Page:Dick Sands the Boy Captain.djvu/43

 A RESCUE. 29 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 hâve my soup, and I will do without," said the boy, and he kept shouting, " Good dog ! good dog ! " until he persuaded himself that he heard the animal responding 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 starboard netting. 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 a standstill 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* continuai yelping ; it made the most vigourous efforts to retain its hold upon the netting, but perpetually slipped backwards and fell off again upon the inclining deck. It was soon manifest, however, that ail the noise the créature was making was not directed exclusively towards those who were coming to its rescue, and Mrs. Weldon could not divest herself of the impression that there must be some survivors still on board. Ail at once the animal changed its gestures. Instead of the crouching attitude and sup- plicating 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. 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 corne 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 forecastle, whence, without a word