"Would you be inhuman enough to leave me to such a fate as this?" demanded Dick, in horror.
"You got yourself in this box—I had nothing to do with it. How can you expect me to help you if you are not willing to help me?"
"I can do nothing for you, Joseph Farvel. But I would not leave a dog in such a helpless situation as this."
"I would—if the dog stood ready to do me an injury—and that is what you are ready to do, in helping Robert Menden."
So speaking, Farvel withdrew to a distance and consulted in a low tone with the Carib who accompanied him.
The negro nodded, and then both hurried away through the wood at the top of their speed, leaving Dick once more alone.
If the youth had been downcast before he was doubly so now. He was up to his armpits in the swamp, and such a thing as getting out alone was entirely out of the question.
But now something welcome broke upon his ears. From afar came the bark of a dog. It was Dash, who had been sent to follow up his trail; and a few minutes later the faithful animal came into appearance from the direction of the wood where the boy had spent the night.
"Dash! Good dog!" cried Dick, and Dash came bounding toward him. Luckily the dog was not so heavy but that the moss would support him, although he had to move around with care.
"Are you alone, Dash?" asked Dick, and the dog set up a lone howl, at the same time pointing his nose into the air.