dea flashed
across Nic's mind.

He was mistaken.

Another black stepped up, as if fully aware of what was necessary, and
stood behind Humpy, ready to hold him up when necessary; for the second
black now seized one of the prisoner's ankles, lifted his foot on to the
little anvil, and the first examined the rivet, grunted his
dissatisfaction, and Humpy's foot was wrenched sidewise by one man, who
held the rivet upon the anvil, while his leader struck it a few heavy
blows to enlarge the head and make it perfectly safe.

This done, Humpy was marched nearer the door, scowling savagely at
having had to submit to this process; but he grinned his
self-satisfaction as he saw his companions brought forward in turn for
their irons to be examined--one to have them replaced by a fresh set,
which were taken from the basket, and whose rings were tightly riveted
about his ankles, the rivets of the old ones being quite loose.

The men were ranged near the entrance, which, at a look from the
overseer, was now guarded by the three unoccupied blacks.

"Now you," said the overseer to Pete, who rose from where he sat alone
and approached the anvil with a curious sensation running through him.

"Why didn't they iron you?" said the overseer harshly.

"Wounded and sick," replied Pete gruffly.

"Ah, well, you are not wounded and sick now.--He's a big, strong fellow,
Sam. Give him a heavy set."

The big black showed his fine set of white teeth. A set of fetters was
taken from the basket, and with Pete's foot held in position by the
second black--a foot which twitched and prickled with a strong desire to
kick--the first ring was quickly adjusted, a soft iron rivet passed
through the two holes, and then the head was rested upon the little
block of iron, and a few cleverly-delivered blows from the big black's
hammer spread the soft iron out into a second head, and the open ring
was drawn tight.

The second ankle-ring was quickly served in the same way, and the centre
link was lifted and tied to the prisoner's waist-belt, Pete turning
scarlet, and wiping the perspiration from his dripping brow from time to
time.

"Over yonder with the others!"

There was a movement among the men at the door as this order was given,
and Pete winced; but even a man newly fettered can still feel pride, and
the poor fellow determined that his old comrades should not think he was
afraid of them. He walked boldly up to take his place, meeting Humpy's
mal