e."

"Hark at him now!" cried Dinny. "Why the river swarms wid 'em. Did
they ate the black boys?"

"No, of course not. What nonsense! Come, catch hold, and let's go."

"Masther Dick, dear, I've a mother at home in the owld country, and if
anything was to happen to me, she'd never forgive the masther."

"Catch hold, Dinny. I tell you there's nothing to fear."

"Sure, Masther Dick, dear, an' I'm not afraid--not the laste bit in the
worrld; but I couldn't go across there to-night. Wouldn't ye fetch one
of the horses, Masther Dick?"

"No," cried Dick impatiently. "I couldn't do that. Here, I'll get down
and wade, and you can ride."

"Thank ye, Masther Dick, dear. Sure, it's an honourable gintleman ye'll
make, if ye don't let the crockydivils get ye before your time. That's
betther," he said, mounting. "Howlt on very tight to the horse's mane,
Masther Dick; and if ye feel one of the bastes feeling and poking ye
about wid his nose before getting a good grip, jist you call out, and
I'll put on the speed to drag ye away."

"I wouldn't let my feet dabble in the water, Dinny," said Dick,
wickedly. "The crocodiles snap at hands or feet held over in their
track."

"What'll I do, then?" cried Dinny, in alarm.

"I'd put my feet in my pockets, if I were you," said Dick.

"Sure, an' it's a boy ye are for a joke, Masther Dick," cried Dinny
grimly. "I'll howlt me legs up very high. Ah! what are ye shouting
about? We're coming."

"Make haste there, Dick. Is anything wrong?"

"No, father!" shouted back Dick. "There, get along with you. Give him
his head, Dinny, and he'll go straight across."

"I'd better make him canter, hadn't I, Masther Dick, dear?"

"Canter? Nonsense! Why, the poor thing has enough to do to keep his
feet walking."

"Then it isn't safe at all crossing the river, Masther Dick, dear. And
ah, I daren't go like this, wid me riding the good honest baste and you
walking. What'll the masther say?"

"That you are a terrible coward, Dinny," replied Dick.

"Be aisy, Masther Dick. It isn't being a coward, it's thinking av my
poor mother, and taking care of meself for the poor owld sowl's sake.
Whisht, Masther Dick, dear, jump up behind and hold on by me, and the
baste'll carry us both over."

"It's rather hard on the horse, Dinny, but I don't want to get wet, so
here goes. Hold tight."

Dick took a leap, "fly the garter" fashion, and came down astride the
bay, but startling it so th