gers and the boys had
not returned--"to look for Boss;" their joy knowing no bounds when they
came back in a couple of hours, without finding those they had sought,
and seeing them waiting there.

CHAPTER THIRTY NINE.

HOW DICK CAPTURED FOUR YARDS OF ANIMAL.

Mr Rogers' description of the death of the gentle, harmless beast--its
piteous looks, the great tears rolling from its expressive eyes, and its
many struggles to get away, somewhat damped the ardour of Dick and Jack,
who settled in council that it was too bad to shoot giraffe, and as they
had a skin of the great creature, which was stretched out to dry, they
would shoot no more.

As for that magnificent skin, Rough'un seemed to consider that it was
placed there for his especial benefit; and to the great disgust of
Pompey, Caesar, and Crassus, who were tied up and could not join, but
had to be content at straining at their chains and looking-on, Rough'un
amused himself by licking the skin, especially where there were little
bits of fat, till he was tired, and then creeping under the hairy side
to sleep.

This he kept up for a whole day. The second day he gave it up, for the
skin was rapidly assuming the character of a hard board; but the
triumvirate were as impatient as ever, and barked incessantly.

This annoyed Dinny, who borrowed Peter's great whip to administer
punishment; but at the first crack and howl, Rough'un, who was loyalty
itself to his kind, left the hard skin that he had been smelling and
scratching with his forepaw, and flew at Dinny, exclaiming in dog
language,--

"Let them alone, you coward; you wouldn't dare to hurt them if they were
free."

"Ah, get out, ye ugly murthering baste," roared Dinny, cracking the
whip, but in no way intimidating Rough'un, who seemed to know that he
was perfectly safe, the whip being only available for use at long
distances, and Rough'un keeping close to, and baying and charging at
Dinny's legs.

"Be off, or I'll be the death of you," said Dinny, cracking the whip
again; but in nowise dismayed, Rough'un kept up the attack, till Dinny
literally turned, and fled to obtain his rifle; when Rough'un gave a
final bark, and growled at the triumvirate, and the triumvirate were so
much obliged that they growled at Rough'un, who coiled himself up in the
sun on the malodorous skin and went to sleep.

Dick and Jack were busy saddling their horses while this took place, and
stood laughing and enjoying the scene. T