Page:Dick Sands the Boy Captain.djvu/179

LAND AT LAST. I53 The wind remained brisk, and the schooner was driving directiy towards the land, wîth sails shortened as seemed désirable ; but Dick realîzed to hîmself the fact that he was utterly incapable of alterîng her course. With eager eyes he scrutinized hîs situation. Straîght 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 hâve 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 undertaken ; he was aware from the white foam, that there was shallow water on eîther hand ; but he kept the secret of the péril to himself, and sought no counsel in coming to his fixed résolve. Dingo had been trottîng up and down the deck. Ail at once he bounded to the fore, and broke out into a piteous howl. It roused Dick from hîs anxious cogita- tions. Was it possible that the animal recognized the coast } It almost seemed as if it brought back some pain- ful associations* The howling of the dog had manîfestly attracted Ne- goro's attention ; the man emerged from his cabin, and, r^;ardless of the dog, stood close to the netting ; 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 tîme 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 tumed round to Mrs. Weldon, and said quîctly,—