Lacy needed no second invitation.
He seized the food with a cry of joy and began devouring it ravenously.
“God bless you, my girl!” he exclaimed, hoarsely; “you have saved my life. But my dog must have something, too. I will call him, and share with him.”
He gave a long whistle, and in a few moments Jupiter came rushing from a pile of rocks with the speed of an antelope.
The scent he had taken had proved but a myth, after all, and the dog, like his master, being very hungry, soon forgot all about it.
He scarcely noticed the dead picuasus, but at once eagerly swallowed the food Lacy gave him.
“Now, Azurma,” said Leo, “can you take us back to the village?”
“I can, and will at once, O my——”
“Hold on,” interrupted the boy. “Call me Leo; don’t use any more high-fangled titles—I don’t like it.”
“Be it as you say, then, Leo. Whenever you are ready, I will conduct you safely to your friends and mine.”