nken
brawl a Portuguese had been killed; he and two others had been condemned
to the mines, but the others were dead long ago. About a month after my
elevation, this old man, who was very feeble, and whom I treated with
great kindness on account of his age--exacting no more than I thought he
could well perform--fell sick. I reported him as being really ill, and
Ingram, who was by no means a bad doctor, told me that he would die. A
few hours before his death he sent for me to his hut, and, after
thanking me for my kindness to him, he said that he knew he was dying,
and that he wished to leave me all his property, (which the slaves are
permitted to do,) that is, he left me his garden, which was the best on
the Sierra, his hut, which also was a very good one, and then, putting
his hand under the leaves which formed his bed, he pulled out a
tattered, thumbed book, which he told me was a Bible.

"At first I read," said he, "to pass away time in this melancholy place,
but of late I have read it I hope to a better purpose."

I thanked the poor man for his present, and wished him good-bye. A few
hours afterwards he was dead, and Ingram and I buried him by the side of
the mountain. Shortly afterwards our inspector died, and, to my
astonishment, I was put into his place. I could not imagine why I was
thus so fortunate in being promoted, but I afterwards found out that,
although I had never but casually seen her, I was indebted for my good
fortune to a fancy which the director's eldest daughter (for he had his
family with him) had taken for me.

This was singular, for I had never spoken to her, and, what is more
strange, I never did speak to her, nor did she ever attempt to speak to
me, so that it was wholly disinterested on her part. I had now still
less to do, and was in constant communication with the director, and one
day stated to him how it was that I had been brought there. He told me
that he believed me, but could not help me, and after that the subject
was never again mentioned between us. Having little to do, I now took
up the Bible given me by the old Englishman, as I had time to read it,
which I had not before, when I was employed the whole day; but now I had
a convenient cottage, as I may call it, of my own I and plenty of
leisure and retirement.

I studied the Bible carefully and found much comfort in it. Not that I
was content with my lot--that I never could be while I was separated
from Amy--but still