nds of Christians had been consigned
there in time past, and his recent experience of Moors had not tended to
improve his opinion of them.

A feeling of despair impelled him to seize the negro by the arm as he
was about to ascend the ladder and stop him.

"Peter," he said, "I think you have a friendly feeling towards me,
because you've called me massa more than once, though you have no
occasion to do so."

"Dat's 'cause I'm fond o' you. I always was fond o' a nice smood young
babby face, an' I tooked a fancy to you de moment I see you knock Joe
Spinks into de lee scuppers."

"So--he was an Englishman that I treated so badly, eh?"

"Yes, massa, on'y you didn't treat him bad 'nuff. But you obsarve dat I
on'y calls you massa w'en we's alone an' friendly like. W'en we's in
public I calls you `sar' an' speak gruff an' shove you into black
holes."

"And why do you act so, Peter?"

"'Cause, don't you see, I's a hyperkrite. I tole you dat before."

"Well, I can guess what you mean. You don't want to appear too
friendly? Just so. Well, now, I have got nobody to take my part here,
so as you are a free man I wish you would keep an eye on me when we go
ashore, and see where they send me, and speak a word for me when it is
in your power. You see, they'll give me up for drowned at home and
never find out that I'm here."

"`A free man!'" repeated the negro, with an expansion of his mouth that
is indescribable. "You tink I's a free man! but I's a slabe, same as
yourself, on'y de diff'rence am dat dere's nobody to ransum _me_, so dey
don't boder deir heads 'bout me s'long as I do my work. If I don't do
my work I'm whacked; if I rebel and kick up a shindy I'm whacked wuss;
if I tries to run away I'm whacked till I'm dead. Das all. But I's not
free. No, no not at all! Hows'ever I's free-an'-easy, an' dat make de
pirits fond o' me, which goes a long way, for dere's nuffin' like lub!"

Foster heartily agreed with the latter sentiment and added--

"Well, now, Peter, I will say no more, for as you profess to be fond of
me, and as I can truly say the same in regard to you, we may be sure
that each will help the other if he gets the chance. But, tell me, are
you really one of the crew of this pirate vessel?"

"No, massa, only for dis viage. I b'longs to a old sinner called
Hassan, what libs in de country, not far from de town. He not a bad
feller, but he's obs'nit--oh! as obs'nit as a deaf an' dumb mule. If
you