ROYAL OBSEQUIES. 387 Whîlst he was speakîng, Negoro had gradually drawn nearer to the prisoner, until their faces were almost in contact Exasperated by Dick's calmncss, hîs countenance assumed an expression of the utmost ferocity, and at last he burst forth in a paroxysm of rage. " It is my turn now ! I am master now ! I am captaîh hère ! You are in my power now I Your life is in my hands ! " "Take ît, then," said Dick quictiy; "death has. no terrors for me, and your wickedness will soon bc avenged.*' "Avenged!" roarcd Negoro; **doyou suppose therc is a single souI to care about you ? Avenged ! who will concem himself wîth what befalls you ? except Alvcz and me, there îs no one with a shadow of authority herc ; if you think you arc going to gct any help from old Tom or any of those nîggers, let me tell you that they are every one of them sold and hâve been sent offto Zanzibar." •* Hercules îs free," said Dick, " Hercules ! ** sneered Negoro ; " he has bcen food for lions and panthers long ago. I am only sorry that I did ndt gct the chance of dîsposing of hîm myself " " And there îs Dingo," calmly persisted Dick ; " sure as fate, he will find you out some day/'
- Dingo îs dead ! " retorted Negoro with malicîous glce :
- ' I shot the brute myself, and I should be glad if cvcry
survîvor of the 'Pilgrim* had sharcd lus fatc." " But remember," said Dick, " you havc to follow thcm ail yourself ;" and he fixed a sharp gaze upon his persccutors cye. The. Portuguese villaîn was stung to the quîck ; he made a dash towards the youth, and would hâve stranglcd him upon the spot, but remembcring that any such sudden action would be to liberatc him from the torture hc was determîned he should undcrgo, he controlled his rage, and after gîvîng strict ordcrs to the havildar, who had been a passive spectator of the scène, to keep a carcful watch upon hîs charge, he left the dungeon. So far from depressîng Dick's spirits, the interview had altogether a contrary effect ; his feelings had undergone à C c 2
