Marion glanced around the boat, which looked anything but attractive, and was soon on the deck as the officer had directed her. Just as she reached it a great covered wagon came lumbering down to the dock. “Here she comes at last! Here’s the ‘Black Maria!’” cried the captain; then he gave some orders and at once all was activity. Marion’s eyes were widely opened when she saw what followed, for there were fourteen prisoners in the “Black Maria,” two of the worst ones being handcuffed together. In the quickest possible manner they were driven on to the boat, a guard standing at each side of the gangplank to keep them from jumping overboard. As soon as they were all on, the order was given to start, and the boat was soon ploughing its way up the East River and among the craft that dotted the water. “Is this a strange sight for you, miss?” asked a voice behind Marion. The young girl turned quickly and confronted an elderly woman. “It is, indeed,” said Marion promptly, “and it is about the saddest sight that I ever dreamed of,” she added. “Are you a nurse?” asked the woman again in a courteous manner. “Not yet,” answered Marion, “but I am accepted on probation. I am on my way to the Charity Hospital.” The woman looked at her kindly, but Marion’s gaze was wandering. She was trying to realize her extraordinary surroundings. “Those are ‘ten-day’ men,” said the woman, as she saw Marion staring at two of the deck hands on the steamer. “In other words, they have been sent up for ten days and are allowed to work on the boat.” Marion opened her eyes in absolute surprise. She had never before heard of such an arrangement. “Why, that is ever so much better than keeping them shut up,” she said, quickly. “Poor fellows! I am sorry for them. They haven’t all got bad faces.” “And they are not all bad; now,” said the woman again. “I can assure you, I have many good friends among the prisoners.” Marion turned and looked at her with interest. She seemed to be both a refined and an intelligent person. “I am a Bible reader,” said the woman, smiling. “I visit some of the islands every day, and my principal duty is to read the Bible to the prisoners.” Marion’s smile changed instantly into an expression of wonderment. “Do they like that, madam?” she asked, a little bluntly. “Some of them do,” said the woman, with a peculiar laugh, “but some are very hardened. I can hardly get them to listen.” “Well, I don’t wonder,” said the girl, with a heavy sigh. “I should think that some parts of the Bible would make them feel decidedly uncomfortable. Of course, there are many classes of criminals,” she added, quickly. “There are those who sin through weakness and those who are deliberately vicious. Then, of course, there are the others who sin almost from necessity.” The woman looked at her in a little surprise. She had not expected so young a girl to be so serious on this subject.