At the same time Negoro brutally kicked the young novice, who was lying on the ground.

“Besides,” added he, “I should have another question to address to you, my young captain.  Could you yet explain to me, how, wishing to land on the American coast, you have ended by arriving in Angola, where you are?”

Certainly, Dick Sand had no more need of the Portuguese’s words to understand what he had truly divined, when he knew at last that the “Pilgrim’s” compass must have been made false by this traitor.  But Negoro’s question was an avowal.  Still he only replied by a contemptuous silence.

“You will acknowledge, captain,” continued Kegoro, “that it was fortunate for you that there was a seaman on board—­a real one, at that.  Great God, where would we be without him?  Instead of perishing on some breaker, where the tempest would have thrown you, you have arrived, thanks to him, in a friendly port, and if it is to any one that you owe being at last in a safe place, it is to that seaman whom you have wronged in despising, my young master!”

Speaking thus, Negoro, whose apparent calmness was only the result of an immense effort, had brought his form near Dick Sand.  His face, suddenly become ferocious, touched him so closely that one would believe that he was going to devour him.  This rascal could no longer contain his fury.

“Every dog has his day!” he exclaimed, in the paroxysm of fury excited in him by his victim’s calmness.  “To-day I am captain, I am master!  Your life is in my hands!”

“Take it,” Sand replied, without emotion.  “But, know there is in heaven a God, avenger of all crimes, and your punishment is not distant!”

“If God occupies himself with human beings, there is only time for Him to take care of you!”

“I am ready to appear before the Supreme Judge,” replied Dick Sand, coldly, “and death will not make me afraid.”

“We shall see about that!” howled Negoro.  “You count on help of some kind, perhaps—­help at Kazounde, where Alvez and I are all-powerful!  You are a fool!  You say to yourself, perhaps, that your companions are still there, that old Tom and the others.  Undeceive yourself.  It is a long time since they were sold and sent to Zanzibar—­too fortunate if they do not die of fatigue on the way!”

“God has a thousand ways of doing justice,” replied Dick Sand.  “The smallest instrument is sufficient for him.  Hercules is free.”

“Hercules!” exclaimed Negoro, striking the ground with his foot; “he perished long ago under the lions’ and panthers’ teeth.  I regret only one thing, that is, that those ferocious beasts should have forestalled my vengeance!”

“If Hercules is dead,” replied Dick Sand, “Dingo is alive.  A dog like that, Negoro, is more than enough to take revenge on a man of your kind.  I know you well, Negoro; you are not brave.  Dingo will seek for you; it will know how to find you again.  Some day you will die under his teeth!”