MARTIN RATTLER. 107

and Barney despatched breakfast in ag short a time
as possible, and the hermit read them a chapter out of
his large and well-thumbed Bible, after which they
equipped themselves for the chase.

When Martin and his friend escaped from the
pirates and landed on the coast of Brazil, they were
clothed in sailor-like costume, namely, white duck
trousers, coloured flannel shirts, blue jackets, round
straw hats, and strong shoes. This costume was not
very suitable for the warm climate in which they now
found themselves, so their hospitable friend the hermit
gave them two loose light cotton coats or jackets, of a
blue colour, and broad brimmed straw hats similar to
his own. He also gave them two curious garments
called ponchos, The poncho serves the purpose of
cloak and blanket. It is simply a square dark-
coloured blanket with a hole in the middle of it,
through which the head is thrust in rainy weather,
and the garment hangs down all round. At night
the poncho is useful as a covering. The hermit wore
a loose open hunting-coat, and underneath it a girdle,
in which was a long sharp knife and a brace of
pistols. His trousers were of blue-striped cotton.
He usually carried a double-barrelled gun over his
shoulder, and a powder-horn and bullet-bag were’

slung round his neck. Barney now procured from