Пятнадцатилетний капитан

           "Hesays,yes,Hercules!hesays,yes!"criedlittleJack."Youseethenthatitwasyou!"

           "FriendDingo,"repliedHercules,caressingthedog,"thatiswrong.

           Youpromisedmenottobetrayme."

           Yes,itwasindeedHercules,whohadriskedhislifetosaveDickSand.Buthehaddoneit,andhismodestywouldnotallowhimtoagreetothefact.Besides,hethoughtitaverysimplething,andherepeatedthatanyoneofhiscompanionswouldhavedonethesameunderthecircumstances.

           ThisledMrs.WeldontospeakofoldTom,ofhisson,ofActeonand

           Bat,hisunfortunatecompanions.

           Theyhadstartedforthelakeregion.Herculeshadseenthempasswiththecaravanofslaves.Hehadfollowedthem,butnoopportunitytocommunicatewiththemhadpresenteditself.Theyweregone!theywerelost!

           Herculeshadbeenlaughingheartily,butnowheshedtearswhichhedidnottrytorestrain.

           "Donotcry,myfriend,"Mrs.Weldonsaidtohim."Godmaybemerciful,andallowustomeetthemagain."

           InafewwordssheinformedDickSandofallthathadhappenedduringherstayinAlvez’sfactory.

           "Perhaps,"sheadded,"itwouldhavebeenbettertohaveremainedat

           Kazounde."

           "WhatafoolIwas!"criedHercules.

           "No,Hercules,no!"saidDickSand."ThesewretcheswouldhavefoundmeanstodrawMr.Weldonintosomenewtrap.Letusfleetogether,andwithoutdelay.WeshallreachthecoastbeforeNegorocanreturntoMossamedes.