ced to the group
among whom he stood, exclaiming loudly--

"Here dey am, massa, dis way." Then turning suddenly on Foster with a
fierce expression, he shouted, "What you lookin' at, you babby-faced
ijit? Hab you nebber seen a handsome nigger before dat you look all
t'under-struck of a heap? Can't you hold your tongue, you chatterin'
monkey?" and with that, although Foster had not uttered a syllable, the
negro fetched him a sounding smack on the cheek, to the great amusement
of the bystanders.

Well was it then for our middy that it flashed into his mind that Peter
the Great, being the most astounding "hyperkrite" on earth, was at work
in his deceptive way, else would he have certainly retaliated and
brought on himself swift punishment--for slaves were not permitted to
resent injuries or create riots. As it was, he cast down his eyes,
flushed scarlet, and restrained himself.

"Now, massa," continued the negro, turning to the fine, sailor-like man
who had spoken to Foster a few minutes before, "here's a nice-lookin'
man. Strong an' healfy--fit for anyt'ing no doubt."

"Ask him if he understands gardening," said the Moor.

We may remark, in passing, that Peter the Great and his owner had a
peculiar mode of carrying on conversation. The latter addressed his
slave in the Lingua Franca, while Peter replied in his own nigger
English, which the Moor appeared to understand perfectly. Why they
carried it on thus we cannot explain, but it is our duty to record the
fact.

"Understand gardening!" exclaimed the sailor, in supreme contempt, "I
should think not. Wot d'you take me for, you black baboon! Do I look
like a gardener? Ploughin' an' diggin' I knows nothin' about
wotsomever, though I _have_ ploughed the waves many a day, an' I'm
considered a fust-rate hand at diggin' into wittles."

"Oh! massa, das de man for your money! Buy him, quick!" cried the
negro, with a look of earnest entreaty at his master. "He say he's
ploughed many a day, an''s a fuss-rate hand at diggin'. _Do_ buy 'im!"

But the Moor would not buy him. Either he understood the sailor's
language to some extent, or that inveterate obstinacy of which Peter had
made mention as being part of his character was beginning to assert
itself.

"Ask this one what he knows about it," said the Moor, pointing to a thin
young man, whose sprightly expression showed that he had not yet fully
realised what fate was in store for him in the pirates' stronghold