ers for their
guards, and a still larger number as engine, boiler, machinery, and
store houses for the purpose of extracting and storing the silver from
the ore. The whole place was intersected by narrow-gauge tram-lines,
upon which were run little wagons which a couple of men could push, for
bringing the raw material from the mine to the smelting-houses. Several
of these standing about in various parts of the village added to the
general uncouthness and desolation of the scene; and Jim felt that if he
were compelled to stay here for very long, he would go mad with the very
dismalness and horror of his surroundings.

But he was not allowed very much time for reflection, for directly the
much-diminished roll was called, the prisoners were conducted to a shed
containing a large number of sacks of crushed Indian corn, the staple
food of the Indians in Peru; and here a small quantity of the
unappetising stuff was served out, together with a tin can, to each man.
This corn, made into a sort of porridge by boiling it with water, was
to constitute the prisoners' evening meal; and they were given to
understand that all their other meals would consist of the same food.
The unfortunate men, who had been freed from their shackles as soon as
they arrived at their destination, then took their tins, and, making
themselves as comfortable as they could in the prisoners' compound,
proceeded to boil and eat their unwholesome-looking porridge. By the
time that this was done, darkness had fallen, and the village was
lighted up by means of rough paraffin lamps hoisted on poles. By the
light of these the prisoners were now herded together once more and
marched away to the long iron sheds in which they were told they would
have to sleep. But before entering these hovels, a number of Peruvian
soldiers brought out a quantity of clothing, made on purpose for the
convicts, and the Chilians were ordered to strip and put these on. Jim
was very glad to have another suit, although it consisted of only a pair
of rough blue serge trousers, a kind of jersey, a neckcloth, and a
jacket, for his own garments were so torn and ragged that they were
hardly sufficient to cover him. They were then told that a pair of
clogs would be served out to each of them the next morning at daybreak,
when work would commence, but that now they were expected to turn in for
the night, according to the rules governing this little convict
settlement. The iron-roofed she