"S. V."

           Withavigorousplowoftheoar,Herculeshadpushedtowardtheleftbank.Besides,thecurrentwasnotmorerapidinthatplace,andthebedoftheriverkeptitsnormaldeclivitytothefalls.Ashasbeensaid,itwasthesuddensinkingoftheground,andtheattractionwasonlyfeltthreeorfourhundredfeetabovethecataract.

           Ontheleftbankwerelargeandverythicktrees.Nolightpenetratedtheirimpenetrablecurtain.ItwasnotwithoutterrorthatDickSandlookedatthisterritory,inhabitedbythecannibalsoftheLowerCongo,whichhemustnowcross,becausetheboatcouldnolongerfollowthestream.Hecouldnotdreamofcarryingitbelowthefalls.Itwasaterribleblowforthesepoorpeople,ontheeveperhapsofreachingthePortuguesevillagesatitsmouth.Theywerewellaided,however.WouldnotHeavencometotheirassistance?

           Theboatsoonreachedtheleftbankoftheriver.Asitdrewnear,

           Dingogavestrangemarksofimpatienceandgriefatthesametime.

           DickSand,whowaswatchingtheanimal—forallwasdanger—askedhimselfifsomebeastorsomenativewasnotconcealedinthehighpapyrusofthebank.Buthesoonsawthattheanimalwasnotagitatedbyasentimentofanger.

           "OnewouldsaythatDingowascrying!"exclaimedlittleJack,clasping

           Dingoinhistwoarms.

           Dingoescapedfromhim,and,springingintothewater,whentheboatwasonlytwentyfeetfromthebank,reachedtheshoreanddisappearedamongthebushes.

           NeitherMrs.Weldon,norDickSand,norHercules,knewwhattothink.