240 MARTIN RATTLER.

He was a large, powerful man, with an enormous
red beard and moustache, and a sombrero-like hat
that concealed nearly the whole of his face. He
seemed an irritable man, too, for he jerked his arms
about and stamped in a violent manner as they drew
near, and instead of waiting to receive them, he en-
tered the house hastily and shut the door in their
faces.

“The Baron would do well to take lessons in civil-
ity,” said Martin, colouring as he turned to the inter-
preter.

“ Ah, he be a leet pecoolair, sometime! Nev’r mind.
Ve vill go to him.”

So saying, the interpreter opened the door and en-
tered the hall where the overseer was seated at a desk
writing, as if in violent haste. Seeing that he did
not mean to take notice of them, the interpreter spoke
to him in Portuguese; but he was soon interrupted
by a sharp reply, uttered in a harsh, grating voice,
by the overseer, who did not look up or cease from
his work.

Again the interpreter spoke ag if in some surprise ;
but he was cut short by the overseer uttering, in a
deep stern voice, the single word “ Obey.”

With a low bow the interpreter turned away, and

taking Martin by the arm led him into an inner