394 TKAVEL, ADVENTURE, AND SPORT. 



" Hush, Pompey," muttered his neighbour, and the 

 boat, impelled by six pair of hands, darted swiftly out 

 into the stream. 



"Ah, Massa Manuel, let Pompey file off him 

 chains," grumbled the black. "Pompey been in 

 upper jail been cunning," laughed he to himself; 

 "took file and helped himself out. Massa Parker 

 stare when he see Pompey gone." 



" Hold your tongue, doctor," commanded a voice 

 from the hinder part of the boat, "and let your 

 chains be till you get across." 



The negro shook his head discontentedly. " Massa 

 Felipe wouldn't like to be in the collars," said he ; 

 but nevertheless he put away his file, and whilst with 

 one hand he managed the oar, with the other he held 

 the chain connecting the ankle irons with the collar, 

 and which had been filed in too close to the latter. 

 This collar consisted of a ring two inches broad, and 

 as thick as a man's finger, encircling the neck, and 

 from which three long hooks rose up over the crown 

 of the head. "With a sort of childish wonder he 

 weighed the chain in his hand, staring at it the 

 while, and then let it fall into the bottom of the 

 boat, which now advanced towards the middle of 

 the stream. 



" Poor Lolli ! " said the negro, after a short silence 

 " she be sad not to see Pompey. She live in St 

 John's, behind the cathedral" 



" Pompey ! " cried the Mexican who sat forward on 



