The next day passed away, but without a sign of the missing dogs.

I sent natives to search the distant jungles and ravines in all directions.

Three days passed away, and I gave up all hope of them.

We were sitting at dinner one night, the fire was blazing cheerfully within, but the rain was pouring without, the wind was howling in fitful gusts, and neither moon nor stars relieved the pitchy darkness of the night, when the conversation naturally turned to the lost dogs.

What a night for the poor brutes to be exposed to, roaming about the wet jungles without a chance of return! A sudden knock at the door arrested our attention; it opened.