544 The Galley Slaves. [MAY, 



At every barred window, and these were numerous, about a dozen ruffianly 

 beads were thrust together, to regard the chains of their companions. 

 What a study of physiognomy ! The murderer's scowl was there, by the 

 side of the laughing countenance of the vagabond, whose shouts and jokes 

 formed a kind of tenor to the muttered imprecations of the other. Here 

 and there was protruded the fine, open, high-fronted head, pale, striking, 

 features, and dark looks, of some felon of intellect and natural superiority ; 

 whilst by his side, ignominy looked stupidly and maliciously on. A 

 handsome little fellow at one of the grates, was dressing his hair un- 

 conciously with most agitated fingers, evidently affected by the scene. 

 Our question of "What are you in for ?" aroused him. " False signing 

 a billet of twenty thousand francs," replied he, with a shrug and a smile. 

 " And he, your neighbour ?" asked we cautiously, concerning one of a fine, 

 thoughtful, philosophic, and passionate countenance. " Ha ! you may ask 

 he gave his mistress a potion, for the purpose of merely seducing her, 

 and it turned out to be poison a carabin like yourselves." But these 

 made no part of the chaine. 



The convicts destined for this operation were kept in movement 

 round a post in an adjoining court, and were shouting, rarely in intelli- 

 gible language, to their companions. Joy was the universal tone, and a 

 sniviller ran imminent danger. One poor fellow I remarked holding down 

 his head, when he was saluted with a kick from him who followed, and 

 the objurgation, Tu esforpat, toi, heim ? " You a convict, and durst be 

 sad." These men were all unmanacled. Methought a general rush on 

 their part both practicable and formidable. One half must have perished, 

 and the other half might have escaped. 



They were now marched out from the inner court in batches of thirty 

 at a time, drawn up in rank, stripped, and examined with such rigid scru- 

 tiny as I dare not precise. They were then marched and placed along one 

 of the extended chains, and made to sit down, resting it in their laps. A 

 square fetter was then fitted and placed around the neck of each. In this, 

 before, some detached links from the chain were placed, whilst a huge 

 smith proceeded to rivet each from behind. Fixing a kind of movable 

 anvil behind the convict's back, the fetter that encircled his neck was 

 brought with its joint upon it, and half a dozen blows of the sledge 

 riveted the captive inextrically to the main chain and to his twenty-nine 

 comrades. The smith must be adroit at his task, and the convict steady 

 in his position j for, as the fetter is tight round the neck, the hammer, in 

 its blow, must pass within a quarter of an inch of his skull, and a wince 

 on his part might prove fatal. This, indeed, is the trying moment, when 

 the stoutest cheek is blanched. The sturdiest frame, shaken by the blows 

 of the sledge, then betrays emotion, and tears of penitence are at that 

 moment almost always seen to fall. On sitting down, each had in gene- 

 ral an air of bravado, produced in a great measure by the regards of the 

 seemingly more hardened ruffians from the windows. Under the riveting 

 there was no smile ; whilst after it, apathy was affected or resumed, each 

 endeavouring to make his iron collar as supportable and comfortable as 

 possible,by enveloping it in a handkerchief, and guaranteeing the neck from 

 its chill or galling. 



When the chaine was completed, its wearers were made to stand up. 

 They formed themselves in couples, the chain running betwixt two ranks, 

 and they walked round the yard to take their first lesson in their galling 



