36 



THE ADVENTURES OF 



" How did you lose your left arm, pobricito ?" I asked. 

 " Between the crushers, senor." 

 " Was it your own fault ?" 



" Alas ! yes. My father looked after the machine, and 

 I helped him to drive the oxen ; and he had forbidden my 

 going near the cylinders. One day he went away for a 

 few minutes, and I tried to put a piece of cane between 

 the rollers ; but my finger caught, and my arm was drawn 

 in and crushed." 



" 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 gentleman," 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 



* About threepence. 



