at he gazed after the retiring
figure and made no effort to conceal this unexpected addition to his
meal. Fortunately, his wits revived before any of the guards observed
him. He slid the biscuits into his shirt bosom with conjurer-like
facility, and at the same moment broke off a large bit of one, which he
devoured with unwonted satisfaction. The addition did not indeed
furnish the unfortunate slave with a full meal, but it at least tended
towards that desirable end, and sent him to work with a full heart,
because of the assurance that there was in the city, at all events, one
human being--and that being, strange to say, a negress!--who pitied him
in his forlorn condition.

During the remainder of that day Hugh Sommers almost forgot his toils in
consequence of his mind being so thoroughly taken up with meditation on
the wonderful incident. At night, although wearied, almost worn out,
and anxious to sleep, he found it impossible to rest in the dismal
Bagnio. It chanced that he occupied the cell which had formerly been
apportioned to George Foster on the occasion of his first visit to that
cheerless prison, and his next neighbour was the despairing Frenchman
who had given such poor comfort to the middy in his distress. Finding
that this Frenchman spoke English so well, and that they worked together
in the same gang during the day, Hugh Sommers had struck up an
acquaintance with him, which, after they had spent some weeks together
in toiling by day and groaning side by side at night, ripened into a
curious sort of growling friendship.

This friendship began with a quarrel. The night in which they were
first placed in neighbouring cells, or niches, followed a day in which
Sommers had received an application of the bastinado, and been put into
irons for fierce rebellion. Being a man of strong emotions, he had
groaned a little as he lay trying to sleep in spite of his suffering
feet. Failing of his purpose, he took to thinking about Hester, and the
groans which had been but feeble for himself became more intense on her
account.

"Can you not stop that noise?" growled the irate Frenchman, who was kept
awake by it.

"I'm sorry to disturb you, friend," said Sommers gently, for he was
really an unselfish man; "but if you knew all I've had to suffer you
would excuse me."

"Oh, _I_ know what you have had to suffer!" said his comrade testily.
"I saw you get the bastinado; I've had it often myself, but--it is
bearable