144 THE NOJrrni:i:x MuiWTAnw^i. 



trate through the dense atmosphere of steam ^vhicll rose from 

 the seething coppers. Occasionally a hright glow from tlie 

 furnace-mouths lighted up the scene for a single instant, 

 only to leave it the next moment darker than ever. 



" It was during one of these flashes of light that I disthictly 

 saw Martin deliberately filling a large tin pan with sugar 

 from one of the coolers. 



" 1 called out to him to desist : 1)ut he never deigned to take 

 the slightest notice of me. I repeated my order in a louder 

 and more angry tone ; whereupon he turned his eyes upon 

 me, and said, in a most contemptuous tone, ' Chut, ti beque : 

 Cjuitte moue tranquille, ou 'tende sinon mallieur ka rive 

 ou.' (Pshaw, little white boy : leave me alone, or worse will 

 happen to you.) 



"It was the tone more than the words themselves that 

 enraged me ; and without for one moment reflectin2: on the 

 great disparity between us, I made a spring from the sort of 

 raised platform on which I stood, and snatching the panful 

 of sugar from his hand, I flung it, sugar and all, into the 

 tache, from which I knew nothing short of a miracle 

 could recover it. 



" For a moment only did Martin hesitate ; and then, after 

 fumbling for one instant with his right hand in his gii'dle, he 

 made a rush at me. Fortunately for me, I was prepared ; and 

 springing back to the spot where I had before been standing, 



