THE ADVENTURES OF 



" It was a terrible punishment for your disobedience," I said. 



" More terrible than you think, senor. My father died six 

 months ago, and I have several little brothers. If I had both 

 my arms, I could earn a quarter of a piastre a day, and also help 

 my mother." 



" How much do they give you for watching this filtering-bag 

 from morning till night % " 



"Only a medio,"* he answered. 



I looked hard at Lucien, who threw himself into my arms. 



" Oh ! I will always obey you," he cried, with emotion ; " but 

 do allow me to give all the money in my purse to this little 

 boy." 



" Give him a piastre, my boy ; we shall meet with others in 

 want, and you must reserve something for them." 



'' Oh ! young gentlemen," said the poor mutilated lad, looking 

 with wonder at the coin which represented sixteen days' work, 

 " we will all pray for you ! " 



And he hurried to clear out the bag, which was already too 

 full. 



The process adopted in the sugar-mill we speak of was of most 

 primitive simplicity. The European manufacturers employ iron 

 cylinders turned by steam or water power; also hft and force 

 pumps, which quickly convey the sap into the basins in which 

 it is to be clarified by fermentation. 



But for comprehending easily all the operations required in the 

 extraction of sugar, Antonio's hacienda, in which everything was 

 done before our eyes, was much preferable to any of the modern 

 mills provided with all kinds of improved apparatus. 



When our young traveller saw the thick, muddy, and turbid 

 liquid, which was being stirred up by a gigantic " agitator," he 

 could hardly beheve that it could ever produce the beautiful white 

 crystal with which he was so well acquainted. 



"But Where's the sugar?" he eagerly asked. 



" There, in front of you,'' replied Sumichrast. " The sugar- 

 cane, like all other vegetables, contains a certain quantity of 

 liquid, in which the sugar is held in a state of solution ; if this 

 * About threepence. 



