 fusion. 
 
 The ceremony was to take place by torch-light, and the 
 whole population of Kazonnde', native and otherwise, was 
 bound to be present. Alvez, Coi'mbra, Negoro, the Arab 
 dealers and their havildars all helped to swell the numbers, 
 the queen having given express orders that no one who had 
 been at the lakoni should leave the town, and it was not 
 deemed prudent to disobey her commands. 
 
 The remains of the king were carried in a palanquin in 
 the rear of the cortege, surrounded by the wives of the second 
 class, some of whom were doomed to follow their master 
 beyond the tomb. Queen Moena, in state array, marched 
 behind the catafalque. 
 
 1 The horrible hecatombs that commemorate the death of any 
 powerful chief in Central Africa defy all description. Cameron 
 relates that more than a hundred victims were sacrificed at the 
 obsequies of the father of the King of Kassongo. 
 
314 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 Night was well advanced when the entire procession 
 reached the banks of the brook, but the resin-torches, waved 
 on high by their bearers, shed a ruddy glare upon the teeming 
 crowd. The grave, with its lining of living women, bound to 
 its side by chains, was plainly visible ; fifty slaves, some 
 resigned and mute, others uttering loud and piteous cries, 
 were there awaiting the moment when the rushing torrent 
 should be opened upon them. 
 
 The wives who were destined to perish had been selected 
 by the queen herself and were all in holiday attire. One 
 of the victims, who bore the title of second wife, was forced 
 down upon her hands and knees in the grave, in order to 
 form a resting-place for the effigy, as she had been accus- 
 tomed to do for the living sovereign ; the third wife had to 
 sustain the image in an upright position, and the fourth lay 
 down at its feet to make a footstool. 
 
 In front of the effigy, at the end of the grave, a huge stake, 
 painted red, was planted firmly in the earth. Bound to this 
 stake, his body half naked, exhibiting marks of the tortures 
 which by Negoro's orders he had already undergone, friend- 
 less and hopeless, was Dick Sands ! 
 
 The time, however, for opening the flood-gate had not yet 
 arrived. First of all, at a sign from the queen, the fourth 
 wife, forming the royal footstool, had her throat cut by an 
 executioner, her blood streaming into the grave. This 
 barbarous deed was the commencement of a most frightful 
 butchery. One after another, fifty slaves fell beneath the 
 slaughterous knife, until the river-bed was a very cataract 
 of blood. For half an hour the shrieks of the victims 
 mingled with the imprecations of their murderers, without 
 evoking one single expression of horror or sympathy from 
 the gazing crowd around. 
 
 At a second signal from the queen, the barrier, which 
 retained the water above, was opened. By a refinement of 
 cruelty the torrent was not admitted suddenly to the grave, 
 but allowed to trickle gradually in. 
 
ROYAL OBSEQUIES. 315 
 
 The first t6 be drowned were the slaves that carpeted 
 the bottom of the trench, their frightful struggles bearing 
 witness to the slow death that was overpowering them. 
 Dick was immersed to his knees, but he could be seen 
 making what might seem one last frantic effort to burst his 
 bonds. 
 
 Steadily rose the water ; the stream resumed its proper 
 course ; the last head disappeared beneath its surface, and 
 soon there remained nothing to indicate that in the depth 
 below there was a tomb where a hundred victims had been 
 sacrificed to the memory of the King of Kazonnde\ 
 
 Painful as they are to describe, it is impossible to ignore 
 the reality of such scenes. 
 
3l6 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 IN CAPTIVITY. 
 
 So far from Mrs. Weldon and Jack having succumbed to 
 the hardships to which they had been exposed, they were 
 both alive, and together with Cousin Benedict were now in 
 Kazonnde. After the assault upon the ant-hill they had all 
 three been conveyed beyond the encampment to a spot 
 where a rude palanquin was in readiness for Mrs. Weldon 
 and her son. The journey hence to Kazonnde was conse- 
 quently accomplished without much difficulty ; Cousin Bene- 
 dict, who performed it on foot, was allowed to entomologize 
 as much as he pleased upon the road, so that to him the 
 distance was a matter of no concern. The party reached 
 their destination a week sooner than Ibn Hamish's caravan, 
 and the prisoners were lodged in Alvez' quarters. 
 
 Jack was much better. After leaving the marshy districts 
 he had no return of fever, and as a certain amount of indul- 
 gence had been allowed them on their journey, both he and 
 his mother, as far as their health was concerned, might be 
 said to be in a satisfactory condition. 
 
 Of the rest of her former companions Mrs. Weldon could 
 hear nothing. She had herself been a witness of the escape 
 of Hercules, but of course knew nothing further of his fate ; 
 as for Dick Sands, she entertained a sanguine hope that his 
 white skin would protect him from any severe treatment ; 
 but for Nan and the other poor negroes, here upon African 
 soil, she feared the very worst. 
 
IN CAPTIVITY. 317 
 
 Being entirely shut off from communication with the outer 
 world, she was quite unaware of the arrival of the caravan ; 
 even if she had heard the noisy commotion of the market 
 she would not have known what it meant, and she was in 
 ignorance alike of the death of Harris, of the sale of Tom 
 and his companions, of the dreadful end of the king, and of 
 the royal obsequies in which poor Dick had been assigned 
 so melancholy a share. During the journey from the Coanza 
 to Kazonnde, Harris and Negoro had held no conversation 
 with her, and since her arrival she had not been allowed to 
 pass the enclosure of the establishment, so that, as far as she 
 knew, she was quite alone, and being in Negoro's power, 
 was in a position from which it seemed only too likely 
 nothing but death could release her. 
 
 From Cousin Benedict, it is needless to repeat, she could 
 expect no assistance ; his own personal pursuits engrossed 
 him, and he had no care nor leisure to bestow upon external 
 circumstances. His first feeling, on being made to under- 
 stand that he was not in America, was one of deep dis- 
 appointment that the wonderful things he had seen were no 
 discoveries at all ; they were simply African insects common 
 on African soil. This vexation, however, soon passed away, 
 and he began to believe that "the land of the Pharaohs'' 
 might possess as much entomological wealth as " the land of 
 the Incas.'' 
 
 ''Ah," he would exclaim to Mrs. Weldon, heedless that 
 she gave him little or no attention, " this is the country of 
 the manticoras, and wonderful coleoptera they are, with their 
 long hairy legs, their sharp elytra and their big mandibles ; 
 the most remarkable of them all is the tuberous manticora. 
 And isn't this, too, the land of the golden-tipped calosomi ? 
 and of the prickly-legged goliaths of Guinea and Gabon ? 
 Here, too, we ought to find the spotted anthidia, which lay 
 their eggs in empty snail-shells ; and the sacred atenchus, 
 which the old Egyptians used to venerate as divine.' ; 
 
 " Yes, yes ; " he would say at another time, " this is the 
 
318 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 proper habitat of those death's head sphinxes which are now 
 so common everywhere ; and this is the place for those 
 ' Idias Bigoti,' so formidable to the natives of Senegal. 
 There must be wonderful discoveries to be made here if only 
 those good people will let me.'' 
 
 The "good people'"' referred to were Negoro and Harris, 
 who had restored him much of the liberty of which Dick 
 Sands had found it necessary to deprive him. With freedom 
 to roam and in possession of his tin box, Benedict would 
 have been amongst the most contented of men, had it not 
 been for the loss of his spectacles and magnifying-glass, 
 now buried with the King of Kazonnde". Reduced to the 
 necessity of poking every insect almost into his eyes before 
 he could discover its characteristics, he would have sacrificed 
 much to recover or replace his glasses, but as such articles 
 were not to be procured at any price, he contented himself 
 with the permission to go where he pleased within the limits 
 of the palisade. His keepers knew him well enough to be 
 satisfied that he would make no attempt to escape, and as 
 the enclosure was nearly a mile in circumference, containing 
 many shrubs and trees and huts with thatched roofs, besides 
 being intersected by a running stream, it afforded him a 
 very fair scope for his researches, and who should say that 
 he would not discover some novel specimen to which, in the 
 records of entomological science, his own name might be 
 assigned ? 
 
 If thus the domain of Antonio Alvez was sufficient to 
 satisfy Benedict, to little Jack it might well seem immense. 
 But though allowed to ramble over the whole place as he 
 liked, the child rarely cared to leave his mother ; he would 
 be continually inquiring about his father, whom he had now 
 so long been expecting to see : he would ask why Nan and 
 Hercules and Dingo had gone away and left him ; and 
 perpetually he would be expressing his wonder where Dick 
 could be, and wishing he would come back again. Mrs. 
 Weldon could only hide her tears and answer him by 
 caresses. 
 
IN CAPTIVITY. 319 
 
 Nothing, however, transpired to give the least intimation 
 that any of the prisoners were to be treated otherwise than 
 they had been upon the journey from the Coanza. Except- 
 ing such as were retained for old Alvez' personal service, all 
 the slaves had been sold, and the storehouses were now 
 full of stuffs and ivory, the stuffs destined to be sent into the 
 central provinces and the ivory to be exported. The estab- 
 lishment was thus no longer crowded as it had been, and 
 Mrs. Weldon and Jack were lodged in a different hut to 
 Cousin Benedict. All three, however, took their meals 
 together, and were allowed a sufficient diet of mutton or 
 goat's-flesh, vegetables, manioc, sorghum and native fruits. 
 With the traders' servants they held no communication, but 
 Halima, a young slave who had been told off to attend to 
 Mrs. Weldon, evinced for her new mistress an attachment 
 which, though rough, was evidently sincere. 
 
 Old Alvez, who occupied the principal house in the depot, 
 was rarely seen ; whilst the non-appearance of either Harris 
 or Negoro caused Mrs. Weldon much surprise and perplexity. 
 In the midst of all her troubles, too, she was haunted by the 
 thought of the anxiety her husband must be suffering on her 
 account. Unaware of her having embarked on board the 
 " Pilgrim," at first he would have wondered at steamer after 
 steamer arriving at San Francisco without her. After a 
 while the " Pilgrim " would have been registered amongst 
 the number of missing ships ; and it was certain the intelli- 
 gence would be forwarded to him by his correspondents, that 
 the vessel had sailed from Auckland with his wife and child 
 on board. What was he to imagine ? he might refuse to 
 believe that they had perished at sea, but he would never 
 dream of their having been carried to Africa, and would 
 certainly institute a search in no other direction than on the 
 coast of America, or amongst the isles of the Pacific. She 
 had. not the faintest hope of her whereabouts being dis- 
 covered, and involuntarily her thoughts turned to the possi- 
 bility of making an escape. She might well feel her heart 
 
320 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 sink within her at the bare idea ; even if she should succeed 
 in eluding the vigilance of the watch, there were two hundred 
 miles of dense forest to be traversed before the coast could 
 be reached ; nevertheless, it revealed itself to her as her last 
 chance, and, failing all else, she resolved to hazard it. 
 
 But, first of all, she determined, if it were possible, to dis- 
 cover the ultimate design of Negoro. She was not kept long 
 in suspense. On the 6th of June, just a week after the royal 
 funeral, the Portuguese entered the depot, in which he had 
 not set foot since his return, and made his way straight to 
 the hut in which he knew he should find the prisoner. 
 Benedict was out insect-hunting ; Jack, under Halima's 
 charge, was being taken for a walk. Mrs. Weldon was alone. 
 
 Negoro pushed open the door, and said abruptly, — 
 
 " Mrs. Weldon, I have come to tell you, that Tom and his 
 lot have been sold for the Ujiji market ; Nan died on her 
 way here ; and Dick Sands is dead too." 
 
 Mrs. Weldon uttered a cry of horror. 
 
 " Yes, Mrs. Weldon," he continued ; " he has got what he 
 deserved ; he shot Harris, and has been executed for the 
 murder. And here you are alone ! mark this ! alone and in 
 my power ! " 
 
 What Negoro said was true ; Tom, Bat, Actaeon, and Aus- 
 tin had all been sent off that morning on their way to Ujiji. 
 
 Mrs. Weldon groaned bitterly. 
 
 Negoro went on. 
 
 " If I chose, I could still further avenge upon you the ill- 
 treatment I got on board that ship ; but it does not suit my 
 purpose to kill you. You and that boy of yours, and that 
 idiot of a fly-catcher, all have a certain value in the market. 
 I mean to sell you." 
 
 " You dare not ! " said Mrs. Weldon firmly ; " you know 
 you are making an idle threat ; who do you suppose would 
 purchase people of white blood ? " 
 
 " I know a customer who will give me the price I mean to 
 ask," replied Negoro with a brutal grin. 
 
IN CAPTIVITY. 321 
 
 She bent down her head ; only too well she knew that 
 such things were possible in this horrid land. 
 
 "Tell me who he is ! " she said ; " tell me the name of the 
 man who . . . ." 
 
 " James Weldon," he answered slowly. 
 
 " My husband ! " she cried ; " what do you mean ? 
 
 " I mean what I say. I mean to make your husband buy 
 you back at my price ; and if he likes to pay for them, he 
 shall have his son and his cousin too." 
 
 "And when, and how, may I ask, do you propose to 
 manage this?" replied Mrs. Weldon, forcing herself to be 
 calm. 
 
 " Here, and soon too. I suppose Weldon will not mind 
 coming to fetch you." 
 
