hem with a file?"

"Little screwdriver may do it, sir?" said Morgan, thoughtfully.

"Fetch it from the tool-chest," said my father, shortly; and Morgan went
off grumbling something about waste of money.

He was back in a short time, during which the black still slept, and the
boy crouched by him watching us eagerly.

"Now," said my father, "see if you can open those ankle-rings. No, no;
I mean the man's."

"But s'pose he's only shamming, sir, and jumps up, half kills me, and
runs?"

"I'll forgive him if he does," said my father, dryly, "for you are
getting to be a very dictatorial, meddling, insolent servant, Morgan."

"Well!" exclaimed Morgan. "Hear that, Master George, and after me
following faithful all the way to these here wild shores. Ah, master, I
didn't think you'd ha' said--Hi! Keep back, you young warmint!"

For at the first movement of Morgan toward the sleeping black's feet,
the boy sprang up and showed his teeth like a dog.

"Stop! Keep back," said my father, and Morgan drew away, muttering
something about a savage young tom wolf.

"It is quite natural," said my father, "and strengthens my ideas. He
thought his companion was going to be hurt." As my father spoke, he
moved toward the boy.

"Don't go anigh him without a stick, sir," said Morgan, hastily.

My father did not notice the remark, but turned to me.

"Be on your guard, George," he said; "but be firm, and I think the poor
fellow will understand what you are going to do. Take the screwdriver,
and try if you can unfasten the boy's anklets first."

I obeyed, and advanced to the boy, whose aspect was rather startling;
but I went down on my knees, and before he could fly at me I caught
quickly hold of the chain which connected his legs.

That made him pause for a moment, and look down sharply to see what I
was going to do. He seemed to have some idea directly; and as luck
would have it, the little square hole that was used to turn the screw
was toward me, the screwdriver went in, and it turned so easily that I
was able to open the filthy, rusty shackle, and set one leg free.

The boy's head moved like that of a bird, as he looked first at his foot
and then at me, and he stood quite still now, as I unscrewed the second
anklet and took it off.

"Throw the chains into the river," said my father.

"No, no," cried Morgan; "they may come in handy."

"For you?" said my father, with a curious smile.

Splash! Went the iron rings a