П’ятнадцятирічний капітан

           ItwasthenthatDingo,itspawsstillrestingontherailing,gaveasortoflamentablebark,whichwouldhaveanunfavorableeffectuponmensomewhatgiventosuperstition.

           ThatbarkevenmadeMrs.Weldonshudder.

           "Dingo,"saidshe,"Dingo,isthatthewayyouencourageyourfriends?

           Come,now,afinebark,veryclear,verysonorous,veryjoyful."

           Butthedogbarkednomore,and,lettingitselffallbackonitspaws,itcameslowlytoMrs.Weldon,whosehanditlickedaffectionately.

           "Itdoesnotwagitstail,"murmuredTominalowtone."Badsign—badsign."

           ButalmostatonceDingostoodup,andahowlofangerescapedit.

           Mrs.Weldonturnedround.

           Negorohadjustlefthisquarters,andwasgoingtowardtheforecastle,withtheintention,nodoubt,oflookingforhimselfatthemovementsofthewhale-boat.

           Dingorushedattheheadcook,apreytothestrongestaswellastothemostinexplicablefury.

           Negoroseizedahand-spikeandtookanattitudeofdefense.

           Thedogwasgoingtospringathisthroat.

           "Here,Dingo,here!"criedDickSand,who,leavinghispostofobservationforaninstant,rantotheprowoftheship.

           Mrs.Weldononherside,soughttocalmthedog.

           Dingoobeyed,notwithoutrepugnance,andreturnedtotheyoungnovice,growlingsecretly.

           Negorohadnotpronouncedasingleword,buthisfacehadgrownpaleforamoment.Lettinggoofhishand-spike,heregainedhiscabin.

           "Hercules,"thensaidDickSand,"Ichargeyouespeciallytowatchoverthatman."

           "Ishallwatch,"simplyrepliedHercules,clenchinghistwoenormousfistsinsignofassent