 " He would not hesitate to come ; but how could he know 
 we are here ? " 
 
 " I will go to him. I have money that will take me to 
 San Francisco." 
 
 "What you stole from the 'Pilgrim'?" said Mrs. Weldon. 
 
 "Just so," replied Negoro ; "and I have plenty more. I 
 suppose when Weldon hears that you are a prisoner in 
 Central Africa, he will not think much of a hundred thousand 
 dollars.'' 
 
 " But how is he to know the truth of your statement? '' 
 
 " I shall take him a letter from you. You shall represent 
 me as your faithful servant, just escaped from the hands of 
 savages." 
 
 " A letter such as that I will never write ; never," said 
 Mrs. Weldon decisively. 
 
 " What ? what ? you refuse ?" 
 
 " I refuse." 
 
 She had all the natural cravings of a woman and a wife, 
 but so thoroughly was she aware of the treachery of the 
 man she had to deal with, that she dreaded lest, as soon as 
 he had touched the ransom, he would dispose of her husband 
 altogether. 
 
 PART II. X 
 
322 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 There was a short silence. 
 
 " You will write that letter,'' said Negoro. 
 
 " Never ! " repeated Mrs. Weldon. 
 
 " Remember your child ! '' 
 
 Mrs. Weldon's heart beat violently, but she did not answer 
 a word. 
 
 " I will give you a week to think over this," hissed out 
 Negoro. 
 
 Mrs. Weldon was still silent. 
 
 " A week ! I will come again in a week ; you will do as I 
 wish, or it will be the worse for you." 
 
 He gnashed his teeth, turned on his heel, and left the hut. 
 
A RAY OF HOPE. 323 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 A RAY OF HOPE. 
 
 Mrs. Weldon's first feeling on being left alone was a sense 
 of relief at having a week's respite. She had no trust in 
 Negoro's honesty, but she knew well enough that their 
 "marketable value" would secure them from any personal 
 danger, and she had time to consider whether some com- 
 promise might be effected by which her husband might be 
 spared the necessity of coming to Kazonnde\ Upon the 
 receipt of a letter from herself, he would not hesitate for a 
 moment in undertaking the journey, but she entertained no 
 little fear that after all perhaps her own departure might not 
 be permitted ; the slightest caprice on the part of Queen 
 Moena would detain her as a captive, whilst as to Negoro, if 
 once he should get the ransom he wanted, he would take no 
 further pains in the matter. 
 
 Accordingly, she resolved to make the proposition that 
 she should be conveyed to some point upon the coast, where 
 the bargain could be concluded without Mr. Weldon's coining 
 up the country. 
 
 She had to weigh all the consequences that would follow 
 any refusal on her part to fall in with Negoro's demands. 
 Of course, he would spend the interval in preparing for his 
 start to America, and when he should come back and find her 
 still hesitating, was it not likely that he would find scope for 
 his revenge in suggesting that she must be separated from 
 her child. 
 
 X 2 
 
324 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 The very thought sent a pang through her heart, and she 
 clasped her little boy tenderly to her side. 
 
 " What makes you so sad, mamma ? '' asked Jack. 
 
 " I was thinking of your father, my child," she answered ; 
 *' would you not like to see him ? " 
 
 " Yes, yes ; is he coming here ? " 
 
 " No, my boy, he must not come here." 
 
 " Then let us take Dick, and Tom, and Hercules, and go 
 to him." 
 
 Mrs. Weldon tried to conceal her tears. 
 
 " Have you heard from papa ? " 
 
 "No." 
 
 " Then why do you not write to him ?" 
 
 "Write to him?" repeated his mother, " that is the very 
 thing I was thinking about." 
 
 The child little knew the agitation that was troubling her 
 mind. 
 
 Meanwhile Mrs. Weldon had another inducement which 
 she hardly ventured to own to herself for postponing her 
 final decision. Was it absolutely impossible that her 
 liberation should be effected by some different means 
 altogether ? 
 
 A few days previously she had overheard a conversation 
 outside her hut, and over this she had found herself 
 continually pondering. 
 
 Alvez and one of the Ujiji dealers, discussing the future 
 prospects of their business, mutually agreed in denouncing 
 the efforts that were being made for the suppression of the 
 slave-traffic, not only by the cruisers on the coast, but 
 by the intrusion of travellers and missionaries into the in- 
 terior. 
 
 Alvez averred that all these troublesome visitors ought to 
 be exterminated forthwith. 
 
 " But kill one, and another crops up," replied the dealer. 
 
 '' Yes, their exaggerated reports bring up a swarm o' them," 
 said Alvez. 
 
Dr. Livingstone. 
 
A RAY OF HOPE. $2J 
 
 It seemed a subject of bitter complaint that the markets 
 of Nyangwe", Zanzibar, and the lake-district had been invaded 
 by Speke and Grant and others, and although they 
 congratulated each other that the western provinces had not 
 yet been much persecuted, they confessed that now that the 
 travelling epidemic had begun to rage, there was no telling 
 how soon a lot of European and American busy-bodies might 
 be among them. The depots at Cassange and Bihe" had both 
 been visited, and although Kazonnde had hitherto been left 
 quiet, there were rumours enough that the continent was to 
 be tramped over from east to west. 1 
 
 "And it may be,'' continued Alvez, "that that missionary 
 fellow, Livingstone, is already on his way to us ; if he comes 
 there can be but one result ; there must be freedom for all 
 the slaves in KazonndeV' 
 
 " Freedom for the slaves in Kazonnde* ! " These were the 
 words which in connexion with Dr. Livingstone's name had 
 arrested Mrs. Weldon's attention, and who can wonder that 
 she pondered them over and over again, and ventured to 
 associate them with her own prospects ? 
 
 Here was a ray of hope ! 
 
 The mere mention of Livingstone's name in associa- 
 tion with this story seems to demand a brief survey of his 
 career. 
 
 Born on the 19th of March, 1813, David Livingstone was 
 the second of six children of a tradesman in the village of 
 Blantyre, in Lanarkshire. After two years' training in 
 medicine and theology, he was sent out by the London 
 Missionary Society, and landed at the Cape of Good Hope 
 in 1840, with the intention of joining Moffat in South Africa. 
 After exploring the country of the Bechuanas, he returned 
 to Kuruman, and, having married Moffat's daughter, 
 proceeded in 1843 to found a mission in the Mabotsa 
 valley. 
 
 1 This extraordinary feat was, it is universally known, subsequently 
 accomplished by Cameron. 
 
328 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 After four years he removed to Kolobeng in the Bechuana 
 district, 225 miles north of Kuruman, whence, in 1849, 
 starting off with his wife, three children, and two friends, Mr. 
 Oswell and Mr. Murray, he discovered Lake Ngami, and 
 returned by descending the course of the Zouga. 
 
 The opposition of the natives had prevented his proceeding 
 beyond Lake Ngami at his first visit, and he made a second 
 with no better success. In a third attempt, however, he 
 wended his way northwards with his family and Mr. Oswell 
 along the Chobe', an affluent of the Zambesi, ar.d after a 
 difficult journey at length reached the district of the Makalolos, 
 of whom the chief, named Sebituane", joined him at Linyante. 
 The Zambesi itself was discovered at the end of June, 185 1, 
 and the doctor returned to the Cape for the purpose of 
 sending his family to England. 
 
 His next project was to cross the continent obliquely from 
 south to west, but in this expedition he had resolved that he 
 would risk no life but his own. Accompanied, therefore, by 
 only a few natives, he started in the following June, and 
 skirting the Kalahari desert entered Litoubarouba on the 
 last day of the year; here he found the Bechuana district much 
 ravaged by the Boers, the original Dutch colonists, who had 
 formed the population of the Cape before it came into the 
 possession of the English. After a fortnight's stay, he 
 proceeded into the heart of the district of the Bamangonatos, 
 and travelled continuously until the 23rd of May, when he 
 arrived at Linyante, and was received with much honour 
 by Sekeletoo, who had recently become sovereign of the 
 Makalolos. A severe attack of fever detained the traveller 
 here for a period, but he made good use of the enforced rest 
 by studying the manners of the country, and became for the 
 first time sensible of its terrible sufferings in consequence of 
 the slave-trade. 
 
 Descending the course of the Chobe to the Zambesi, he 
 next entered Naniele, and after visiting Katonga and 
 
A RAY OF HOPE. 329 
 
 Libonta, advanced to the point of confluence of the Leeba 
 with the Zambesi, where he determined upon ascending the 
 former as far as the Portuguese possessions in the west ; it 
 was an undertaking, however, that required considerable 
 preparation, so that it was necessary for him to return to 
 Linyante - . 
 
 On the nth of November he again started. He was 
 accompanied by twenty-seven Makalolos, and ascended the 
 Leeba till, in the territory of the Balonda, he reached a spot 
 where it received the waters of its tributary the Makondo. 
 It was the first time a white man had ever penetrated 
 so far. 
 
 Proceeding on their way, they arrived at the residence of 
 Shinte, the most powerful of the chieftains of the Balonda, 
 by whom they were well received, and having met with equal 
 kindness from Kateema, a ruler on the other side of the 
 Leeba, they encamped, on the 20th of February, 1853, on the 
 banks of Lake Dilolo. 
 
 Here it was that the real difficulty commenced ; the 
 arduous travelling, the attacks of the natives, and their 
 exorbitant demands, the conspiracies of his own attendants, 
 and their desertions, would soon have caused anyone of less 
 energy to abandon his enterprise ; but David Livingstone 
 was not a man to be daunted ; resolutely he persevered, and 
 on the 4th of April reached the banks of the Coango, the 
 stream that forms the frontier of the Portuguese possessions, 
 and joins the Zaire on the north. 
 
 Six days later he passed through Cassange". Here it was 
 that Alvez had seen him. On the 31st of May he arrived at 
 St. Paul de Loanda, having traversed the continent in about 
 two years. 
 
 It was not long, however, before he was off again. 
 Following the banks of the Coanza, the river which was to 
 bring such trying experiences to Dick Sands and his party, 
 he reached the Lombe", and having met numbers of slave- 
 
330 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 caravans on his way, again passed through Cassange", crossed 
 the Coango, and reached the Zambesi at Kewawa. By the 
 8th of the following June he was again at Lake Dilolo, and 
 descending the river, he re-entered Linyante". Here he 
 stayed till the 3rd of November, when he commenced his 
 second great journey, which was to carry him completely 
 across Africa from west to cast. 
 
 After visiting the famed Victoria Falls, the intrepid 
 explorer quitted the Zambesi, and took a north-easterly 
 route. The transit of the territory of the Batokas, a people 
 brutalized by the inhalation of hemp ; a visit to Semalem- 
 boni the powerful chief of the district ; the passage of the 
 Kafoni; a visit to king Mbourouma ; an inspection of the 
 ruins of Zumbo, an old Portuguese town ; a meeting with 
 the chief Mpende", at that time at war with the Portuguese ; 
 these were the principal events of this journey, and on the 
 22nd of April, Livingstone left Tete", and having descended 
 the river as far as its delta, reached Quilimane", just four 
 years after his last departure from the Cape. On the 12th 
 of July he embarked for the Mauritius, and on the 22nd of 
 December, 1856, he landed in England after an absence of 
 sixteen years. 
 
 Loaded with honours by the Geographical Societies of 
 London and Paris, brilliantly entertained by all ranks, it 
 would have been no matter of surprise if he had surrendered 
 himself to a well-earned repose ; but no thought of per- 
 manent rest occurred to him, and on the 1st of March, 1858, 
 accompanied by his brother Charles, Captain Bedingfield, 
 Dr. Kirk, Dr. Miller, Mr. Thornton, and Mr. Baines, he 
 started again, with the intention of exploring the basin of the 
 Zambesi, and arrived in due time at the coast of Mozambique. 
 
 The party ascended the great river by the Kongone 
 mouth ; they were on board a small steamer named the 
 " Ma-Robert," and reached Tete' on the 8th of September. 
 
 During the following year they investigated the lower 
 
A RAY OF HOPE. 33 1 
 
 course of the Zambesi, and its left affluent the Shire", and 
 having visited Lake Shirwa, they explored the territory of 
 the Manganjas, and discovered Lake Nyassa. In August, 
 1S60, they returned to the Victoria Falls. 
 
 Early in the following year, Bishop Mackenzie and his 
 missionary staff arrived at the mouth of the Zambesi. 
 
 In March an exploration of the Rovouma was made on 
 board the " Pioneer," the exploring party returning after- 
 wards to Lake Nyassa, where they remained a considerable 
 time. The 30th of January, 1862, was signalized by the 
 arrival of Mrs. Livingstone, and by the addition of another 
 steamer, the " Lady Nyassa ;" but the happiness of reunion 
 was . very transient ; it was but a short time before the 
 enthusiastic Bishop Mackenzie succumbed to the unhealthi- 
 ness of the climate, and on the 27th of April Mrs. Living- 
 stone expired in her husband's arms. 
 
 A second investigation of the Rovouma soon followed, 
 and at the end of November the doctor returned to the 
 Zambesi, and reascended the Shire*. In the spring of 1863 
 he lost his companion Mr. Thornton, and as his brother and 
 Dr. Kirk were both much debilitated, he insisted upon their 
 return to Europe, while he himself returned for the third 
 time to Lake Nyassa, and completed the hydrographical 
 survey which already he had begun. 
 
