224 I^ICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. clusters at considérable distances apart. Now, Dick tried to argue with himself, they must be coming to the true pampas, or the man must be designedly misleadîng them ; and yet what motive could he hâve ? Although during the earh'er part of the day there occurred nothing that could be said absolutely to justîfy Dick's increasing uneasiness, two circumstances transpired which did not escape his observation, and which, he felt, might be significant. The first of thèse was a sudden change in Dingo's behaviour. The dog, throughout the march, had uniformly run along with his nose upon the ground, smclling the grass and shrubs, and occasionally uttering a sad low vvhine; but to-day he scemed ail agitation ; he scampered about with bristling coat, with his head erect, and ever and again burst into one of those furious fits of barking, with which he had formerly been accustomed to grcet Negoro*s appearancc upon the deck of the *' Pilgrim." The idea that flitted across Dick's mind was shared by Tom. " Look, Mr. Dick, look at Dingo ; he is at his old ways again," said he ; " it is just as if Negoro . . . ."
- Hush !" said Dick to the old man, who continued in a
lower voice, — " It is just as if Negoro had followcd us ; do you think it is likely ? " " It might perhaps be to his advantagc to follow us, if he docsn't know the country ; but if hc does know the country, why thon . . . ." Dick did not finish his sentence, but whistlcd to Dingo. The dog reluctantly obeyed the call. As soon as the dog was at his side, Dick patted him, repcating, — " Good dog ! good Dingo ! wherc's Negoro ? '* The Sound of Ncgoro's name had its usual ciTcct ; it seemed to irritate the animal exceedingly, and hc barked furiously, and apparcntly wantcd to dash into the thicket. Harris had been an interested spectator of the scène, anJ now approachcd with a pcculiar expression on his
