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
- Pilgrim/ the vessel by which I came hère, put in at
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.
