Пятнадцатилетний капитан / Dick Sand. A Captain at Fifteen. Уровень 2

Weldon; “how strange Dingo is! And look, too, at Negoro! What is he doing? He is trying to find something on the sore!”

“As to Negoro,” said Dick, “he may do as he pleases; I have no further control over him; his service expires with the loss of the ship.”

Negoro was in fact walking to and fro, he was surveying the shore. Soon he went towards the little river, and disappeared behind the cliff.

The first necessity was to find a temporary shelter. There was no lack of provisions; the negroes collected several kegs of biscuit, and a number of cases of preserved meat, besides a variety of other supplies.

Little Jack discovered the retreat. He found one of grottoes in the rock.

“Here, look here!” cried the child; “here’s a place!”

“Well done, Jack!” answered his mother; “your lucky discovery is just what we wanted!”

The grotto was a gigantic cavern. And it was capacious enough to receive the entire party.

Shortly after one o’clock the whole party were seated upon a carpet of seaweed round a repast.

Even Negoro returned and joined the group. He sat and was listening to the various plans for the future, and did not open his mouth. Dingo was outside the grotto and was their guard.

When the meal was ended, Mrs. Weldon spoke.

“My dear Dick,” she said, “let me beg you to be our guide upon land. We await your instructions.”

All eyes were turned upon Dick. Dick did not speak for some moments. After a while he said,-

“I think, Mrs.

Weldon, that we are ashore upon one of the parts of the coast of Peru, and that we are near the borders of the Pampas. In that case we are at a considerable distance from any village. We can stay here altogether for the night. Tomorrow morning, two of us can start off on an expedition.”

Mrs. Weldon asked, – “And who will undertake the task of exploring?”

“Tom and I.”

“And leave us here?” suggested the lady.

“There will be Hercules, Bat, Acteon and Austin with you.

Negoro, too, I presume,” said Dick, glancing towards the cook.

“Perhaps,” replied Negoro.

“We will take Dingo,” added Dick.

A short bark testified the Dog’s approval of Dick’s proposal.

Mrs. Weldon was silent. She looked sad and thoughtful. She did not like the idea of the division of the party.

“And what, Mr. Benedict, is your opinion of my proposal?” said Dick.

“I?” answered Cousin Benedict. “Oh, I am agreeable to anything.