did he feel that he was afraid he should be unable to reach the
shore with his melancholy freight.

He was puffing and blowing away, and making but slow progress, when he
saw Neptune--who had disappeared in the same mysterious way as he had
done on the previous day--coming scampering along the beach. He called
the dog, who with a bound plunged in and swam towards him. He placed
the tow-rope in the mouth of the animal, who, seeming to know perfectly
well what to do, swam with it towards the shore, allowing his master to
rest his hand on his back. He thus, in a much shorter time than would
otherwise have been possible, reached the beach. He felt so fatigued
that he had to rest while the hot sun dried his body, before he could
again put on his clothes.

Neptune, who was now aware of the freight he had brought ashore, waited
as if to see what more was required of him. Suddenly he seemed to
recollect that he had another duty to perform, and running back to the
spot from which he had leapt into the water, he took up a pigeon, which
he brought to his master.

"You are a wonderful dog," said Lord Reginald, patting his head. "How
have you managed to catch this bird?"

He would gladly have got through the painful task he had set himself,
but the pangs of hunger made him determine to cook the bird first.
Following the plan he had adopted on the previous evening, he soon had
it plucked and spitted. As he opened the crop he was surprised to see
three large nuts drop to the ground, which split as they fell; it seemed
wonderful that the pigeon could have swallowed them, large as they were.
The kernels, which he put into the fire and roasted, were especially
nice and served instead of bread. Neptune, as before, came in for the
remainder of the bird. He ate it up, but not greedily, as if he was in
want of food. "The rogue has been catering for himself, I suspect I
hope that he may bring me something for dinner, for though a pigeon a
day is something, sufficient to keep body and soul together, I shall
require more to retain my strength." As he again rose a sensation of
lassitude oppressed him. He felt very much disinclined for the painful
task he had undertaken. It must be done, however, and rousing himself
he seized the wooden spade he had before used, and set to work to dig a
grave near that of Voules. He had not long been engaged in his task,
when looking up he saw Richard Hargrave approaching. This at once made
him