He was wearied with the long gallop of the preceding days; and, like his masters, had been sleeping soundly.

As all started almost simultaneously, a word from Basil had kept him in--for to this he had been well trained--and without a signal from him he was not used to attack any creature, not even his natural enemies.

He therefore stood still, looking steadily in the same direction as they, and at intervals uttering a low growl that was almost inaudible.

There was a fierceness about it, however, that showed he did not regard the strange objects as friends.

Perhaps he knew what they were, better than any of the party.
The three mysterious creatures still remained near the same spot, and about fifty yards from the boys.