Necessity was the mother of invention with them, for they had
procured a barrel for twenty-five cents, and made it supply the
place of a table. With a few chips that were brought to them by a
kind-hearted colored woman that did their washing, and bestowed many
little acts of kindness, they made a fire, endured the annoyance of
a dense smoke from the old fire-place, and prepared their little
supper. As soon as it was upon the table, they awoke Manuel, and
invited him to join in their humble fare. The poor fellow arose, and
looking around the gloomy, cavern-like place, heaved a deep sigh.
"It's hard to be brought to this for nothing!" said he; "and my
bones are so sore that I can scarcely move. I must see the Captain
and consul."
"That won't do any good; you might as well keep quiet and drink your
coffee. A prisoner that says the least in this jail is best off,"
returned Redman.
Manuel took his bowl of coffee and a piece of bread, eating it with
a good appetite, and asking what time they got breakfast. "It's the
first time I was abused in a foreign country. I'm Portuguese, but a
citizen of Great Britain, and got my protection.-When it won't save
me, I'll never come to South Carolina again, nor sail where a flag
won't protect me. When I go among Patagonians, I know what they do;
but when I sail to United States or be cast away on them, I don't
know what they do, because I expect good people.
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