him to look in if he comes to town."

"Yes," thought Nic as they passed on; "it must be a dream, and I shall
wake soon."

It grew more and more dream-like to him as the track was followed among
the trees till a rough landing-place was reached, formed by some huge
stakes driven down into the mud, with heavy planks stretched over to
them, and others laid across. The reddening sun was turning the gliding
water to gold, as it ran up the river now, for the flood-tide was
running fast; and as they drew nearer, Nic caught sight of what looked
like the launch of some large vessel swinging by a rope fastened to an
upright of the landing-stage.

Just then one of the blacks uttered a peculiar, melodious cry, the great
dogs bounded on to the stage and began to bark, and a couple of blacks,
dressed like those about him, sprang up in the boat, where they had been
lying asleep, and began to haul upon the now unfastened rope to draw the
craft up to the stage.

Nic's head was throbbing again, and the unreality and novelty of the
scene increased.

"I shall wake soon," he said to himself. "How strange it is!"

For at that moment, as the boat came abreast, he saw one of the great
dogs leap from the stage, run to the stern, and sit down, the others
following and joining it behind the seat provided with a back rail.

It seemed to be no new thing to the blacks, for the huge fellow who had
acted as smith stepped down into the boat, followed by his assistant,
walked aft, and deposited his bag with the dogs, and then stooped down
and drew from under the side-seat a couple of muskets, one of which he
handed to his assistant, both examining their priming, and then seating
themselves one on either side of the boat, with their guns between their
legs, watching the embarkation.

"You next," said the overseer to Pete; and the prisoner walked to the
edge, made as if to leap, but checked himself and climbed down, feeling
that the other way would have been risky, weighted as his legs were by
the shackles. "Help your young mate," said the overseer roughly; and
Pete's eyes flashed as he stood up and held out his hand to Nic, who
shrank from the contact as his wrist was caught. Then he descended
feebly into the boat, and then had to be helped right forward, to sit
down close to one of the blacks who was now holding on to the woodwork
with a boat-hook.

The other prisoners followed awkwardly enough in their irons, and took
the places pointed