П’ятнадцятирічний капітан

           Sohesaid,afterhavinggivenhimanevilglance:

           "ThelittleYankee!"

           "Yes,Yankee!"repliedDickSand."Whatdotheywishtodowithmycompanionsandme?"

           "Yankee!Yankee!Yankee!"repeatedAlvez.

           Didhenotorwouldhenotunderstandthequestionputtohim?

           AsecondtimeDickSandaskedthequestionregardinghiscompanionsandhimself.HethenturnedtoCoimbra,whosefeatures,degradedastheywerebytheabuseofalcoholicliquors,hesawwerenotofnativeorigin.

           CoimbrarepeatedthemenacinggesturealreadymadeatAustin,anddidnotanswer.

           DuringthistimeAlveztalkedrapidlywiththeArab,IbnHamis,andevidentlyofthingsthatconcernedDickSandandhisfriends.

           Nodoubttheyweretobeagainseparated,andwhocouldtellifanotherchancetoexchangeafewwordswouldeveragainbeofferedthem.

           "Myfriends,"saidDick,inalowvoice,andasifhewereonlyspeakingtohimself,"justafewwords!Ihavereceived,byDingo,aletterfromHercules.Hehasfollowedthecaravan.HarrisandNegorotookawayMrs.Weldon,Jack,andMr.Benedict.Where?Iknownot,iftheyarenothereatKazounde.Patience!courage!Bereadyatanymoment.Godmayyethavepityonus!"

           "AndNan?"quicklyaskedoldTom.

           "Nanisdead!"

           "Thefirst!"

           "Andthelast!"repliedDickSand,"forweknowwell——"

           Atthismomentahandwaslaidonhisshoulder,andheheardthesewords,spokenintheamiablevoicewhichheknewonlytoowell:

           "Ah,myyoungfriend,ifIamnotmistaken!Enchantedtoseeyouagain!"

           DickSandturned.

           Harriswasbeforehim.

           "WhereisMrs