436 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAFTAIN. CHAPTER XVI. A MAGICIAN. On fînding that Cousin Benedict did not return to hts quarters at the proper hdur, Mrs. Weldon began to feel uneasy. She could not imagine what had become of him ; his tin box with its contents were safe in his hut, and even if a chance of escape had been offered him, she knew that nothing vvould hâve induced him voluntarily to abandon his trcasures. She enhsted the services of Halima, and spcnt the remainder of the day in searching for him, until at last she felt herself driven to the conviction that he must hâve been confined by the orders of Alvez himself ; for what reason she could not divine, as Benedict had un- doubtcdly been included in the number of prisoncrs to be delivered to Mr. Weldon for the stipulated ransom. But the rage of the trader when he heard of the escape of the captive was an ample proof that he had had no hand in his disappearance. A rigorous search was instituted in evcry direction, which resulted in the discovery of the mele- track. Hère beyond a question was the passage through which the fly-catcher had found his way. " Idiot ! fool ! rascal ! " muttered Alvez, full of rage at the prospect of losing a portion of the redemption-money ; " if ever I get hold of him, he shall pay dearly for this frcak." The opening was at once blocked up, the woods were scoured ail round for a considérable distance, but no trace of Benedict was to be found. Mrs. Weldon was bitterly grieved and much overcome, but she had no alternative
