ers were returning, he
smiled, the animal stopping short and staring down at him closely.

"Well, old fellow," he said gently; "whose dog are you?"

Pete looked up sharply, and saw that every one's attention was centred
on the basket and pitcher, the two men serving out the provisions and
their two superiors looking on.

Then he glanced back again, to see in horror that Nic had raised his
hand to the dog's muzzle, and followed that up by taking hold of and
passing the animal's long, soft ears through his hand.

Pete would have seized the dog, but he felt paralysed by the thought
that if he interfered he might make matters worse; and then his heart
seemed to rise in his throat, for the great hound uttered a deep, short
bark, which had the effect of bringing the others to its side.

"Quiet, you, sirs!" cried their master, but he did not turn his head,
and the three dogs now pressed round Nic, the first planting his
fore-paws on the young man's chest, blinking at him with his jaws apart
and the long red tongue playing and quivering between the sets of keen
milk-white teeth, evidently liking the caresses it received, and of
which the other two appeared to be jealous, for they suddenly began to
whimper; and then the first threw up its head, and all three broke into
a loud baying.

"Quiet, there!" roared Saunders, and he turned sharply now, saw what had
taken place, and came back cracking his whip. "Ah!" he shouted. "Get
back! How dare you?"

The dogs growled, stood fast, and barked at him loudly.

"Good boys, then!" cried Saunders. "Yes, it's all right; you've found
him. There, that will do."

The dogs began to leap and bound about the place, while their master
turned to Pete.

"Why didn't you call me?" he said. "Have they bitten him?"

"No; haven't hurt him a bit," said Pete quietly.

"Lucky for him," said the man. "There, you see what they're like, and
know what you have to expect--What?"

"I said, are they your dogs?"

Pete stared, for it was Nic who spoke, perfectly calmly, though in a
feeble voice.

"Yes," replied Saunders. "Why?"

"I could not help admiring them. They are magnificent beasts."

"I am glad you like them, sir," said Saunders, with a mocking laugh; and
he turned and strode away, to order the men to take some of the food
they had brought to the other two prisoners, leaving Nic gazing after
him.

"Rather brusque," he said, half to himself, and then he passed his hand
over his