n being; but the supper
seems rather a comical one. Did you drink the bucket of water, Manuel?"
inquired the Captain, retaining a sober face.

"Capitan, you know me too well for dat. I not ask 'em nozin' what he no
get, but I want my coffee for suppe'. I no eat him like zat," throwing
the putrid meat upon the floor again.

"Hi, hi! That won't do in this jail. You're dirtying up all my floor,"
said the jailer, calling a negro boy and ordering him to carry the
bull-necks, as Manuel called them, into the kitchen.

"You call him dirt, ah, Miser Jailer? Capitan, just come my room; I
shown him," said Manuel, leading the way up-stairs, and the Captain
followed. A sight at the cell was enough, while the sickly stench forbid
him to enter beyond the threshold. He promised Manuel that he would
provide for him in future, and turning about suddenly, retreated into
the lower lobby.

"Jailer, what does all this mean? Do you allow men to starve in a land
of plenty, and to suffer in a cell like that?" asked the Captain in a
peremptory tone.

"I feel for the men, but you must enter your complaints to the
sheriff-the ration of the jail is entirely in his hands."

"But have you no voice in it, by which you can alleviate their
situation?"

"Not the least! My duty is to keep every thing-every thing to rights,
as far as people are committed. You will find the sheriff in his office,
any time between this and two o'clock," said the jailer. And the Captain
left as suddenly as he came.

You will think I have written you an essay, instead of a letter inviting
you to come and see me. Accept it for its intention, and excuse the
circumstances. Your obedient servant,

CHAPTER XXI. THE CAPTAIN'S INTERVIEW WITH MR. GRIMSHAW.

THE appearance of things at the jail was forlorn in the extreme.
The Captain knew the integrity of Manuel, and not only believed his
statement, but saw the positive proofs to confirm them. He repaired to
the sheriff's office, and inquiring for that functionary, was pointed to
Mr. Grimshaw, who sat in his large chair, with his feet upon the table,
puffing the fumes of a very fine-flavored Havana, as unconcerned as
if he was lord in sovereignty over every thing about the city. "I am
captain of the Janson, and have called to inquire about my steward?"
said the Captain.

"Ah! yes,--you have a nigger fellow in jail. Oh! by-the-by, that's the
one there was so much fuss about, isn't it?" said Mr. Grimshaw, looking