"Luff, Bolton, luff a bit!"
The "Pilgrim" by this time was not much more than three cables' lengths from the ship, there was still no token of her being otherwise than utterly deserted, when Dick Sands suddenly exclaimed,-
"Hark! if I am not much mistaken, that is a dog barking!"
Every one listened attentively; it was no fancy on Dick's part, sure enough a stifled barking could be heard, as if some unfortunate dog had been imprisoned beneath the hatchways; but as the deck was not yet visible, it was impossible at present to determine the precise truth.
Mrs Weldon pleaded,-
"If it is only a dog, captain, let it be saved."
"Oh, yes, yes, mamma, the dog must be saved!" cried
[Illustration: Negoro had approached without being noticed by any one]
little Jack; "I will go and get a bit of sugar ready for it."
"A bit of sugar, my child, will not be much for a starved dog."