“Lift me very high,” said little Jack.

“There, Master Jack!” replied Hercules.

“Am I very heavy?”

“I do not even feel you.”

“Well, higher still!  To the end of your arm!” And Hercules, holding the child’s two little feet in his large hand, walked him about like a gymnast in a circus.  Jack saw himself, tall, taller, which amused him very much.  He even tried to make himself heavy—­which the colossus did not perceive at all.

Dick Sand and Hercules, they were two friends for little Jack.  He was not slow in making himself a third—­that was Dingo.

It has been said that Dingo was not a sociable dog.  Doubtless that held good, because the society of the “Waldeck” did not suit it.  On board the “Pilgrim” it was quite another thing.  Jack probably knew how to touch the fine animal’s heart.  The latter soon took pleasure in playing with the little boy, whom this play pleased.  It was soon discovered that Dingo was one of those dogs who have a particular taste for children.  Besides, Jack did it no harm.  His greatest pleasure was to transform Dingo into a swift steed, and it is safe to affirm that a horse of this kind is much superior to a pasteboard quadruped, even when it has wheels to its feet.  So Jack galloped bare-back on the dog, which let him do it willingly, and, in truth, Jack was no heavier to it than the half of a jockey to a race-horse.

But what a break each day in the stock of sugar in the store-room!

Dingo soon became a favorite with the whole crew.  Alone, Negoro continued to avoid any encounter with the animal, whose antipathy was always as strong as it was inexplicable.

Meanwhile, little Jack had not neglected Dick Sand, his friend of old, for Dingo.  All the time that was unclaimed by his duties on board, the novice passed with the little boy.

Mrs. Weldon, it is needless to say, always regarded this intimacy with the most complete satisfaction.

One day, February 6th, she spoke of Dick to Captain Hull, and the captain praised the young novice in the highest terms.

“That boy,” he said to Mrs. Weldon, “will be a good seaman some day, I’ll guarantee.  He has truly a passion for the sea, and by this passion he makes up for the theoretical parts of the calling which he has not yet learned.  What he already knows is astonishing, when we think of the short time he has had to learn.”

“It must be added,” replied Mrs. Weldon, “that he is also an excellent person, a true boy, very superior to his age, and who has never merited any blame since we have known him.”

“Yes, he is a good young man,” continued the captain, “justly loved and appreciated by all.”

“This cruise finished,” said Mrs. Weldon, “I know that my husband’s intention is to have him follow a course of navigation, so that, he may afterwards obtain a captain’s commission.”

“And Mr. Weldon is right,” replied Captain Hull.  “Dick Sand will one day do honor to the American marine.”