 A few months later found him once more at the mouth 
 of the Zambesi ; thence he crossed over to Zanzibar, and 
 after five years' absence arrived in London, where he 
 published his work, " The exploration of the Zambesi and 
 its affluents." 
 
 Still unwearied and insatiable in his longings, he was 
 back again in Zanzibar at the commencement of 1866, 
 ready to begin his fourth journey, this time attended only 
 by a few sepoys and negroes. Witnessing on his way some 
 horrible scenes which were perpetrated as the result of the 
 prosecution of the slave-trade, he proceeded to Mokalaose" 
 
Z2>- DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 on the shores of Lake Nyassa, where nearly all his 
 attendants deserted him, and returned to Zanzibar with the 
 report that he was dead. 
 
 Dr. Livingstone meanwhile was not only alive, but 
 undaunted in his determination to visit the country between 
 the two lakes Nyassa and Tanganyika. With none to guide 
 him except a few natives, he crossed the Loangona, and in 
 the following April discovered Lake Liemmba. Here he 
 lay for a whole month hovering between life and death, 
 but rallying a little he pushed on to the north shore of Lake 
 Moero. Taking up his quarters at Cazembe' for six weeks, 
 he made two separate explorations of the lake, and then 
 started farther northwards, intending to reach Ujiji, an 
 important town upon Lake Tanganyika ; overtaken, how- 
 ever, by floods, and again abandoned by his servants, he was 
 obliged to retrace his steps. Six weeks afterwards he had 
 made his way southwards to the great lake Bangweolo, 
 whence once more he started towards Tanganyika. 
 
 This last effort was most trying, and the doctor had 
 grown so weak that he was obliged to be carried, but he 
 reached Ujiji, where he was gratified by finding some 
 supplies that had been thoughtfully forwarded to him by the 
 Oriental Society at Calcutta. 
 
 His great aim now was to ascend the lake, and reach the 
 sources of the Nile. On the 21st of September he was at 
 Bambarre, in the country of the cannibal Manyuema, upon 
 the Lualaba, the river afterwards ascertained by Stanley to 
 be the Upper Zaire or Congo. At Mamobela the doctor 
 was ill for twenty-four days, tended only by three followers 
 who continued faithful ; but in July he made a vigorous 
 effort, and although he was reduced to a skeleton, made his 
 way back to Ujiji. 
 
 During this long time no tidings of Livingstone reached 
 Europe, and many were the misgivings lest the rumours of 
 his death were only too true. He was himself, too, almost 
 
A RAY OF HOPE. 333 
 
 despairing as to receiving any help. But help was closer 
 at hand than he thought. On the 3rd of November, only 
 eleven days after his return to Ujiji, some gun-shots were 
 heard within half a mile of the lake. The doctor went out 
 to ascertain whence they proceeded, and had not gone far 
 before a white man stood befoie him. 
 
 " You are Dr. Livingstone, I presume," said the stranger, 
 raising his cap. 
 
 " Yes, sir, I am Dr. Livingstone, and am happy to see 
 you," answered the doctor, smiling kindly. 
 
 The two shook each other warmly by the hand. 
 
 The new arrival was Henry Stanley, the correspondent 
 of the New York Herald, who had been sent out by Mr. 
 Bennett, the editor, in search of the great African explorer. 
 On receiving his orders in October, 1870, without a day's 
 unnecessary delay he had embarked at Bombay for Zanzibar, 
 and, after a journey involving considerable peril, had arrived 
 safely at Ujiji. 
 
 Very soon the two travellers found themselves on the 
 best of terms, and set out together on an excursion to the 
 north of Tanganyika. They proceeded as far as Cape 
 Magala, and decided that the chief outlet of the lake must 
 be an affluent of the Lualaba, a conclusion that was subse- 
 quently confirmed by Cameron. 
 
 Towards the end of the year Stanley began to prepare 
 to return. Livingstone accompanied him as far as Kwihara 
 and on the 3rd of the following March they parted. 
 
 " You have done for me what few men would venture to 
 do ; I am truly grateful, 5 ' said Livingstone. 
 
 Stanley could scarcely repress his tears as he expressed 
 his hope that the doctor might be spared to return to his 
 friends safe and well. 
 
 "Good-bye !" said Stanley, choked with emotion. 
 
 " Good-bye ! " answered the veteran feebly. 
 
 Thus they parted, and in July, 1872, Stanley landed at 
 Marseilles. 
 
334 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 Again David Livingstone resumed his researches in the 
 interior. After remaining five months at Kwihara he gathered 
 together a retinue consisting of his faithful followers Suzi, 
 Chumah, Amoda, and Jacob Wainwright, and fifty-six men 
 sent to him by Stanley, and lost no time in proceeding 
 towards the south of Tanganyika. In the course of the 
 ensuing month the caravan encountered some frightful 
 storms, but succeeded in reaching Moura. There had 
 previously been an extreme drought, which was now 
 followed by the rainy season, which entailed the loss of 
 many of the beasts of burden, in consequence of the bites 
 of the tzetsy. 
 
 On the 24th of January they were at Chitounkwe*, and 
 in April, after rounding the east of Lake Bangweolo, they 
 made their way towards the village of Chitambo. At this 
 point it was that Livingstone had parted company with 
 certain slave-dealers, who had carried the information to 
 old Alvez that the missionary traveller would very likely 
 proceed by way of Loanda to Kazonnde. 
 
 But on the 13th of June, the very day before Negoro 
 reckoned on obtaining from Mrs. Weldon the letter which 
 should be the means of securing him a hundred thousand 
 dollars, tidings were circulated in the district that on the 
 1st of May Dr. Livingstone had breathed his last. 
 
 The report proved perfectly true. On the 29th of April 
 the caravan had reached the village of Chitambo, the 
 doctor so unwell that he was carried on a litter. The 
 following night he was in great pain, and after repeatedly 
 murmuring in a low voice, " Oh dear, oh dear ! " he fell 
 into a kind of stupor. A short time afterwards he called 
 up Suzi, and having asked for some medicine, told his 
 attendant that he should not require anything more. 
 
 " You can go now." 
 
 About four o'clock next morning, when an anxious visit 
 was made to his room, the doctor was found kneeling by 
 the bed-side, his head in his hands, in the attitude of 
 
A RAY OF HOPE. 335 
 
 prayer. Suzi touched him, but his forehead was icy with 
 the coldness of death. He had died in the night. 
 
 His body was carried by those who loved him, and in 
 spite of many obstacles was brought to Zanzibar, whence, 
 nine months after his death, it was conveyed to England. 
 On the 12th of April, 1874, it was interred in Westminster 
 Abbey, counted worthy to be deposited amongst those 
 whom the country most delights to hcnour. 
 
33^ DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 AN EXCITING CHASE. 
 
 To say the truth, it was the very vaguest of hopes to which 
 Mrs. Weldon had been clinging, yet it was not without 
 some thrill of disappointment that she heard from the lips 
 of old Alvez himself that Dr. Livingstone had died at a 
 little yjllage on Lake Bangweolo. There had appeared to 
 be a sort of a link binding her to the civilized world, but it 
 was now abruptly snapped, and nothing remained for her 
 but to make what terms she could with the base and heart- 
 less Negoro. 
 
 On the 14th, the day appointed for the interview, he 
 made his appearance at the hut, firmly resolved to make 
 no abatement in the terms that he had proposed, Mrs. 
 Weldon, on her part, being equally determined not to yield 
 to the demand. 
 
 "There is only one condition," she avowed, "upon which 
 I will acquiesce. My husband shall not be required to 
 come up the country here." 
 
 Negoro hesitated ; at length he said that he would agree 
 to her husband being taken by ship to Mossamedes, a 
 small port in the south of Angola, much frequented by 
 slavers, whither also, at a date hereafter to be fixed, Alvez 
 should send herself with Jack and Benedict ; the stipula- 
 tion was confirmed that the ransom should be 100,000 
 dollars, and it was further made part of the contract that 
 Negoro should be allowed to depart as an honest man. 
 
 Mrs. Weldon felt she had gained an important point in 
 
AN EXCITING CHASE. 337 
 
 thus sparing her husband the necessity of a journey to 
 Kazonnde, and had no apprehensions about herself on her 
 way to Mossamedes, knowing that it was to the interest 
 of Alvez and Negoro alike to attend carefully to her 
 wants. 
 
 Upon the terms of the covenant being thus arranged, 
 Mrs. Weldon wrote such a letter to her husband as she 
 knew would bring him with all speed to Mossamedes, but 
 she left it entirely to Negoro to represent himself in what- 
 ever light he chose. Once in possession of the document, 
 Negoro lost no time in starting on his errand. The very 
 next morning, taking with him about twenty negroes, he 
 set off towards the north, alleging to Alvez as his motive 
 for taking that direction, that he was not only going to 
 embark somewhere at the mouth of the Congo, but that he 
 was anxious to keep as far as possible from the prison- 
 houses of the Portuguese, with which already he had been 
 involuntarily only too familiar. 
 
 After his departure, Mrs. Weldon resolved to make the 
 best of her period of imprisonment, aware that it could 
 hardly be less than four months before he would return. 
 She had no desire to go beyond the precincts assigned her, 
 even had the privilege been allowed her ; but warned by 
 Negoro that Hercules was still free, and might at any time 
 attempt a rescue, Alvez had no thought of permitting her 
 any unnecessary liberty. Her life therefore soon resumed 
 its previous monotony. 
 
 The daily routine went on within the enclosure pretty 
 much as in other parts of the town, the women all being 
 employed in various labours for the benefit of their husbands 
 and masters. The rice was pounded with wooden pestles ; 
 the maize was peeled and winnowed, previously to extract- 
 ing the granulous substance for the drink which they call 
 mtyelU; the sorghum had to be gathered in, the season of 
 its ripening being marked by festive observances ; there 
 was a fragrant oil to be expressed from a kind of olive 
 
 PART II. Y 
 
338 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 named the mpafooj the cotton had to be spun on spindles, 
 which were hardly less than a foot and a half in length ; 
 there was the bark of trees to be woven into textures for 
 wearing ; the manioc had to be dug up, and the cassava 
 procured from its roots ; and besides all this, there was the 
 preparation of the soil for its future plantings, the usual pro- 
 ductions of the country being the moritsane beans, growing 
 in pods fifteen inches long upon stems twenty feet high, the 
 arachides, from which they procure a serviceable oil, the 
 chilobe pea, the blossoms of which are used to give a flavour 
 to the insipid sorghum, cucumbers, of which the seeds are 
 roasted as chestnuts, as well as the common crops of coffee, 
 sugar, onions, guavas, and sesame. 
 
 To the women's lot, too, falls the manipulation of all the 
 fermented drinks, the malafoo, made from bananas, the 
 ftombe, and various other liquors. Nor should the care of 
 all the domestic animals be forgotten ; the cows that will not 
 allow themselves to be milked unless they can see their 
 calf, or a stuffed representative of it ; the short-horned 
 heifers that not unfrequently have a hump ; the goats that, 
 like slaves, form part of the currency of the country; the 
 pigs, the sheep, and the poultry. 
 
 The men, meanwhile, smoke their hemp or tobacco, hunt 
 buffaloes or elephants, or are hired by the dealers to join in 
 the slave-raids ; the harvest of slaves, in fact, being a thing 
 of as regular and periodic recurrence as the ingathering of 
 the maize. 
 
 In her daily strolls, Mrs. Weldon would occasionally 
 pause to watch the women, but they only responded to her 
 notice by a long stare or by a hideous grimace ; a kind of 
 natural instinct made them hate a white skin, and they had 
 no spark of commiseration for the stranger who had been 
 brought among them ; Halima, however, was a marked 
 exception, she grew more and more devoted to her mistress, 
 and by degrees, the two became able to exchange many 
 sentences in the native dialect. 
 
AN EXCITING CHASE. 339 
 
 Jack generally accompanied his mother. Naturally 
 enough he longed to get outside the enclosure, but still he 
 found considerable amusement in watching the birds that 
 built in a huge baobab that grew within ; there were 
 maraboos making their nests with twigs ; there were scarlet- 
 throated soiiima7igas with nests like weaver-birds ; widow 
 birds that helped themselves liberally to the thatch of the 
 huts ; calaos with their tuneful song ; grey parrots, with 
 bright red tails, called roufs by the Manyema, who apply 
 the same name to their reigning chiefs ; and insect-eating 
 drongos, like grey linnets with large red beaks. Hundreds 
 of butterflies flitted about, especially in the neighbourhood 
 of the brooks ; but these were more to the taste of Cousin 
 Benedict than of little Jack ; over and over again the child 
 expressed his regret that he could not see over the walls, 
 and more than ever he seemed to miss his friend Dick, who 
 had taught him to climb a mast, and who he was sure 
 would have fine fun with him in the branches of the trees, 
 which were growing sometimes to the height of a hundred 
 feet. 
 
 So long as the supply of insects did not fail, Benedict 
 would have been contented to stay on without a murmur 
 in his present quarters. True, without his glasses he 
 worked at a disadvantage ; but he had had the good 
 fortune to discover a minute bee that forms its cells in the 
 holes of worm-eaten wood, and a <c sphex : ' that practises 
 the craft of the cuckoo, and deposits its eggs in an abode 
 not prepared by itself. Mosquitoes abounded in swarms, and 
 the worthy naturalist was so covered by their stings as to be 
 hardly recognizable ; but when Mrs. Weldon remonstrated 
 with him for exposing himself so unnecessarily, he merely 
 scratched the irritated places on his skin, and said, — ■ 
 
 " It is their instinct, you know ; it is their instinct." 
 
