the long, narrow, rocky strait,
defended towards the sea by a frowning castle, and strongly fortified
towards the land, looked to me like passing through the throat of a
monster, who was to swallow me for ever. But I had little time for
observation or reflection on external objects,--my business was with
_interiors_: and when the polite midshipman with whom I landed bade
farewell, it was only to transfer me to the _concierge_ of a prison
within the royal arsenal. Here I was soon joined by the crew and
officers. For a while, I rejected their penitence; but a man who is
suddenly swept from the wild liberty of Africa, and doomed for ten
years to penitential seclusion, becomes wonderfully forgiving when
loneliness eats into his heart, and eternal silence makes the sound of
his own voice almost insupportable. One by one, therefore, was
restored at least to sociability; so that, when I embraced the
permission of our keeper to quit my cell, and move about the prison
bounds, I found myself surrounded by seventy or eighty marines and
seamen, who were undergoing the penalties of various crimes. The whole
establishment was under the _surveillance_ of a naval commissary,
subject to strict regulations. In due time, two spacious rooms were
assigned for my gang, while the jailer, who turned out to be an
amphibious scamp,--half sailor, half soldier,--assured us, "on the
honor of a _vieux militaire_," that his entire jurisdiction should be
our limits so long as we behaved with propriety.

Next day I descended to take exercise in a broad court-yard, over
whose lofty walls the fresh blue sky looked temptingly; and was
diligently chewing the cud of bitter fancies, when a stout elderly
man, in shabby uniform, came to a military halt before me, and,
abruptly saluting in regulation style, desired the favor of a word.

"_Pardon, mon brave!_" said the intruder, "but I should be charmed if
_Monsieur le capitaine_ will honor me by the information whether it
has been his lot to enjoy the accommodations of a French prison, prior
to the unlucky mischance which gives us the delight of his society!"

"No," said I, sulkily.

"_Encore_," continued the questioner, "will it be disagreeable, if I
improve this opportunity, by apprising Monsieur _le capitaine_, on
the part of our companions and comrades, of the regulations of this
royal institution?"

"By no means," returned I, somewhat softer.

"Then, _mon cher_, the sooner you are initiated into the