Burly Bill and his meerschaum were getting on remarkably well together, the Don was rolling a cigarette, when suddenly Brawn started up as if from a dream, and stood with his ears pricked and his head a little to one side, gazing out into the darkness.
He uttered no warning growl, and made no sound of any sort, but his tail was gently agitated, as if something pleased him.
Then with one impatient "Yap!" he sprang away, and was seen no more for a few minutes.
"What can ail the dog?" said Roland.
"What, indeed?" said Dick.
And now footsteps soft and slow were heard approaching the tent, and next minute poor Benee himself staggered in and almost fell at Roland's feet.
The honest hound seemed almost beside himself with joy, but he had sense enough to know that his old favourite, Benee, was exhausted and ill, and, looking up into his young master's face, appeared to plead for his assistance.
Benee's cheeks were hollow, his feet were cut and bleeding, and yet as he lay there he smiled feebly.
"I am happy now," he murmured, and forthwith fell asleep.
Both Roland and Dick trembled. They thought that sleep might be the sleep of death, but Don Rodrigo, after feeling Benee's pulse, assured them that it was all right, and that the poor fellow only needed rest and food.