h claims for consideration. The
governor, therefore, gave the permission, smiling at the same time at
a caprice which could not have proceeded from the native of any other
country.

"The Englishman took his seat in the stern of the boat, and, as I am
told by the steersman, never spoke nor moved for nigh an hour's time,
muffling himself up in his cloak so that his very face was concealed;
he neither cast his eyes over the bay, nor looked towards the shore, but
sat like one in deep reflection. As we neared the 'Tariffa,'" said my
informant, "our passenger affected to feel cold and chilly,--he might
have been so, since the evening breeze was just springing up,--and said
that he would like to row for a spell, just to warm himself. The petty
officer in charge explained that the request could not be complied with,
since, amongst other reasons, the men were chained two and two on every
bench, and then obliged to tug at the same oar.

"The Englishman, who throughout the day had invariably overruled every
objection opposed to him, grew only more positive in his demand, and
at last produced the minister's order, to strengthen his proposal; and
finally said, that as he had obtained the permission to learn all he
could of the condition of the convicts, he was determined not to depart
without experiencing in his own person the amount of labor exacted from
them. 'You shall chain me to that fellow in the bow of the boat,' said
he, 'for I have my doubts that this same punishment is not equal to
what our own sailors perform every day, as a mere duty.'

"I need not dwell upon the arguments he used, and the reason he pressed;
and although I have not heard it, I have little doubt that bribery
was among the rest. His demand was granted, and he was actually placed
beside the convict, and his left wrist enclosed in the same fetter with
the other's right.

"His face became almost purple as he grasped the oar, and his eyes
glared fiercely round upon his fellow-laborer, like the red and staring
orbs of a wild beast. 'So dreadful was the expression of his face,'
said the steersman, 'that I believed him to be insane; and a shocking
fear of evil consequences shot through me for having yielded to him.'

"I at once called out to the crew to ship their oars, determining to
make him resume his place beside me. The order was obeyed by the bow-oar
as by the rest. I was then about to issue a command for him to be
released when, with a yell that I sha