ou to calm your anger, and listen to reason. I sent you
two pigeons I trapped, by your dog, first giving him a hearty meal, that
he might not eat them on the way, and from your own lips I know that you
received them, though you had not the grace to thank me, and declared
that you could do very well without my assistance; so I left you to look
after yourself, though I hadn't the heart to refuse to feed your dog,
when I knew you would have nothing to give him."

"That's false!" exclaimed Lord Reginald. "I know full well that your
object was to deprive me of my dog, for the faithful animal--though his
instinct induces him to take the food--managed to break away from you,
and to return to me, and had you really wished to assist me you might
have sent some more of those pigeons, or any other provisions you have
obtained."

"It's of no use arguing with an angry man," retorted Dick. "You accuse
me of uttering falsehoods. Again I assure you that I have spoken but
the simple truth, and say that, as you have obstinately refused my
assistance, you must take the consequences."

"Impertinent scoundrel!" cried Lord Reginald. "You dare to speak to me
thus! I desire you not again to feed my dog, or to let him remain if he
comes to you. He and I must forage for ourselves, and there's game
enough in the island, so I shall be able to catch as much as I require
for myself and him."

"As you please," said Dick, turning aside, and whistling as he went on
with his work, which the arrival of Lord Reginald had interrupted.

The young lord, calling Neptune, who seemed very unwilling to leave,
walked off, foaming with anger, and muttering, "I must put a stop to
this, or it is impossible to say what he will next do!" As he reached
the top of the hill, he could not refrain from turning round, to watch
the proceedings of his rival.

Dick had built a good-sized hut under the shade of a grove of trees, and
had dug up the ground in an open space near it, to form a garden, which
he had begun to rail in. "The fellow seems determined to make himself
at home, as if he expected to live here for years to come. A low-born
fellow has mechanical talents such as I don't possess; they certainly
give him an advantage over me, under the circumstances in which we are
placed, but I must see what I can do for myself. My cave has only
hitherto afforded me shelter, but should the wind blow strong and
directly into it, I should not find it a comfortable