essed
for many a day. Humming a nautical air as he walked along, and almost
if not quite, for the moment, oblivious of the fact of his condition of
slavery, he became keenly interested in all that he saw as he passed
through the crowded streets, now stopping to admire a picturesque group
of figures with jars and pitchers, awaiting their turn to draw water
from a public fountain, or pausing in front of a turner's shop to
observe with curiosity and interest, the deft way in which the workman
used his toes as well as his fingers in the operations of his trade.

He was thus engaged, in calm contemplation with his back to the street,
when he was very slightly jostled by a passer-by. He scarcely noticed
the incident, but if he had known who it was that touched him he would
not have remained so placid, for it was Hester herself, in company with
Peter the Great, on their way to the city walls.

As Hester's eyes were fixed on the ground and her thoughts on her
father, while Foster's attention was concentrated on the turner's toes,
neither observed the other, but Peter's sharp eyes had noted the middy,
and he hurried past to prevent a recognition, which might be awkward, if
not dangerous, at the moment.

Presently Foster's attention was attracted by a Moor who was riding
along the street, sitting side-wise as was the wont of Algerines of the
trading-class. What struck Foster particularly about this man and his
donkey was that the latter was trotting very fast, although it was a
very small animal, and the man on its back a very large one. He also
observed that the donkey tossed its head and put back its ears as if it
were suffering pain. As the Moor's hand rested on the donkey's haunch,
the reason at once occurred to Foster, for he had noticed the same thing
before. It was the practice, among cruel men, to create, and keep open,
a small sore on the haunch of each animal, by irritating which with a
little bit of stick they managed to make their donkeys go in a way that
a spur or a thick stick could not accomplish!

Now, our middy possessed a tender heart, which shrank sensitively from
the idea of giving pain to any living creature, and which almost
exploded with indignation at the sight of wanton cruelty to dumb
animals.

When, therefore, the Moor came alongside of him, Foster gave him a look
of tremendous indignation, at the same time exclaiming, "Shame on you!"

The Moor turned on him a look of mingled surprise and sc