cks, for
he had been one of the first to leave the boat, and had seen hardly
anything by the light of the lanthorns.

"Poor wretch!" he sighed. "I hope he is not dead."

Just then one of the other men said, in the broad Devon burr:

"Zay, lads, bean't they going to give uz zum'at to eat?"

"Brakfus-time," said another. "Zay, Humpy, how is it with ye? Not
thuzty, are you? Oughtn't to be, after all that water."

"I'm going to make zumun pay for all this," came in the man's familiar
growl. "Why didn't you get hold o' me and pull me in? Zet o' vools.
Had your chance; and we might ha' got away."

"Why, it was all your fault," said another. "We was waitin' for you.
What did you go and stop zo long under water for?"

"Did I?" said Humpy confusedly.

"Course you did. We was too good mates to go and leave you behind."

There was a heavy bang at the door, as if from the butt of a musket, and
the dogs leaped up and began to growl.

"Lie down, boys," cried a thick voice, the words sounding as if spoken
through a big keyhole. "An' I say, you chaps, look heah; de massa say
you make a row in dah I got to shoot."

"All right, blackie," said one of the prisoners; "don't shoot.
Good-night, boys. I'm going to sleep."

Just at that moment Nic started, for there was a snuffling noise close
to him, the leaves rustled, and he felt the hot breath of one of the
dogs on his face.

But it was a friendly visit, for the great brute turned round two or
three times to trample down the dense bed of leaves, and settled itself
into a comfortable curve, with its big head upon the poor fellow's
chest, making Nic wonder whether it was the dog which had been friendly
before.

He risked it: raising his hand, he laid it gently between the animal's
soft ears, and there was a low muttering sound that was a big sigh of
satisfaction, not a growl; and Nic felt as if the companionship of the
dog was pleasant in his terrible loneliness and despair. It was warm
and soothing, too, and seemed like the beginning of something hopeful--
he knew not what. Then he began to think of home, and a sensation of
prayerful thankfulness came over him as he felt that his head was
growing clearer. The next minute all trouble, pain, and weariness were
forgotten in a deep and dreamless sleep.

CHAPTER TWENTY TWO.

REACHING THE PLANTATION.

A deep growl and a loud burst of barking roused Nic Revel from his deep
sleep, free from fever, calm and refr