Page:Dick Sands the Boy Captain.djvu/218

 192 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. cast ashore Dick had noticed a remarkable change in the dog^s behaviour; the animal was in a constant state of agitation, always apparently on the search for some lost scent, and repeatedly giving vent to a low gfrowl, 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 hâve kept him in the ranks. Witfa 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 when- ever 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 tîmes 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 I " almost shrieked the excited entomologist " Yes, and your spectacles as well ! " added Mrs. Weldon mercilessly ; " I am glad you hâve reminded me of another means of reducing you to obédience ! " 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 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 hâve his own way, especially as Hercules volunteered to keep his eye upon him, and to endeavour to guard the worthy naturalist as carefully as he would himself protect some precious