The emigrant aid journal of Minnesota. [volume] (Nininger City, Minn. Terr. [i.e. Minn.]) 1856-1858, 1857-08-29
Frank said the soldier, you are ssht for: let us

geon. He was again blindtolded, and led out the same
way he had entered.
was standing before the prince, Abbas Mira, in the hall
of Justice. The prince did not deign to notice him, but
sat with his eyes fixed, apparently, on the magnificent
carpet which covered the divan. Near him, but in a
less elevated situation, sat the cadi, or chief justice OF
the city, waiting the orders Of his superior and a circle
of the officers and guards of the prince, completed the
list of persons present. In a large mirror which was
suspended against the wall, Everington saw his own
figure. and was shocked at the change which had taken
place in his appearance pale and sallow-.hi eyes hol.
low and sunken-his countenance CHASTITY, and his per-
son covered with the filth of the dungeon-the whole
conspired to prove the pestiential and foul condition OF
the place in which he had been immured.
CHAPTER VII.
Everington was aroused from the contemplation OF the
persons by whom he was surrounded, and of his own
haggard appearance, by a person whose business it was
to act the part OF public accuser' and who, kneeling De-
fore the prince, said
Most lust and glorious prince, Abbas Mira, the
prisoner awaits your pleasure and your justice
He has had a taste Of our justice already replied
the prince, with a nod to the cadi, 'lt him be brought
forward
Everington was then, by the guard, placed immediate
ly in froY of the divan, and with silence awaited the
charge.
Frank said the cadi, (among the ~omm ma
tons of the East all Europeans are called Franks fix
ing his eyes firmly upon Everington, and ~stroking his
long beard with great complacency, 1T is not the habit
giving them q hearing I'VE require you, therefore, to
answer snch questions, as, by order Of his highness the
prince, will be proposed to you
Everington remained motionless.
Are you acquainted with Corolinn Hermans?'
Il am
what was your motive in endeavOring to carry her
off, against her will and wishes 2
1T was to add to mine and her happiness
you acknowledge that it was your intention to carry
her away from the dominions of the prince, whom may
Allah preserve and marry her p
Il acknowledge it,
in6del stands convicted by his own confession. Proceed
to Judgment
The cadi then rose, and, after recapitulating the Of
fence, and ~mingling his expressions of regret, with
praises of the clemency and mercy of the prince, pro-
ceeded to condemn him to the punishment Of the boat.
'Ilittle imagined said Everington firmly, and adj.
dressing himself to the prince, that I should ever be
under the necessity of submitting to ask a favor of you,
but | must request that since I am to die, l may die like
a soldier there are things that a brave man breads more
than DEATH
sThe sentence is irrevocable and may the curse Of
Allah light upon me, if it be not fulfilled to the utmost
was the reply of the prince.
At this moment a struggle was heard at the lower
part of the hall and lifting his eyes, Everington saw
that it was Corolinn herself, endeavoring to force her
way through the crowd that filed the lower end of the
hall. There is something, however, in the distress of
a beautiful woman, that overcomes the most unfeeling,
and subdues the most obdurate and the commands Of
the prince to carry her off were unheeded. In the stern
frown of the prince, and the detected countenance of
Everington, she read at a glance the fact of his con-
demnation; and regardless Of forms, the lovely creature
threw herself on her knees before the prince, and plead
for the life of Everington with an earnestness which sus.
pended the hands of the executioners, which were al
ready raised to seize their prey. Her hair was dis
hevelled and flowing around her snowy neck and bosom
the tears were trickling down her checks, - wah i'm.
R PAS tss ,. sls9 |ss.1;s. she +. Ssss ssss.d sh /. DI e d; s.. s:'; 3.
babe forgiveness to Everington.
Fair Corolinn, said thesprince, IS be took her hand
to raise her up, ask any boon but the pardon Of this
rebel, and it shall be ~cheerfully granted you but our
royal word is passed, and he must die
Then remember that Corolinn dies with him. said
the heroic maiden, starting up and throwing herself into
the arms of Everington, who involuntarily clasped her
to his heart.
May Eblis seize.t them = cried the prince with in
dignation, as he saw this proof of her faithfulness and love.
Tear them asunder,' continued the prince, address.
ing the guards; tear them apart, and away with him to
his punishment. We, ourselves, will see to this fair
maiden
Here was a pause of a moment in which no one
moved and fear of the prince seemed forgotten in ad.
miration of the co~nstancy and fortitude Of the beautiful
girl.
Slaves! = exclaimed the prince, starting up with fury
and striking the hit of his cimetar, am / to be thus
disregarded Am 1 to execute my own commands p
Dread of consequences to themselves overcame the
feelings of compa ssion in the attendants Corolinn was
torn from the arms of Everington and while he was led
away surrounded by his guards, the faithful girl was
carried senseless to her apartments.
The news that the presumptuous Frank, who had
dared to interfere between the prince of Persia and the
object of his love, was to receive a merited punishment,
was speedily spread throughout the city,; and Evering-
ton found the streets, through which they were going to
pass, filed with spectators, anxious to catch a glimpse of
the man destined to such a fate.
When the excitement caused by his mock-trial and
his interview with Corolinn had passed away, he had
leisure to reflect on the lingering and horrible death to
which he was doomed.
The punishment Of the boat was one which was re-
served for those guilty of offences against the king;
by torture government wished to extort confessions.
The untrequency Of the punishment added to the hor-
ror with which it was viewed by all classes in the Per-
sian empire. During his long residence in Schiras and
Ispahan, Everington had never seen but one instance Of
that kind of punishment. Soon after his arrival at
~Ispahan, he was walking one afternoon on the banks of
the Zenderhead, when his attention was arrested by a
large concourse of people and on coming up to them,
Hamors informed him that they were assembled to wit
ness the tortdre by the boat, Of an individual, who, but
a few days before, had attempted to assassinate the schah.
1t was called the punishment of the boat, from the
shape of the engine by which the torture was accom-
plished.
This resembled two small boats laid together, with
holes cut at each end, in one of which was placed his
head and the other his feet. The miserable wretch con-
demned to the boat, was, with his hands and feet secure
ly plnioned, laid on his back in the machine, his neck
and feet placed in the notches made to receive them, and
then the upper part, which at those places was nicely
fitted, so as to prevent the least movement, was put on
and securely fastened down.
All that could now be seen was the head and the feet
the former supported by the projection Of the machine,
the face uppermost and exposed to the burning rays Of
the s~corching sun, and the confined and immovable sit.
uaticn producing the most intense agony. Into the
lower part of the machine was poured water, mixed with
honey and treacle, with other Ingredients, to invite the
wasps and flies, with which the country abounded, and
which, mingled with the excrements Of the body, soon
becomes intolerably offensive, and swarming with insects,
by which the poor wretch is absolutely devoured alive.
The most tormenting Of insects, the oriental sand-ay,
which deposits its egg, if undisturbed, beneath the skin,
and file Tho Aesh with worms. is collected in multitudes: