lindi Bobi. But Bobi was by no means blind of the other eye. It
was like seven binocular glasses rolled into one telescope. Once he had
unfortunately brought it to bear on the Minister of Marine with such a
concentrated stare that he, being also blind of an eye, regarded it as a
personal allusion thereto, and never forgave Blindi Bobi.

"This is the second time," said Omar, when the culprit was brought
before him, "that I have caught you interfering with the slaves."

"Please, sar, hims was werry bad--dyin', me s'pose."

"Speak your own tongue, dog, else you shall smart for it," said the
Minister of Marine, with increasing wrath.

The poor interpreter to his Britannic Majesty's navy repeated his words
in the Lingua Franca, but Omar, again interrupting him, ordered the
sbirro to take him off and give him the bastinado.

"And have a care, Blindi," added Omar, observing that the interpreter
was about to speak; "if you say that you are under the protection of the
British consul I'll have you flayed alive.--Off with him!"

The sbirro, with a comrade, led Bobi through several of the narrow
streets of the town to a chamber which was set apart for the infliction
of punishment. It was a dark, vaulted apartment under a public
building. The massive pillars of stone which supported its roof looked
pale and ghostlike against the thick darkness which was beyond them,
giving the idea of interminable space. One of the sbirros lighted a
lantern, and led the way through a massive door, all studded with huge
nails, into a small square chamber, the walls of which looked as if they
had been bespattered with a dark-brown liquid, especially in the
neighbourhood of several iron rings, from which chains depended. In
addition to these and a number of other characteristic implements, there
was a pile of blood-stained rods in a corner.

Saying a few words to a powerful negro whom they found in attendance,
the sbirros handed Blindi Bobi over to him. He instantly disrobed him
of his blue gown, and threw him on his back with the aid of an equally
powerful assistant, and began to uncover his stomach.

The interpreter was no coward. He had prepared himself to endure
manfully the bastinado on the soles of his feet--as it was usually
administered--but when he perceived that they were about to inflict the
blows on a more tender part of his body, he trembled and remonstrated.

"Sidi Omar no' say you hit 'im dare. Hims 'peal to British con