 On the 17th of June an adventure happened to him 
 which was attended with unexpected consequences. It 
 was about eleven o'clock in the morning. The insufferable 
 
 Y 2 
 
34-0 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 heat had driven all the residents within the depot indoors, 
 and not a native was to be seen in the streets of Kazonnde*. 
 Mrs. Weldon was dozing ; Jack was fast asleep. Benedict 
 himself, sorely against his will, for he heard the hum of 
 many an insect in the sunshine, had been driven to the 
 seclusion of his cabin, and was falling into an involuntary 
 siesta. 
 
 Suddenly a buzz was heard, an insect's wing vibrating 
 some fifteen thousand beats a second ! 
 
 "A hexapod ! " cried Benedict, sitting up. 
 
 Short-sighted though he was, his hearing was acute, and 
 his perception made him thoroughly convinced that he was 
 in proximity to some giant specimen of its kind. Without 
 moving from his seat he did his utmost to ascertain what it 
 was ; he was determined not to flinch from the sharpest of 
 stings if only he could get the chance of capturing it. 
 Presently he made out a large black speck flitting about 
 in the few rays of daylight that were allowed to penetrate 
 the hut. With bated breath he waited in eager expectation. 
 The insect, after long hovering above him, finally settled 
 on his head. A smile of satisfaction played about his lips 
 as he felt it crawling lightly through his hair. Equally fearful 
 of missing or injuring it, he restrained his first impulse to 
 grasp it in his hand. 
 
 " I will wait a minute," he thought ; " perhaps it may creep 
 down my nose ; by squinting a little perhaps I shall be able 
 to see it." 
 
 For some moments hope alternated with fear. There sat 
 Benedict with what he persuaded himself was some new 
 African hexapod perched upon his head, and agitated by 
 doubts as to the direction in which it would move. Instead 
 of travelling in the way he reckoned along his nose, might it 
 not crawl behind his ears or down his neck, or, worse than all, 
 resume its flight in the air ? 
 
 Fortune seemed inclined to favour him. After threading 
 the entanglement of the naturalist's hair the insect was felt 
 
AN EXCITING CHASE. 341 
 
 to be descending his forehead. With a fortitude not 
 unworthy of the Spartan who suffered his breast to be gnawed 
 by a fox, nor of the Roman hero who plunged his hand into 
 the red-hot coals, Benedict endured the tickling of the six 
 small feet, and made not a motion that might frighten the 
 creature into taking wing. After making repeated circuits of 
 his forehead, it passed just between his eyebrows ; there was 
 a moment of deep suspense lest it should once more go 
 upwards ; but it soon began to move again ; neither to the 
 right nor to the left did it turn, but kept straight on over the 
 furrows made by the constant rubbing of the spectacles, right 
 along the arch of the cartilage till it reached the extreme tip 
 of the nose. Like a couple of movable lenses, Benedict's two 
 eyes steadily turned themselves inwards till they were 
 directed to the proper point. 
 
 " Good ! " he whispered to himself. 
 
 He was exulting at the discovery that what he had been 
 waiting for so patiently was a rare specimen of the tribe 
 of the Cicindelida:, peculiar to the districts of Southern 
 Africa. ! 
 
 "A tuberous manticora !" he exclaimed. 
 
 The insect began to move again, and as it crawled down 
 to the entrance of the nostrils the tickling sensation became 
 too much for endurance, and Benedict sneezed. He made 
 a sudden clutch, but of course he only caught his own nose. 
 His vexation was very great, but he did not lose his com- 
 posure ; he knew that the manticora rarely flies very high, 
 and that more frequently than not it simply crawls. 
 Accordingly he groped about a long time on his hands and 
 knees, and at last he found it basking in a ray of sunshine 
 within afoot of him. His resolution was soon taken. He 
 would not run the risk of crushing it by trying to catch it, 
 but would make his observations on it as it crawled ; and so 
 with his nose close to the ground, like a dog upon the scent, 
 he followed it on all fours, admiring it and examining it as it 
 moved. Regardless of the heat he not only left the doorway 
 
342 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 of his hut, but continued creeping along till he reached the 
 enclosing palisade. 
 
 At the foot of the fence the manticora, according to the 
 habits of its kind, began to seek a subterranean retreat, and 
 coming to the opening of a mole-track entered it at once. 
 Benedict quite thought he had now lost sight of his prize 
 altogether, but his surprise was very great when he found 
 that the aperture was at least two feet wide, and that it led 
 into a gallery which would admit his whole body. His 
 momentary feeling of astonishment, however, gave way to his 
 eagerness to follow up the hexapod, and he continued bur- 
 rowing like a ferret. 
 
 Without knowing it, he actually passed under thepalisading, 
 and was now beyond it ; — the mole-track, in fact, was a 
 communication that had been made between the interior and 
 exterior of the enclosure. Benedict had obtained his freedom, 
 but so far from caring in the least for his liberty he continued 
 totally absorbed in the pursuit upon which he had started. 
 
 He watched with unflagging vigilance, and it was only 
 when the hexapod expanded its wings as if for flight that he 
 prepared to imprison it in the hollow of his hand. 
 
 All at once, however, he was taken by surprise ; a whizz 
 and a whirr and the prize was gone ! 
 
 Disappointed rather than despairing, Benedict raised 
 himself up, and looked about him. Before long the old black 
 speck was again flitting just above his head. There was 
 every reason to hope that it would ultimately settle once 
 more upon the ground, but on this side of the palisade there 
 was a large forest a little way to the north, and if the manti- 
 cora were to get into its mass of foliage all hope of keeping it 
 in view would be lost, and there would be an end of the 
 proud expectation of storing it in the tin box, to be preserved 
 among the rest of the entomological wonders. 
 
 After a while the insect descended to the earth ; it did not 
 rest at all, nor crawl as it had done previously, but made its 
 advance by a series of rapid hops. This made the chase 
 
AN EXCITING CHASE. 343 
 
 for the near-sighted naturalist a matter of great difficulty ; he 
 put his face as close to the ground as possible, and kept 
 starting off and stopping and starting off again with his arms 
 extended like a swimming frog, continually making frantic 
 clutches to find as continually that his grasp had been 
 eluded. 
 
 After running till he was out of breath, and scratching his 
 hands against the brushwood and the foliage till they bled, 
 he had the mortification of feeling the insect dash past his 
 ear with what might be a defiant buzz, and finding that it 
 was out of sight for ever. 
 
 '' Ungrateful hexapod ! " he cried in dismay, " I intended 
 to honour you with the best place in my collection." 
 
 He knew not what to do, and could not reconcile himself 
 to the loss ; he reproached himself for not having secured 
 the manticora at the first ; he gazed at the forest till he per- 
 suaded himself he could seethe coveted insect in the distance, 
 and, seized with a frantic impulse, exclaimed,— 
 
 " I will have you yet ! " 
 
 He did not even yet realize the fact that he had gained his 
 liberty, but heedless of everything except his own burning 
 disappointment, and at the risk of being attacked by natives 
 or beset by wild beasts, he was just on the very point of 
 dashing into the heart of the wood when suddenly a giant 
 form confronted him, as suddenly a giant hand seized him by 
 the nape of his neck, and, lifting him up, carried him off with 
 apparently as little exertion as he could himself have carried 
 off his hexapod ! 
 
 For that day at least Cousin Benedict had lost his chance 
 of being the happiest of entomologists. 
 
344 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 A MAGICIAN. 
 
 On finding that Cousin Benedict did not return to his 
 quarters at the proper hour, Mrs. Weldon began to feel uneasy. 
 She could not imagine what had become of him ; his tin 
 box with its contents were safe in his hut, and even if a 
 chance of escape had been offered him, she knew that nothing 
 would have induced him voluntarily to abandon his treasures. 
 She enlisted the services of Halima, and spent the remainder 
 of the day in searching for him, until at last she felt herself 
 driven to the conviction that he must have been confined by 
 the orders of Alvez himself ; for what reason she could not 
 divine, as Benedict had undoubtedly been included in the 
 number of prisoners to be delivered to Mr. Weldon for the 
 stipulated ransom. 
 
 But the rage of the trader when he heard of the escape of 
 the captive was an ample proof that he had had no hand in 
 his disappearance. A rigorous search was instituted in every 
 direction, which resulted in the discovery of the mole-track. 
 Here beyond a question was the passage through which the 
 fly-catcher had found his way. 
 
 " Idiot ! fool ! rascal ! " muttered Alvez, full of rage at the 
 prospect of losing a portion of the redemption-money; "if 
 ever I get hold of him, he shall pay dearly for this freak." 
 
 The opening was at once blocked up, the woods were 
 scoured all round for a considerable distance, but no trace 
 of Benedict was to be found. Mrs. Weldon was bitterly 
 grieved and much overcome, but she had no alternative 
 
A MAGICIAN. 345 
 
 except to resign herself as best she could to the loss of her 
 unfortunate relation ; there was a tinge of bitterness in her 
 anxiety, for she could not help being irritated at the reckless- 
 ness with which he had withdrawn himself from the reach of 
 her protection. 
 
 Meanwhile the weather for the time of year underwent a 
 very unusual change. Although the rainy reason is ordinarily 
 reckoned to terminate about the end of April, the sky had 
 suddenly become overcast in the middle of June, rain had re- 
 commenced falling, and the downpour had been so heavy 
 and continuous that all the ground was thoroughly sodden. 
 To Mrs. Weldon personally this incessant rainfall brought no 
 other inconvenience beyond depriving her of her daily exer- 
 cise, but to the natives in general it was a very serious 
 calamity. 
 
 The ripening crops in the low-lying districts were com- 
 pletely flooded, and the inhabitants feared that they would be 
 reduced to the greatest extremities ; all agricultural pursuits 
 had come to a standstill, and neither the queen nor her 
 ministers could devise any expedient to avert or mitigate the 
 misfortune. They resolved at last to have recourse to the 
 magicians, not those who are called in request to heal 
 diseases or to procure good luck, but to the mganga, sor- 
 cerers of a superior order, who are credited with the faculty 
 of invoking or dispelling rain. 
 
 But it was all to no purpose. It was in vain that the 
 mganga monotoned their incantations, flourished their rattles, 
 jingled their bells, and exhibited their amulets ; it was 
 equally without avail that they rolled up their balls of dirt 
 and spat in the faces of all the courtiers : the pitiless rain 
 continued to descend, and the malign influences that were 
 ruling the clouds refused to be propitiated. 
 
 The prospect seemed to become more and more hopeless, 
 when the report was brought to Moena that there was a 
 most wonderful mganga resident in the north of Angola. He 
 had never been seen in this part of the country, but fame 
 
346 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 declared him to be a magician of the very highest order. 
 Application, without delay, should be made to him ; he surely 
 would be able to stay the rain. 
 
 Early in the morning of the 25th a great tinkling of bells 
 announced the magician's arrival at Kazonnde\ The natives 
 poured out to meet him on his way to the chitoka, their minds 
 being already predisposed in his favour by a moderation of 
 the downpour, and by sundry indications of a coming 
 change of wind. 
 
 The ordinary practice of the professors of the magical art 
 is to perambulate the villages in parties of three or four, 
 accompanied by a considerable number of acolytes and 
 assistants. In this case the mganga came entirely alone. 
 He was a pure negro of most imposing stature, more than six 
 feet high, and broad in proportion. All over his chest was a 
 fantastic pattern traced in pipe-clay, the lower portion of his 
 body being covered with a flowing skirt of woven grass, so 
 long that it made a train. Round his neck hung a string of 
 birds' skulls, upon his head he wore a leathern helmet orna- 
 mented with pearls and plumes, and about his waist was a 
 copper girdle, to which was attached bells that tinkled like 
 the harness of a Spanish mule. The only instrument indi- 
 cating his art was a basket he carried made of a calabash 
 containing shells, amulets, little wooden idols and other 
 fetishes, together with what was more important than all, a 
 large number of those balls of dung, without which no African 
 ceremony of divination could ever be complete. 
 
 One peculiarity was soon discovered by the crowd ; the 
 mganga was dumb, and could utter only one low, guttural 
 sound, which was quite unintelligible ; this was a circum- 
 stance, however, that seemed only to augment their faith in 
 his powers. 
 
 With a stately strut that brought all his tinkling para- 
 phernalia into full play, the magician proceeded to make 
 the circuit of the market-place. The natives followed in a 
 troop behind, endeavouring, like monkeys, to imitate his 
 
A MAGICIAN. 347 
 
 every movement. He turned into the main thoroughfare, 
 and began to make his way direct to the royal residence, 
 whence, as soon as the queen heard of his approach, she 
 advanced to meet him. On seeing her, the viganga bowed 
 to the very dust ; then, rearing himself to his full height, he 
 pointed aloft, and by the significance of his animated ges- 
 tures indicated that, although the fleeting clouds were now 
 going to the west, they would soon return eastwards with a 
 rotatory motion irresistibly strong. 
 
 All at once, to the surprise of the beholders, he stooped 
 and took the hand of the mighty sovereign of Kazonnde*. 
 
