446 I>ICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. CHAPTER XVII. DRIFTING DOWN TH£ STREAU. • Off we go ! " It was the voîce of Hercules addressing Dick Sands, who, frightfuUy debilitated by récent sufTerings, was leaning agaînst Cousin Benedict for support Dingo was lying at his feet Mrs. Weldon gradually recovered her consciousness, Looking around her in amazement she caught sight of Dick. " Dick, is it you ? " she muttered feebly. The lad with some difficulty arose, and took her hand in his, while Jack overwhelmed him with kisses. " And who would hâve thought it was you. Hercules, that carried us away i " said the child ; ** I did not know you a bit ; you wcre so dreadfully ugly." " I was a sort of a devil, you know, Master Jack," Hercules answered ; " and the devil is not particularly handsome ;" and he began rubbing his chest vigorously to get rid of the white pattern with which he had adorned it. Mrs. Weldon held out her hand to him with a grateful smile.
- ' Yes, Mrs. Weldon, he has saved you, and although he
does not own it, he has saved me too," said Dick. "Saved ! " repeated Hercules, "you must not talk about safety, for you are not saved yet" And pointing to Benedict, he contînued, — " That's where your thanks are due ; unless he had corne and informed me ail about you and where you were, I
