LIFE IN THE GALLEYS 87 



and honesty. 'My good fellow,' said I, in a tone of 

 raillery, ' up, the danger is over, you may be as brave as 

 ever. Come, I will help you.' I leaned over and took 

 his hand. O horror ! my blood still freezes at the re- 

 membrance ; it came off in mine, stifl' and deadly cold. 

 The first gleam of light showed me my companions all 

 slaughtered ! Of the six on oiu- seat I alone survived. 

 Alas ! I may well say, I was the miserable survivor ; The soie 

 their toils and agonies were over. It was some time be- 

 fore I discovered that I was wounded, and then not by 

 pain, but by blood which deluged me." After a long 

 period of suffering, Amadee was considered to be 

 sufficiently recovered to take his place again at the oar. 



The winter following the above engagement, Amadee 

 was confined to winter quarters — a short account of which 

 he gives. Dui'ing the winter months, if it chanced to be ^^r\Yrs 

 a season of peace, the galleys were laid up for the time 

 being. " The order is given from Coml about the latter 

 end of October. The galleys are then arranged along 

 the quay. The galley is entirely cleared, and the slaves 

 remain fixed to their wretched quarters for the winter. 

 They spread their greatcoats for beds on a board, and , 

 here they sleep. "VVTien the weather is extremely cold 

 they have a tent, made of coarse woollen cloth, raised 

 over the galley. They never have fire or blankets. It 

 is now a season of some rest for them, and they are per- 

 mitted to earn a little money. Among the variety there 

 are often tradesmen, tailors, shoemakers, gravers, etc. 

 These are sometimes permitted to build wooden stalls 

 upon the quay opposite their respective galleys. The 

 keeper chains them in their stalls. Here they may earn 

 a few halfpence a day, and this situation is comparative 

 ease. There is, however, still hard labour aboard the comparative 

 galley. The comites still use the lash without mercy, 

 and often without discrimination. One of the hardest 

 labom-s to Amadee, because the most tyrannical and de- 

 grading, was the exhibition to which they were constantly 