 The courtiers hurried forward to check the unprecedented 
 breach of etiquette, but the foremost was driven back with 
 so staggering a blow that the others deemed it prudent to 
 retire. 
 
 The queen herself appeared not to take the least offence at 
 the familiarity ; she bestowed a hideous grimace, which was 
 meant for a smile, upon her illustrious visitor, who, still keep- 
 ing his hold upon her hand, started off walking at a rapid 
 pace, the crowd following in the rear. He directed his steps 
 towards the residence of Alvez, and finding the door closed, 
 applied his strong shoulder to it with such effect, that it feel 
 bodily to the ground, and the passive sovereign stood within 
 the limits of the enclosure. The trader was about to sum- 
 mon his slaves and soldiers to repel the unceremonious 
 invasion of his premises, but on beholding the queen all 
 stepped back with respectful reverence. 
 
 Before Alvez had time to ask the sovereign to what cause 
 he was indebted for the honour of her visit, the magician 
 had cleared a wide space around him, and had once again 
 commenced his performances. Brandishing his arms wildly 
 he pointed to the clouds as though he were arresting them 
 in their course ; he inflated his huge cheeks and blew with 
 all his strength, as if resolved to disperse the heavy masses, 
 and then stretching himself to his full height, he appeared to 
 clutch them in his giant grasp. 
 
34 S DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 Deeply impressed, the superstitious Moena was half, beside 
 herself with excitement ; she uttered loud cries and involun- 
 tarily began herself to imitate every one of the mganga's 
 gestures. The entire crowd joined in, and very soon the low 
 guttural note of the sorcerer was lost, totally drowned in the 
 turmoil of howls, shrieks, and discordant songs. 
 
 To the chagrin, however, both of the queen and her sub- 
 jects, there was not the slightest intimation that the clouds 
 above were going to permit a rift by which the rays of the 
 tropical sun could find a passage. On the contrary, the 
 tokens of improvement in the weather, which had been ob- 
 served in the early morning, had all disappeared, the atmo- 
 sphere was darker than ever, and heavy storm-drops began 
 to patter down. 
 
 A reaction was beginning to take place in the enthusiasm 
 of the crowd. After all, then, it would seem that this famous 
 mganga from whom so much had been expected, had no 
 power above the rest. Disappointment every moment grew 
 more keen, and soon there was a positive display of irritation. 
 The natives pressed around him with closed fists and threat- 
 ening gestures. A frown gathered on Moena's face, and her 
 lips opened with muttered words clear enough to make the 
 magician understand that his ears were in jeopardy. His 
 position was evidently becoming critical. 
 
 An unexpected incident suddenly altered the aspect of 
 affairs. 
 
 The mganga was quite tall enough to see over the heads 
 of the crowd, and all at once pausing in the midst of his 
 incantations, he pointed to a distant corner of the enclosure. 
 All eyes were instantly turned in that direction. Mrs. 
 Weldon and Jack had just come out of their hut, and catch- 
 ing sight of them, the mganga stood with his left hand 
 pointing towards them and his right upstretched towards the 
 heavens. 
 
 Intuitively the multitude comprehended his meaning. 
 Here was the explanation of the mystery. It was this white 
 
The entire crowd joined in. 
 
A MAGICIAN. 351 
 
 woman with her child that had been the cause of all their 
 misery, it was owing to them that the clouds had poured 
 down this desolating rain. With yells of execration the 
 whole mob made a dash towards the unfortunate lady who, 
 pale with fright and rigid as a statue, stood clasping her 
 boy to her side. The mganga, however, anticipated them. 
 Having pushed his way through the infuriated throng, he 
 seized the child and held him high in the air, as though 
 about to hurl him to the ground, a peace-offering to the 
 offended gods. 
 
 Mrs. Weldon gave a piercing shriek, and fell senseless to 
 the earth. 
 
 Lifting her up, and making a sign to the queen that all 
 would now be right, the mganga retreated carrying both 
 mother and child through the crowd, who retreated before 
 him and made an open passage. 
 
 Alvez now felt that it was time to interfere. Already one 
 of his prisoners had eluded his vigilance, and was he now to 
 see two more carried off before his eyes ? was he to lose 
 the whole of the expected ransom ? no, rather would he see 
 Kazonnde destroyed by a deluge, than resign his chance of 
 securing so good a prize. Darting forwards he attempted to 
 obstruct the magician's progress ; but public opinion was 
 against him ; at a sign from the queen, he was seized by the 
 guards, and he was aware well enough of what would be the 
 immediate consequence of resistance. He deemed it prudent 
 to desist from his obstruction, but in his heart he bitterly 
 cursed the stupid credulity of the natives for supposing that 
 the blood of the white woman or the child could avail to put 
 an end to the disasters they were suffering. 
 
 Making the natives understand that they were not to 
 follow him, the magician carried off his burden as easily as 
 a lion would carry a couple of kids. The lady was still 
 unconscious, and Jack was all but paralyzed with fright. 
 Once free of the enclosure the mganga crossed the towrt, 
 entered the forest, and after a march of three miles, during 
 
352 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 which he did not slacken his pace for a moment, reached 
 the bank of a river which was flowing towards the north. 
 
 Here in the cavity of a rock, concealed by drooping foliage, 
 a canoe was moored, covered with a kind of thatched roof; 
 on this the magician deposited his burden, and sending the 
 light craft into mid-stream with a vigorous kick, exclaimed 
 in a cheery voice, — 
 
 " Here they are, captain ! both of them ! Mrs. Weldon 
 and Master Jack, both ! We will be off now ! I hope those 
 idiots of Kazonnde" will have plenty more rain yet ! Off we 
 go!" 
 
DRIFTING DOWN THE STREAM. 353 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 DRIFTING DOWN THE STREAM. 
 
 "Off we go!" It was the voice of Hercules addressing 
 Dick Sands, who, frightfully debilitated by recent sufferings, 
 was leaning against Cousin Benedict for support. Dingo 
 was lying at his feet. 
 
 Mrs. Weldon gradually recovered her consciousness. 
 Looking around her in amazement she caught sight of 
 Dick. 
 
 " Dick, is it you ? '' she muttered feebly. 
 
 The lad with some difficulty arose, and took her hand in 
 his, while Jack overwhelmed him with kisses. 
 
 " And who would have thought it was you, Hercules, that 
 carried us away ? " said the child ; " I did not know you a 
 bit ; you were so dreadfully ugly." 
 
 " I was a sort of a devil, you know, Master Jack," Hercule9 
 answered; "and the devil is not particularly handsome;' 
 and he began rubbing his chest vigorously to get rid of the 
 white pattern with which he had adorned it. 
 
 Mrs. Weldon held out her hand to him with a grateful 
 smile. 
 
 " Yes, Mrs. Weldon, he has saved you, and although he 
 does not own it, he has saved me too," said Dick. 
 
 "Saved !" repeated Hercules, "you must not talk about 
 safety, for you are not saved yet." 
 
 And pointing to Benedict, he continued, — 
 
 " That's where your thanks are due ; unless he had com6 
 
 PART II. Z 
 
354 DI CK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 and informed me all about you and where you were, I should 
 have known nothing, and should have been powerless to aid 
 you." 
 
 It was now five days since he had fallen in -with the ento- 
 mologist as he was chasing the manticora, and unceremoni- 
 ously had carried him off. 
 
 ' As the canoe drifted rapidly along the stream, Hercules 
 briefly related his adventures since his escape from the en- 
 campment on the Coanza. He described how he had fol- 
 lowed the kitanda which was conveying Mrs. Weldon ; how 
 in the course of his march he had found Dingo badly 
 wounded ; how he and the dog together had reached the 
 neighbourhood of Kazonnde", and how he had contrived to 
 send a note to Dick, intending to inform him of Mrs. Weldon's 
 destination. Then he went on to say that since his unex- 
 pected rencontre with Cousin Benedict he had watched very 
 closely for a chance to get into the guarded depot, but until 
 now had entirely failed. A celebrated mganga had been 
 passing on his way through the forest, and he had resolved 
 upon impersonating him as a means of gaining the admit- 
 tance he wanted. His strength made the undertaking suffi- 
 ciently easy ; and having stripped the magician of his para- 
 phernalia, and bound him securely to a tree, he painted his 
 own body with a pattern like that which he observed on his 
 victim's chest, and having attired himself with the magical 
 garments was quite equipped to impose upon the credulous 
 natives. The result of his stratagem they had all that day 
 witnessed. 
 
 He had hardly finished his account of himself when Mrs. 
 Weldon, smiling at his success, turned to Dick. 
 
 " And how, all this time, my dear boy, has it fared with 
 you ? " she asked. 
 
 Dick said,^ 
 
 " I remember very little to tell you. I recollect being 
 fastened to a stake in the river-bed and the water rising and 
 rising till it was above my head. My last thoughts were 
 
 to 
 
DRIFTING DOWN THE STREAM. 355 
 
 about yourself and Jack. Then everything became a blank, 
 and I knew nothing more until I found myself amongst the 
 papyrus on the river-bank, with Hercules tending me like a 
 nurse." 
 
 " You see I am the right sort of mganga" interposed 
 Hercules ; " I am a doctor as well as a conjuror." 
 " But tell me, Hercules, how did you save him?" 
 " Oh, it was not a difficult matter by any means,' 
 answered Hercules modestly ; " it was dark, you know, so 
 that at the proper moment it was quite possible to wade in 
 amongst the poor wretches at the bottom of the trench, and 
 to wrench the stake from its socket. Anybody could have 
 done it. Cousin Benedict could have done it. Dingo, too, 
 might have done it. Perhaps, after all, it was Dingo that 
 did it." 
 
 " No, no, Hercules, that won't do," cried Jack ; "besides, 
 look, Dingo is shaking his head ; he is telling you he didn't 
 do it." 
 
 " Dingo must not tell tales, Master Jack," said Hercules, 
 laughing. 
 
 But, nevertheless, although the brave fellow's modesty 
 prompted him to conceal it, it was clear that he had accom- 
 plished a daring feat, of which few would have ventured to 
 incur the risk. 
 
 Inquiry was next made after Tom, Bat, Actseon, and 
 Austin. His countenance fell, and large tears gathered in 
 his eyes as Hercules told how he had seen them pass through 
 the forest in a slave-caravan. They were gone ; he feared 
 they were gone for ever. 
 
 Mrs. Weldon tried to console him with the hope that they 
 might still be spared to meet again some day ; but he shook 
 his head mournfully. She then communicated to Dick 
 the terms of the compact that had been entered into for her 
 own release, and observed that under the circumstances it 
 might really have been more prudent for her to remain in 
 Kazonnde". 
 
 Z 2 
 
356 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 " Then I have made a mistake ; I have been an idiot, in 
 bringing you away," said Hercules, ever ready to depreciate 
 his own actions. 
 
 " No," said Dick ; " you have made no mistake ; you 
 could not have done better ; those rascals, ten chances to 
 one, will only get Mr. Weldon into some trap. We must 
 get to Mossamedes before Negoro arrives ; once there, we 
 shall find that the Portuguese authorities will lend us their 
 protection, and when old Alvez arrives to claim his 100,000 
 dollars — " 
 
 " He shall receive a good thrashing for his pains," said 
 Hercules, finishing Dick's sentence, and chuckling heartily 
 at the prospect. 
 
 It was agreed on all hands that it was most important that 
 Negoro's arrival at Mossamedes should be forestalled. The 
 plan which Dick had so long contemplated of reaching the 
 coast by descending some river seemed now in a fair way of 
 being accomplished, and from the northerly direction in 
 which they were proceeding it was quite probable that they 
 would ultimately reach the Zaire, and in that case not actually 
 arrive at St. Paul de Loanda ; but that would be immaterial, 
 as they would be sure of finding help anywhere in the 
 colonies of Lower Guinea. 
 
 On finding himself on the river-bank, Dick's first thought 
 had been to embark upon one of the floating islands that are 
 continually to be seen upon the surface of the African 
 streams, but it happened that Hercules during one of his 
 rambles found a native boat that had run adrift. It was 
 just the discovery that suited their need. It was one of 
 the long, narrow canoes, thirty feet in length by three or 
 four in breadth, that with a large number of paddles can 
 be driven with immense velocity, but by the aid of a 
 single skull can be safely guided down the current of a 
 stream. 
 
 Dick was somewhat afraid that, to elude observation, it 
 would be necessary to proceed only by night, but as the loss 
 
DRIFTING DOWN THE STREAM. 357 
 
 of twelve hours out of the twenty-four would double the 
 length of the voyage, he devised the plan of covering the 
 canoe with a roof of long grass, supported by a horizontal 
 pole from stem to stern, and this not only afforded a shelter 
 from the sun, but so effectually concealed the craft, rudder- 
 scull and all, that the very birds mistook it for one of the 
 natural islets, and red-beaked gulls, black arringhas and 
 grey and white kingfishers would frequently alight upon it in 
 search of food. 
 
 Though comparatively free from fatigue, the voyage must 
 necessarily be long, and by no means free from danger, 
 and the daily supply of provisions was not easy to procure. 
 If fishing failed, Dick had the one gun which Hercules 
 had carried away with him from the ant-hill, and as he 
 was by no means a bad shot, he hoped to find plenty of 
 game, either along the banks or by firing through a loop- 
 hole in the thatch. 
 
