Page:Dick Sands the Boy Captain.djvu/99

 PREPARATIONS FOR AN ATTACK. 7$ " Ay, ay, sir" replied the apprentice. By hîs gestures the captain showed that he was under some émotion ; he called eut again, but the beat had made such headway that ît was too far off for any words to be heard. Dingo broke out înto a piteous howl. The dog was still standing erect, his eye upon the boat in the distance. To the saîlors, ever superstitions, the howling was not reassuring. Even Mrs. Weldon was startled. " Why, Dingo, Dingo," she exclaîmed, " this isn't the way to encourage your friends. Corne hère, sir ; you must behave better than that ! " Sinking down on ail fours the animal walked slowly up to Mrs. Weldon, and began to lick her hand. Ali at once the dog gave a savage growl. As she tumed her head, Mrs. Weldon caught sîght ojf N^orô making his way to the forecastle, probably actuated by the gênerai spirit of curiosity to follow the manœuvres of the whale-boat He stopped and seized a handspike as soon as he saw the ferocious attitude of the dog. The lady was quîte unable to pacify the animal, which seemed about to fly upon the throat of the cook, but Dick Sands called out loudly, — " Down, Dingo, down ! " The dog obeyed ; but ît seemed to be wîth extrême reluctance that he returned to Dick's sîde ; 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," heanswered, significantly clenching his fists. Dick took his station at the helm, whence he kept an eamest watch upon the whale-boat, which under the vigour- ous plying of the seamen's oars had become little more than a speck upon the water.
 * Ah ! " muttered old Tom, shaking his head solemnly,
 * he doesn't wag his tail at ail. A bad omen."