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 252 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. In a moment Harris had caught up his loaded gun ; and both men, starting to their feet, looked anxîously around them. '^ It was nothing/' said Harris presently ; " the stream is swollcnby the storm, that is ail ; yourtwo years' travelling has madc you forget the sounds of the forest, mate. Sit down again, and go on with your stor} When I know the past, I shall bc better able to talk about the future" They rescated themselves, and Negoro went on,— " For a whole year and a half I vegctated 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 livîng." " Poor fcUow ! I daresay you even tried the trade of being an honest man," put in the American. "Just so" said Negoro, "and in course of tîme the Auckland. While she was waîting to take Mrs. Weldon and hcr party on board, I applied to the captain for a post, for I was once mate on board a slaver, and know some- thing of scamanship. The * Pilgrim's ' crew was complète, but fortunatcly the ship's cookhad just deserted ; I offered to supply his place ; in dcfault of better my services wcrc acceptcd, and in a fcw days we were out of sîght of New Zcaland." " I hâve heard somcthing about the voyage from young Sands," said Harris, " but cven now I can't understand how you rcachcd hcrc." " Ncither docs hc," saîd Negoro, with a malicîous grîn. " I will tell you now, and you may rcpeat the story to your young fricnd if you likc." " VVcll, go on," said Harris. " Whcn we startcd," continucd Negoro, " it was my in- tention to sail only as far as Chili : that would hâve brought me ncarly half way to Angola ; but three weeks aftcr Icaving Auckland, Captain Hull and ail his crew were lost in chasing a whale, and I and the apprentice were the only scamen left on board." " Then why in the name of peace didn't you take com- mand of ihc ship?" cxclaimcd Harris.
 * Pilgrim/ the vessel by which I came hère, put in at