 The rate of the current, as far as he could tell, was about 
 two miles an hour, enough to carry them about fifty miles a 
 day ; it was a speed, however, that made it necessary for 
 them to keep a sharp look-out for any rocks or submerged 
 trunks of trees, as well as to be on their guard against rapids 
 and cataracts. 
 
 Dick's strength and spirits all revived at the delight of 
 having Mrs. Weldon and Jack restored to him, and he 
 assumed his post at the bow of the canoe, directing Hercules 
 how to use the scull at the stern. A litter of soft grass was 
 made for Mrs. Weldon, who spent most of her time lying 
 thoughtfully in the shade. Cousin Benedict was very taci- 
 turn ; he had not recovered the loss of the manticora, and 
 frowned ever and again at Hercules, as if he had not yet 
 forgiven him for stopping him in the chase. Jack, who had 
 been told that he must not be noisy, amused himself by 
 playing with Dingo. 
 
 The first two days passed without any special incident. 
 The stock of provisions was quite enough for that time, so 
 
358 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 that there was no need to disembark, and Dick merely lay 
 to for a few hours in the night to take a little necessary 
 repose. 
 
 The stream nowhere exceeded 150 feet in breadth. The 
 floating islands moved at the same pace as the canoe, and 
 except from some unforeseen circumstance, there could be 
 no apprehension of a collision. The banks were destitute 
 of human inhabitants, but were richly clothed with wild 
 plants, of which the blossoms were of the most gorgeous 
 colours ; the asclepiae, the gladiolus, the clematis, lilies, 
 aloes, umbelliferae, arborescent ferns and fragrant shrubs, 
 combining on either hand to make a border of surpassing 
 beauty. Here and there the forest extended to the very 
 shore, and copal-trees, acacias with their stiff foliage, bau- 
 hinias clothed with lichen, fig-trees with their masses of pen- 
 dant roots, and other trees of splendid growth rose to the 
 height of a hundred feet, forming a shade which the rays of 
 the sun utterly failed to penetrate. 
 
 Occasionally a wreath of creepers would form an arch 
 from shore to shore, and on the 27th, to Jack's great delight 
 a group of monkeys was seen crossing one of these natural 
 bridges, holding on most carefully by their tails, lest the 
 aerial pathway should snap beneath their weight. These 
 monkeys, belonging to a smaller kind of chimpanzee, which 
 are known in Central Africa by the name of sokos, were 
 hideous creatures with low foreheads, bright yellow faces, 
 and long, upright ears ; they herd in troops of about ten, 
 bark like dogs, and are much dreaded by the natives on 
 account of their alleged propensity to carry off young 
 children ; there is no telling what predatory designs they 
 might have formed against Master Jack if they had spied 
 him out, but Dick's artifice effectually screened him from 
 their observation. 
 
 Twenty miles further on the canoe came to a sudden 
 standstill. 
 
 "What's the matter now, captain?" cried Hercules from 
 the stern. 
 
DRIFTING DOWN THE STREAM. 359 
 
 " Wc have drifted on to a grass barrier, and there is no 
 hope for it, we shall have to cut our way through," answered 
 Dick. 
 
 "All right, I dare say we shall manage it," promptly replied 
 Hercules, leaving his rudder to come in front. 
 
 The obstruction was formed by the interlacing of masses 
 of the tough, glossy grass known by the name of tikatika, 
 which, when compressed, affords a surface so compact and 
 resisting that travellers have been known by means of it to 
 cross rivers dry-footed. Splendid specimens of lotus plants 
 had taken root amongst the vegetation. 
 
 As it was nearly dark, Hercules could leave the boat 
 without much fear of detection, and so effectually did he 
 wield his hatchet that, in two hours after the stoppage, the 
 barrier was hewn asunder, and the light craft resumed the 
 channel. 
 
 It must be owned that it was with a sense of reluctance 
 that Benedict felt the boat was again beginning to move for- 
 ward ; the whole voyage appeared to him to be perfectly 
 uninteresting and unnecessary ; not a single insect had he 
 observed since he left Kazonnde', and his most ardent wish 
 was that he could return there and regain possession of his 
 invaluable tin box. But an unlooked-for gratification was in 
 store for him. 
 
 Hercules, who had been his pupil long enough to have an 
 eye for the kind of creature Benedict was ever trying to 
 secure, on coming back from his exertions on the grass- 
 barrier, brought a horrible-looking animal, and submitted it 
 to the sullen entomologist. 
 
 " Is this of any use to you ? " 
 
 The amateur lifted it up carefully, and having almost 
 poked it into his near-sighted eyes, uttered a cry of 
 delight, — 
 
 "Bravo, Hercules ! you are making amends for your past 
 mischief ; it is splendid ! it is unique ! " 
 
 " Is it really very curious ?" said Mrs. Weldon. 
 
360 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 " Yes, indeed," answered the enraptured naturalist ; " it is 
 really unique ; it belongs to neither of the ten orders ; it can 
 be classed neither with the coleoptera, neuroptera, nor to 
 the hymenoptera : if it had eight legs I should know how to 
 classify it ; I should place it amongst the second section of 
 the arachnida ; but it is a hexapod, a genuine hexapod ; a 
 spider with six legs ; a grand discovery ; it must be entered 
 on the catalogue as ' Hexapodes Benedictus.'" Once again 
 mounted on his hobby, the worthy enthusiast continued to 
 discourse with an unwonted vivacity to his indulgent if not 
 over attentive audience. 
 
 Meanwhile the canoe was steadily threading its way over 
 the dark waters, the silence of the night broken only by the 
 rattle of the scales of some crocodiles, or by the snorting of 
 hippopotamuses in the neighbourhood. Once the travellers 
 were startled by a loud noise, such as might proceed from 
 some ponderous machinery in motion : it was caused by a 
 troop of a hundred or more elephants that, after feasting 
 through the day on the roots of the forest, had come to 
 quench their thirst at the river-side. 
 
 But no danger was to be apprehended ; lighted by the 
 pale moon that rose over the tall trees, the canoe throughout 
 the night pursued in safety its solitary voyage. 
 
AN ANXIOUS VOYAGE. 36 1 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 AN ANXIOUS VOYAGE. 
 
 Thus the canoe drifted on for a week, the forests that for 
 many miles had skirted the river ultimately giving place to 
 extensive jungles that stretched far away to the horizon. 
 Destitute, fortunately for the travellers, of human inhabi- 
 tants, the district abounded in a large variety of animal 
 life ; zebras, elands, caamas, sported on the bank, dis- 
 appearing at night-fall before howling leopards and roaring 
 lions. 
 
 It was Dick's general custom, as he lay to for a while in 
 the afternoon, to go ashore in search of food, and as the 
 manioc, maize, and sorghum that were to be found were of 
 a wild growth and consequently not fit for consumption, he 
 was obliged to run the risk of using his gun. On the 4th 
 ot July he succeeded by a single shot in killing a ftokoo, a 
 kind of antelope about five feet long, with annulated horns, 
 a tawny skin dappled with bright spots, and a white belly. 
 The venison proved excellent, and was roasted over a fire 
 procured by the primitive method, practised, it is said, even 
 by gorillas, of rubbing two sticks together. 
 
 In spite of these halts, and the time taken for the night's 
 rest, the distance accomplished by the 8th could not be 
 estimated at less than a hundred miles. The river, 
 augmented by only a few insignificant tributaries, had not 
 materially increased in volume ; its direction, however, had 
 slightly changed more to the north-west. It afforded a very 
 
362 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 fair supply of fish, which were caught by lines made of the long 
 stems of creepers furnished with thorns instead offish-hooks, 
 a considerable proportion being the delicate sandjikas, 
 which when dried may be transported to any climate ; 
 besides these there were the black usakas, the wide-headed 
 monndeSy and occasionally the little dagalas, resembling 
 Thames whitebait. 
 
 Next day, Dick met with an adventure that put all his 
 courage and composure to the test. He had noticed the 
 horns of a caama projecting above the brushwood, and 
 went ashore alone with the intention of securing it. He 
 succeeded in getting tolerably close to it and fired, but he 
 was terribly startled when a formidable creature bounded 
 along some thirty paces ahead, and took possession of the 
 prey he had just wounded. 
 
 It was a majestic lion, at least five feet in height, of the 
 kind called kdramoo, in distinction to the maneless species 
 known as the Nyassi-lion. Before Dick had time to reload, 
 the huge brute had caught sight of him, and without relax- 
 ing its hold upon the writhing antelope beneath its claws, 
 glared upon him fiercely. Dick's presence of mind did 
 not forsake him ; flight he knew was not to be thought of; 
 his only chance he felt intuitively would be by keeping 
 perfectly still ; and aware that the beast would be unlikely 
 to give up a struggling prey for another that was motionless, 
 he stood face to face with his foe, not venturing to move an 
 eyelid. In a few minutes the lion's patience seemed to be 
 exhausted ; with a grand stateliness, it picked up the caama 
 as easily as a dog would lift a hare, turned round, and 
 lashing the bushes with its tail, disappeared in the jungle. 
 
 It took Dick some little time to recover himself suffi- 
 ciently to return to the canoe. On arriving, he said nothing 
 of the peril to which he had been exposed, but heartily 
 congratulated himself that they had means of transport 
 without making their way through jungles and forests. 
 
 As they advanced, they repeatedly came across evidences 
 
He stood face to face with his foe. 
 
AN ANXIOUS VOYAGE. 3 6 5 
 
 that the country had not been always, as now it was, utterly 
 devoid of population ; more than once, they observed traces 
 which betokened the former existence of villages ; either 
 some ruined palisades or the debris of some thatched huts, 
 or some solitary sacred tree within an enclosure would 
 indicate that the death of a chief had, according to custom, 
 made a native tribe migrate to new quarters. 
 
 If natives were still dwelling in the district, as was just 
 probable, they must have been living underground, only 
 emerging at night like beasts of prey, from which they were 
 only a grade removed. 
 
 Dick Sands had every reason to feci convinced that 
 cannibalism had been practised in the neighbourhood. 
 Three times, as he was wandering in the forest, he had come 
 upon piles of ashes and half-charred human bones, the 
 remnants, no doubt, of a ghastly meal, and although he 
 mentioned nothing of what he had seen to Mrs. Weldon, he 
 made up his mind to go ashore as seldom as possible, and 
 as often as he found it absolutely necessary to go, he gave 
 Hercules strict directions to push off into mid-stream at the 
 very first intimation of danger. 
 
 A new cause of anxiety arose on the following evening, 
 and made it necessary for them to take the most guarded 
 measures of precaution. The liver-bed had widened out 
 into a kind of lagoon, and on the right side of this, built 
 upon piles in the water, not only was there a collection of 
 about thirty huts, but the fires gleaming under the thatch, 
 made it evident that they were all inhabited. Unfortunately 
 the only channel of the stream flowed close under the huts, 
 the river elsewhere being so obstructed with rocks that 
 navigation of any kind was impossible. Nothing was 
 more probable than that the natives would have set their 
 nets all across the piles, and if so, the canoe would be sure 
 to be obstructed, and an alarm must inevitably be raised. 
 Every caution seemed to be unavailing, because the canoe 
 must follow the stream ; however, in the lowest of whispers 
 
366 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 Dick order Hercules to keep clear as much as he could 
 of the worm-eaten timber. The night was not very dark, 
 which was equally an advantage and a disadvantage, as 
 while it permitted those on board to steer as they wanted, 
 it did not prevent them from being seen. 
 
 The situation became more and more critical. About a 
 hundred feet ahead, the channel was very contracted ; two 
 natives, gesticulating violently, were seen squatting on the 
 pilework ; a few moments more and their voices could be 
 heard ; it was obvious that they had seen the floating 
 mass ; apprehending that it was going to destroy their 
 nets, they yelled aloud and shouted for assistance ; instantly 
 five or six negroes scrambled down the piles, and perched 
 themselves upon the cross-beams. 
 
 On board the canoe the profoundest silence was main- 
 tained. Dick only signalled his directions to Hercules, 
 without uttering a word, while Jack performed his part by 
 holding Dingo's mouth tightly closed, to stop the lowgrowl- 
 ings which the faithful watch-dog seemed resolved to make ; 
 but fortunately every sound was overpowered by the rushing 
 of the stream and the clamour of the negroes, as they hur- 
 riedly drew in their nets. If they should raise them in time, 
 all might be well, but if, on the other hand, the canoe should 
 get entangled, the consequences could hardly fail to be 
 disastrous. The current in its narrow channel was so strong 
 that Dick was powerless either to modify his course or to 
 slacken it. 
 
 Haifa minute more, and the canoe was right under the 
 woodwork, but the efforts of the natives had already elevated 
 the nets so that the anticipated danger was happily escaped ; 
 but it chanced that in making its way through the obstacle, 
 a large piece of the grass-thatch got detached. One of the 
 negroes raised a sudden shout of alarm, and it seemed only 
 too probable that he had caught a sight of the travellers 
 below and was informing his companions. This appre- 
 hension, too, was only momentary ; the current had 
 
AN ANXIOUS VOYAGE. 367 
 
 changed almost to a rapid, and carried the canoe along 
 with such velocity that the lacustrine village was quickly out 
 of sight. 
 
 "Steer to the left !" cried Dick, finding that the river-bed 
 had again become clear. 
 
 A stiff pull at the tiller made the craft fly in that 
 direction. 
 
