t to the
door last.

"I've warned you," he said fiercely, as he turned to face the prisoners.
"Make the slightest movement, and those hounds will be at your throats
and rend you limb from limb. Good dogs, then--watch," he shouted; then
he banged the door, locked and barred it, and just then the settler's
voice was heard at a little distance.

"Here, Saunders," he cried; "two of the loaded muskets have been taken
from the hooks."

"Hor, hor!" laughed Pete savagely; "just found that out?"

He ceased, for three dogs sprang to their feet, uttering a furious
barking trio which made his heart seem to leap to his throat.

In the intense desire to save himself, Nic sprang up into a sitting
position and spoke quickly and gently, calling to the dog which had
shown a friendly disposition towards him from the first.

"Don't do that, Master Nic," said Pete hoarsely.

But even as the man spoke the dog was upon Nic's bunk, whining, pawing
at him, and thrusting its great muzzle in his hand, uttering the while a
low, eager bark.

The others barked too, and, as if in imitation of their companion, made
at Nic as well, favouring him with their clumsy caresses, and ending by
sitting close up to him, panting loudly.

"Have they killed you, Master Nic?" whispered Pete hoarsely, eliciting a
fierce growl from one of the brutes.

"Quiet," cried Nic loudly, and the growling ceased; while the next
moment from out of the darkness a great head began to nestle upon his
shoulder. "Good dog, then!" cried Nic, patting and stroking its head.
"There, I think you may venture to talk, Pete."

"Do you, zir? If I waren't beginning to think they'd done for you.
Aren't you hurt, then?"

"No; they are used to us now, and I don't think there's anything to
fear. Look here; do you dare to reach out your hand and pat him?"

"No, zir; I'm too great a coward. I was always feared of a dog's bite;
not of the dog."

Nic was silent for a few moments, and then he began to pat first one dog
and then another heavily, the great brutes submitting to the
familiarities evidently with satisfaction, one of them beginning to
bound about the shed, and returning to be caressed again.

"You order me to come close and pat one of 'em, Master Nic, and I will,"
said Pete hoarsely.

"Come on, then."

The man drew a deep breath and made the venture, with so much success
attending it that he tried it upon the others.

"Master Nic," he whispered excitedly, "what d