More "woofs."
"Where is Commander Jacklin?"
Silence.
"Are you alive?"
"Woof! Woof!"
"Am I alive?"
Silence.
"Is your name Ponto?" I ventured again.
"Where is Von Bieberstein?" I demanded but my question was drowned in a storm of barking.
"I's tired, mammy," came the child's voice. "Silver-Bell's tired."