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270 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. The giant, without waiting for a reply, took the dûU from Nan's arms so gently that he did not even rouse Um from his slumber. The wcapons wcrc ncxt carefully examîned. and the provisions, having been repacked into one parcel, were con- signcd to the charge of Actson, who undertook to cany thcm on his back. Cousin Benedict, whose wîry lîmbs seemed capable of bcaring any amount of fatigue, was quîte ready to start It was doubtful whcther he had noticed Harris's dîsappear- ance ; he was sufiering from a loss which to him was of far grcatcr importance. Hc had mislaid his spectacles and magnifying-glass. It had happencd that Bat had picked them up in the long grass, close to the spot where the amateur naturalist had been lyîng, but actîng on a hînt from Dîck Sands, hc said nothîng about them ; in thîs way the cntomologist, who, without his glasses could scarcely sce a yard beyond his face, might becxpectedto bekept without trouble in the limits of the ranks, and having been placed between Actaeon and Austîn with strict injunctions not to leave their sidc, he followcd them as submissively as a blind man in leading-strings. The start was made. But scarcely had the little troop advanced fifty yards upon their way, when Tom suddenly cried out, — "Where's Dingo?" With ail the force of his tremendous lungs. Hercules gave a séries of réverbérât ing shouts : — "Dingo! Dingo! Dingo!" Not a bark could be distinguished in reply. " Dingo ! Dingo ! Dingo ! " again echoed in the air. But ail was silence. Dick was intenscly annoycd at the non-appearancc of the dog ; his présence would hâve been an additîonal safe- guard in the event of any sudden surprise. " Perhaps he has foUowed Harris," suggested Tom. " Far more likely he is on the track of Negoro," re- joined Dick. " Then Negoro, to a dead certainty," said Hercules, " will ^ut a buUet into his head."