 Dick went to the stern, and scanned the moonlit waters. 
 All was perfectly still, no canoe was in pursuit ; perhaps 
 the natives had not one to use ; but certain it was that when 
 daylight dawned no vestige of an inhabitant was to be seen. 
 Nevertheless Dick thought it prudent for a while to steer 
 close under the shelter of the left-hand shore. 
 
 By the end of the next four days the aspect of the country 
 had undergone a remarkable change, the jungle having given 
 place to a desert as dreary as the Kalahari itself. The river 
 appeared interminable, and it became a matter of serious 
 consideration how to get a sufficiency of food. Fish was 
 scarce, or at least hard to catch, and the arid soil provided 
 no means of sustenance for antelopes, so that nothing was to 
 be gained from the chase. Carnivorous animals also had 
 quite disappeared, and the silence of the night was broken, 
 not by the roar of wild beasts, but by the croaking of frogs 
 in a discordant chorus, which Cameron has compared to the 
 clanking of hammers and the grating of files in a ship- 
 builder's yard. 
 
 Far away both to the east and west the outlines of hills 
 could be faintly discerned, but the shores on either hand 
 were perfectly flat and devoid of trees. Euphorbias, it is 
 true, grew in considerable numbers, but as they were only 
 of the oil-producing species, and not the kind from which 
 cassava or manioc is procured, they were useless in an 
 alimentary point of view. 
 
 Dick was becoming more and more perplexed, when 
 Hercules happened to mention that the natives often eat 
 young fern-fronds and the pith of the papyrus, and that 
 
368 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 before now he had himself been reduced to the necessity of 
 subsisting on nothing better. 
 
 " We must try them,'* said Dick. 
 
 Both ferns and papyrus abounded on the banks, and a 
 meal was prepared, the sweet soft pith of the papyrus 
 being found very palatable. Jack in particular appeared 
 to enjoy it extremely, but it was not in any way a satisfying 
 diet. 
 
 Thanks to Cousin Benedict, a fresh variety in the matter 
 of food was found on the following day. Since the discovery 
 of the " Hexapodes Benedictus " he had recovered his 
 spirits, and, having fastened his prize safely inside his hat, 
 he wandered about, as often as he had a chance, in his 
 favourite pursuit of insect-hunting. As he was rummaging 
 in the long grass, he put up a bird which flew but a very 
 short distance. Benedict recognized it by its peculiar note, 
 and, seeing Dick take his gun to aim at it, exclaimed, — 
 
 " Don't fire ! don't fire ! that bird will be worth nothing 
 for food among five of us." 
 
 " It will be dinner enough for Jack," said Dick, who, 
 finding that the bird did not seem in a hurry to make its 
 escape, delayed his shot for a moment, without intending to 
 be diverted from his purpose of securing it. 
 
 " You mustn't fire," insisted Benedict, " it is an indicator ; 
 it will show you where there are lots of honey." 
 
 Aware that a few pounds of honey would really be of 
 more value than a little bird, Dick lowered his gun, and in 
 company with the entomologist set off to follow the indi- 
 cator, which seemed, by alternately flying and stopping, to 
 be inviting them to come on, and they had but a little way 
 to go before they observed several swarms of bees buzzing 
 around some old stems hidden amongst the euphorbias. 
 Notwithstanding Benedict's remonstrances against depriving 
 the bees of the fruits of their industry, Dick instantly set to 
 work, and without remorse suffocated them by burning dry 
 grass underneath. Having secured a good amount of honey, 
 
AN ANXIOUS VOYAGE. 369 
 
 he left the comb to the indicator as its share of the booty, 
 and went back with his companion to the canoe. 
 
 The honey was acceptable, but it did not do much to 
 alleviate the cravings of hunger. 
 
 Next day it happened that they had just stopped for their 
 accustomed rest, when they observed that an enormous swarm 
 of grasshoppers had settled at the mouth of a creek close by. 
 Two or three deep they covered the soil, myriads and myriads 
 of them adhering to every shrub. 
 
 "The natives eat those grasshoppers," said Benedict, 
 " and like them too.'' 
 
 1 The remark produced an instant effect ; all hands were 
 busied in collecting them, and a large supply was quickly 
 gathered : the canoe might have been filled ten times over. 
 Grilled over a slow fire, they were found to be very palatable 
 eating, and, spite of his qualms of conscience, Benedict him- 
 self made a hearty meal. 
 
 But although the gnawings of absolute hunger were thus 
 assuaged, all the travellers began to long most anxiously for 
 the voyage to come to an end. The mode of transit indeed 
 might be less exhausting to the bodily powers than a land 
 march would have been, but the excessive heat by day, the 
 damp mists at night, and the incessant attacks of mosquitoes, 
 all combined to render the passage extremely trying. There 
 was no telling how long it would last, and Dick was equally 
 uncertain whether it might end in a few days, or be pro- 
 tracted for a month. The direction which the stream was 
 taking was itself a subject of perplexity. 
 
 A fresh surprise was now in store. 
 
 As Jack, a few mornings afterwards, was standing at the 
 bow peering through an aperture in the grass canopy above 
 him, he suddenly turned round and cried, — 
 
 " The sea ! the sea ! " 
 
 Dick started forwards, and looked eagerly in the same 
 direction. A large expanse of water was visible in the horizon, 
 but after having surveyed it for a moment or two, he said, — 
 
 PART II. A a 
 
370 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 " No, Jack, it is not the sea, it is a great river ; it is run- 
 ning west, and I suppose this river runs into it. Perhaps it 
 is the Zaire." 
 
 " Let us hope it is," said Mrs. Weldon earnestly. 
 
 Most cordially did Dick Sands re-echo her words, being 
 well aware that at the mouth of that river were Portuguese 
 villages, where a refuge might assuredly be found. 
 
 For several succeeding days the canoe, still concealed by 
 its covering, floated on the silvery surface of this new-found 
 stream. On either side the banks became less arid, and 
 there seemed everything to encourage the few survivors of 
 the '' Pilgrim " to believe that they would soon see the last 
 of the perils and toils of their journey. 
 
 They were too sanguine. Towards three o'clock on the 
 morning of the 18th, Dick, who was at his usual post at the 
 bow, fancied he heard a dull rumbling towards the west. 
 Mrs. Weldon, Jack, and Benedict, were all asleep. Calling 
 Hercules to him, he asked him whether he could not 
 hear a strange noise. The night was perfectly calm, 
 and not a breath of air was stirring. The negro listened 
 attentively, and suddenly, ' his eyes sparkling with delight, 
 exclaimed, — 
 
 " Yes, captain, I hear the sea ! '' 
 
 Dick shook his head and answered,— 
 
 " It is not the sea, Hercules." 
 
 " Not the sea ! '' cried the negro, " then what can it 
 be?" 
 
 " We must wait till daybreak," replied Dick, " and mean- 
 while we shall have to keep a sharp look-out." 
 
 Hercules returned to his place, but only to continue 
 listening with ever-increasing curiosity. The rumbling 
 perceptibly increased till it became a continued roar. 
 
 With scarcely any intervening twilight night passed into 
 day. Just in front, scarcely more than half a mile ahead, 
 a great mist was hanging over the river ; it was not an 
 ordinary fog, and when the sun. rose, the light of the dawn 
 
AN ANXIOUS VOYAGE. 37 1 
 
 caused a brilliant rainbow to arch itself from shore to 
 shore. 
 
 In a voice so loud that it awoke Mrs. Weldon, Dick gave 
 his order to Hercules to steer for the bank : — 
 
 " Quick, quick, Hercules ! ashore ! ashore ! there are 
 cataracts close ahead ! " 
 
 And so it was. Within little more than a quarter of a 
 mile the bed of the river sank abruptly some hundred feet, 
 and the foaming waters rushed down in a magnificent fall 
 with irresistible velocity. A few minutes more and the 
 canoe must have been swallowed in the deep abyss, 
 
 A a 2 
 
372 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 AN ATTACK. 
 
 The canoe inclined to the west readily enough ; the fall in 
 the river-bed was so sudden that the current remained quite 
 unaffected by the cataract at a distance of three hundred 
 yards. 
 
 On the bank were woods so dense that sunlight could not 
 penetrate the shade. Dick was conscious of a sad misgiving 
 when he looked at the character of the territory through 
 which they must necessarily pass. It did not seem 
 practicable by any means to convey the canoe below the 
 falls. 
 
 As they neared the shore, Dingo became intensely 
 agitated. At first Dick suspected that a wild beast or a 
 native might be lurking in the papyrus, but it soon became 
 obvious that the dog was excited by grief rather than by 
 rage. 
 
 " Dingo is crying," said Jack ; " poor Dingo ! " and the 
 child laid his arms over the creature's neck. 
 
 The dog, however, was too impatient to be caressed ; 
 bounding away, he sprang into the water, swam across the 
 twenty feet that intervened between the shore, and dis- 
 appeared in the grass. 
 
 In a few moments the boat had glided on to a carpet of 
 confervae and other aquatic plants, starting a few kingfishers 
 and some snow-white herons. Hercules moored it to the 
 stump of a tree, and the travellers went ashore. 
 
AN ATTACK. 373 
 
 There was no pathway through the forest, only the trampled 
 moss showed that the place had been recently visited either 
 by animals or men. 
 
 Dick took his gun and Hercules his hatchet, and they set 
 out to search for Dingo. They had not far to go before 
 they saw him with his nose close to the ground, manifestly 
 following a scent ; the animal raised his head for a moment, 
 as if beckoning them to follow, and kept on till he reached 
 an old sycamore-stump. Having called out to the rest of 
 the party to join them, Dick made his way farther into the 
 wood till he got up to Dingo, who was whining piteously at 
 the entrance of a dilapidated hut. 
 
 The rest were not long in following, and they all entered 
 the hut together. The floor was strewn with bones whitened 
 by exposure. 
 
 " Some one has died here,'' said Mrs. Weldon. 
 
 " Perhaps," added Dick, as if struck by a sudden thought^ 
 " it was Dingo's old master. Look at him ! he is pointing 
 with his paw." 
 
 The portion of the sycamore-trunk which formed the 
 farther side of the hut had been stripped of its bark, and 
 upon the smooth wood were two great letters in dingy 
 red almost effaced by time, but yet plain enough to be 
 distinguished. 
 
 " S. V.," cried Dick, as he looked where the dog's paw 
 rested ; " the same initials that Dingo has upon his collar. 
 There can be no mistake. S. V." 
 
 A small copper box, green with verdigris, caught his eye, 
 and he picked it up. It was open, but contained a scrap 
 of discoloured paper. The writing upon this consisted of a 
 few sentences, of which only detached words could be made 
 out, but they revealed the sad truth only too plainly. 
 
 " Robbed by Negoro — murdered — Dingo — Help — Negoro 
 guide — 1 20 miles from coast — December 3rd, 1871 — write 
 no more. 
 
 " S. Vernon." 
 
374 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 Here was the clue to a melancholy story. Samuel Vernon, 
 under the guidance of Negoro, and taking with him his dog 
 Dingo, had set out on an exploration of a district of Central 
 Africa ; he had taken a considerable quantity of money to 
 procure the necessary supplies on the way, and this had 
 excited the cupidity of his guide, who seized the opportunity, 
 whilst they were encamping on the banks of the Congo, to 
 assassinate his employer, and get possession of his property. 
 Negoro, however, had not escaped ; he had fallen into the 
 hands of the Portuguese, by whom he was recognized as an 
 agent of the slave-dealer Alvez, and condemned to spend the 
 rest of his days in prison. He contrived after a while to 
 make his escape, and, as has been already mentioned, found 
 his way to New Zealand, whence he had returned by securing 
 an engagement on board the " Pilgrim." Between the time 
 when he was attacked by Negoro and the moment of his 
 death, Vernon had managed to write the few brief lines of 
 which the fragments still survived, and to deposit the 
 document in the box from which the money had been stolen, 
 and by a last effort had traced out his initials in blood upon 
 the naked wood which formed the wall of the hut. For 
 many days Dingo watched beside his master, and throughout 
 that time his eyes were resting so perpetually upon the two 
 crimson letters in front of him, that mere instinct seemed to 
 fasten them indelibly on his memory. Quitting his watch 
 one day, perhaps to pacify his hunger, the dog wandered 
 to the coast, where he was picked up by the captain 
 of the " Waldeck,'' afterwards to be transferred to the very 
 ship on which his owner's murderer had been engaged as 
 cook. 
 
 All throughout this time poor Vernon's bones had been 
 bleaching in the African forest, and the first resolution of 
 Dick and Mrs. Weldon was to give the residue of his 
 remains some semblance of a decent burial. They were 
 just proceeding to their task when Dingo gave a furious 
 growl, and dashed out of the hut ; another moment, and a 
 
AN ATTACK. 375 
 
 terrible shriek made it evident that he was in conflict with 
 some dread antagonist. 
 
 Hercules was quickly in pursuit, and the whole party 
 followed in time to witness the giant hurl himself upon a 
 man with whom already Dingo was in mortal combat. The 
 dog was gripping the man by the throat, the man was lifting 
 his cutlass high above the head of the dog. 
 
 That man was Negoro. The rascal, on getting his letter 
 at Kazonnde", instead of embarking at once for America, had 
 left his native escort for a while, and returned to the scene 
 of his crime to secure the treasure which he had left buried 
 at a little distance in a spot that he had marked. At this 
 very moment he was in the act of digging up the gold he had 
 concealed ; some glistening coins scattered here and there 
 betrayed his purpose ; but in the midst of his labours he had 
 been startled by the dashing forward of a dog ; another 
 instant, and the dog had fixed itself upon his throat, whilst 
 he, in an agony of desperation, had drawn his cutlass and 
 plunged it deep into the creature's side. 
 
 Hercules came up at the very climax of the death-struggle. 
 
 " You villain ! you accursed villain ! I have you now ! '' 
 he cried, about to seize hold of his victim. 
 
 But vengeance was already accomplished. Negoro gave 
 no sign of life ; death had overtaken him on the very scene 
 of his guilt. Dingo, too, had received a mortal wound ; he 
 dragged himself back to the hut, lay down beside the 
 remains of his master, and expired. 
 
 The sad task of burying Vernon's bones and laying his 
 faithful dog beside them having been accomplished, the whole 
 party was obliged to turn their thoughts to their own safety. 
 Although Negoro was dead, it was very likely that the 
 natives that he had taken with him were at no great distance, 
 and would come to search for him. 
 
 A hurried conference was held as to what steps had best 
 be taken. The few words traceable on the paper made them 
 aware that they were on the banks of the Congo, and that 
 
376 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 they were still 120 miles from the coast. The fall just 
 ahead was probably the cataract of Ntemo, but whatever it 
 was, no doubt it effectually barred their farther progress by 
 water. There seemed no alternative but that they should 
 make their way by one bank or the other a mile or two 
 below the waterfall, and there construct a raft on which 
 once again they could drift down the stream. The question 
 that pressed for immediate settlement was which bank it 
 should be. Here, on the left bank, would be the greater 
 risk of encountering the negro escort of Negoro, while as to 
 the farther shore they could not tell what obstacles it might 
 present. 
 
 Altogether Mrs. Weldon advocated trying the other side, 
 but Dick insisted upon crossing first by himself to as- 
 certain whether an advance by that route were really prac- 
 ticable. 
 
 " The river is only about 100 yards wide," he urged ; " I 
 can soon get across. I shall leave Hercules to look after 
 you all." 
 
 Mrs. Weldon demurred for a while, but Dick seemed 
 resolute, and as he promised to take his gun and not to 
 attempt to land if he saw the least symptom of danger, she 
 at last consented, but with so much reluctance that even after 
 he had entered the canoe she said, — ! 
 
 " I think, Dick, it would be really better for us all to go 
 together." 
 
 " No, Mrs. Weldon, indeed, no ; I am sure it is best for 
 me to go alone ; I shall be back in an hour." 
 
 " If it must be so, it must," said the lady. 
 
 " Keep a sharp look-out, Hercules ! " cried the youth 
 cheerily, as he pushed off from the land. 
 
 The strength of the current was by no means violent, 
 but quite enough to make the direction of Dick's course 
 somewhat oblique. The roar of the cataract reverberated 
 in his ears, and the spray, wafted by the westerly wind, 
 brushed lightly past his face, and he shuddered as he felt how 
 
AN ATTACK. 377 
 
 near they must have been to destruction if he had relaxed his 
 watch throughout the night. 
 
 It took him hardly a quarter of an hour to reach the 
 opposite bank, and he was just preparing to land when there 
 arose a tremendous shout from about a dozen natives, who, 
 rushing forward, began to tear away the canopy of grass with 
 which the canoe was covered. 
 
 Dick's horror was great. It would have been greater 
 still if he had known that they were cannibals. They were 
 the natives settled at the lacustrine village higher up the 
 river. When the piece of thatch had been knocked off in 
 passing the piles, a glimpse had been caught of the 
 passengers below, and aware that the cataract ahead must 
 ultimately bring them to a standstill, the eager barbarians 
 had followed them persistently day by day for the last eight 
 days. 
 
 Now they thought they had secured their prize, but loud 
 was their yell of disappointment when on stripping off the 
 thatch they found only one person, and that a mere boy, 
 standing beneath it. 
 
 Dick stood as calmly as he could at the bow, and pointed 
 his gun towards the>savages, who were sufficiently acquainted 
 with the nature of fire-arms to make them afraid to attack him. 
 
 Mrs. Weldon with the others, in their eagerness to watch 
 Dick's movements, had remained standing upon the shore 
 of the river, and at this instant were caught sight of by one 
 of the natives, who pointed them out to his companions. A 
 sudden impulse seized the whole of them, and they sprang 
 into the canoe ; there seemed to be a practised hand amongst 
 them, which caught hold of the rudder-oar, and the little craft 
 was quickly on its way back. . 
 
 Although he gave up all as now well-nigh lost, Dick 
 neither moved nor spoke. He had one lingering hope yet 
 left. Was it not possible even now that by sacrificing his 
 own life he could save the lives of those that were entrusted 
 to him ? 
 
378 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 When the canoe had come near enough to the shore for 
 his voice to be heard, he shouted with all his might, — 
 
 " Fly, Mrs. Weldon ; fly, all of you ; fly for your lives ! " 
 
 But neither Mrs. Weldon nor Hercules stirred ; they 
 seemed rooted to the ground. 
 
 " Fly, fly, fly ! " he continued shouting. 
 
 But though he knew they must hear him, yet he saw them 
 make no effort to escape. He understood their meaning ; of 
 what avail was flight when the savages would be upon their 
 track in a few minutes after ? 
 
 A sudden thought crossed his mind. He raised his gun 
 and fired at the man who was steering ; the bullet shattered 
 the rudder-scull into fragments. 
 
 The cannibals uttered a yell of terror. Deprived of 
 guidance, the canoe was at the mercy of the current, and, 
 borne along with increasing speed, was soon within a hundred 
 feet of the cataract. 
 
 The anxious watchers on the bank instantly discerned 
 Dick's purpose, and understood that in order to save them he 
 had formed the resolution of precipitating himself with the 
 savages into the seething waters. 
 
 Nothing could avail to arrest the swift descent. Mrs. 
 Weldon in an agony of despair waved her hands in a last 
 sad farewell, Jack and Benedict seemed paralyzed, whilst 
 Hercules involuntarily extended his great strong arm that 
 was powerless to aid. 
 
 Suddenly the natives, impelled by a last frantic effort to 
 reach the shore, plunged into the water, but their move- 
 ment capsized the boat. 
 
 Face to face with death, Dick lost nothing of his 
 indomitable presence of mind. Might not that light canoe, 
 floating bottom upwards, be made the means for yet 
 another grasp at life? The danger that threatened him 
 was twofold ; there was the risk of suffocation as well, as 
 the peril of being drowned ; could not the inverted canoe 
 be used for a kind of float at once to keep his head above 
 
AN ATTACK. 379 
 
 water and to serve as a screen from the rushing air ? He 
 had some faint recollection of how it had been proved 
 possible under some such conditions to descend in safety 
 the falls of Niagara. 
 
 Quick as lightning he seized hold of the cross-bench of 
 the canoe, and with his head out of water beneath the up- 
 turned keel, he was dashed down the furious and well-nigh 
 perpendicular fall. 
 
 Tne craft sank deep into the abyss, but rose quickly 
 again to the surface. Here was Dick's chance ; he was a 
 good swimmer, and his life depended now upon his strength 
 of arm. 
 
 It was a hard struggle, but he succeeded. In a quarter 
 of an hour he had landed on the left-hand bank, where he 
 was greeted with the joyful congratulations of his friends, 
 who had hurried to the foot of the fall to assure themselves 
 of his fate. 
 
 The cannibals had all disappeared in the surging waters. 
 Unprotected in their fall, they had doubtless ceased to 
 breathe before reaching the lowest depths of the cataract, 
 where their lifeless bodies would soon be dashed to pieces 
 against the sharp rocks that were scattered along the lower 
 course of the stream. 
 
3S0 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 A HAPPY RE-UNION. 
 
 Two days after Dick's marvellous deliverance the party 
 had the good fortune to fall in with a caravan of honest 
 Portuguese ivory-traders on their way to Emboma, at the 
 mouth of the Congo. They rendered the fugitives every 
 assistance, and thus enabled them to reach the coast without 
 further discomfort. 
 
 This meeting with the caravan was a most fortunate 
 occurrence, as any project of launching a raft upon the 
 Zaire would have been quite impracticable, the river between 
 the Ntemo and Yellala Falls being a continuous series of 
 cataracts. Stanley counted as many as sixty-two, and it was 
 hereabouts that that brave traveller sustained the last of 
 thirty-one conflicts with the natives, escaping almost by a 
 miracle from the Mbelo cataract. 
 
 Before the middle of August the party arrived at Emboma, 
 where they were hospitably received by M. Motta Viega 
 and Mr. Harrison. A steamer was just on the point of 
 starting for the Isthmus of Panama ; in this they took their 
 passage, and in due time set foot once more upon American 
 soil. 
 
 Forthwith a message was despatched to Mr. Weldon, 
 apprising him of the return of the wife and child over whose 
 loss he had mourned so long. On the 25th the railroad 
 deposited the travellers at San Francisco, the only thing to 
 mar their happiness being the recollection that Tom and his 
 partners were not with them to share their joy. 
 
A HAPPY RE-UNION, 38 1 
 
 Mr. Weldon had every reason to congratulate himself that 
 Negoro had failed to reach him. No doubt he would have 
 been ready to sacrifice the bulk of his fortune, and without 
 a moment's hesitation would have set out for the coast of 
 Africa, but who could question that he would there have been 
 exposed to the vilest treachery ? He felt that to Dick Sands 
 and to Hercules he owed a debt of gratitude that it would be 
 impossible to repay ; Dick assumed more than ever the place 
 of an adopted son, whilst the brave negro was regarded as a 
 true and faithful friend. 
 
 Cousin Benedict, it must be owned, failed to share for long 
 the general joy. After giving Mr. Weldon a hasty shake of 
 the hand, he hurried off to his private room, and resumed his 
 studies almost as if they had never been interrupted. He 
 ,set himself vigorously to work with the design of producing 
 an elaborate treatise upon the " Hexapodes Benedictus " 
 hitherto unknown to entomological research. Here in his 
 private chamber spectacles and magnifying-glass were ready 
 for his use, and he was now able for the first time with the aid 
 of proper appliances to examine the unique production of 
 Central Africa. 
 
 A shriek of horror and disappointment escaped his lips. 
 The Hexapodes Benedictus was not a hexapod at all. It was 
 a common spider. Hercules, in catching it, had unfortunately 
 broken off its two front legs, and Benedict, almost blind as 
 he was, had failed to detect the accident. His chagrin was 
 most pitiable, the wonderful discovery that was to have 
 exalted his name high in the annals of science belonged 
 simply to the common order of the arachnids. The blow to 
 his aspirations was very heavy ; it brought on a fit of illness 
 from which it took him some time to recover. 
 
 For the next three years Dick was entrusted with the 
 education of little Jack during the intervals he could spare 
 from the prosecution of his own studies, into which he 
 threw himself with an energy quickened by a kind of re- 
 morse. 
 
382 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. 
 
 "If only I had known what a seaman ought to know 
 when I was left to myself on board the '. Pilgrim,' " he would 
 continually say, " what misery and suffering we might have 
 been spared ! " 
 
 So diligently did he apply himself to the technical branches 
 of his profession that at the age of eighteen he received a 
 special certificate of honour, and was at once raised to the 
 rank of a captain in Mr. Weldon's firm. 
 
 Thus by his industry and good conduct did the poor 
 foundling of Sandy Hook rise to a post of distinction. In 
 spite of his youth, he commanded universal respect ; his 
 native modesty and straightforwardness never failed him, and 
 for his own part, he seemed to be unconscious of those fine 
 traits in his character which had impelled him to deeds that 
 made him little short of a hero. 
 
 His leisure moments, however, were often troubled by 
 one source of sadness ; he could never forget the four negroes 
 for whose misfortunes he held himself by his own inexperience 
 to be in a way responsible. Mrs. Weldon thoroughly 
 shared his regret, and would have made many sacrifices to 
 discover what had become of them. This anxiety was at 
 length relieved. 
 
 Owing to the large correspondence of Mr. Weldon in 
 almost every quarter of the world, it was discovered that the 
 whole of them had been sold in one lot, and that they were 
 now in Madagascar. Without listening for a moment to 
 Dick's proposal to apply all his savings to effect their 
 liberation, Mr. Weldon set his own agents to negotiate for 
 their freedom, and on the 15th of November, 1877, Tom, Bat, 
 Actaeon, and Austin awaited their welcome at the merchant's 
 door. It is needless to say how warm were the greetings 
 they received. 
 
 Out of all the survivors of the " Pilgrim " that had been 
 cast upon the fatal coast of Africa, old Nan alone was wanting 
 to complete the number. Considering what they had all 
 undergone, and the perils to which they had been exposed, 
 
A HAPPY RE-UNION. 383 
 
 it seemed little short of a miracle that she and poor Dingo 
 should be the only victims. 
 
 High was the festivity that night in the house of the 
 Californian merchant, and the toast, proposed at Mrs. 
 Weldon's request, that was received with the loudest 
 acclamation was 
 
 "Dick Sands, the boy captain ! " 
 
 THE END. 
 
LONDON : 
 
 gilbert and rivin'gton', limited, 
 st. John's square.