Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-02-10
A TERRIBLE PUNISHMENT.
Tied Fast to Tree within Reach of n
RaXennns Birds Sham Behk.


He was placed at the foot of the tree, and
bound to it in sitting posture with ropes
which surrounded his body and the trunk Of
the tree. His left arm was bound to his side,
not too tightly, SO that it should be numbed,
but still securely, so that it might not DO
moved. When they had tied him firmly, and
fixed his feet the attendant who had followed
Shan-min-yuen approached and uncovered
that which he carried, and which Norris now
saw to be a rough cage with a white bird Of
large size inside. One Of the priests bent and
assisted the man, and together they bound the
bird by the chain around its leg. So they
left him thus, with the bird at his feet; and
Norris gradually returned to life-to exist
through these hours which We're the most ter
rible Of alto live through that night, God
knows how, and 10 greet the dawn in tho
mockery of his SOUL and still to wait for the
time to come.
Thus it was with him on the morning when
Vanscombc and Chin-chin-wa set out for tho
temple of Confucius; and as they were near
ing the gates a dull, leaden stupor descended
upon the man who only waited, alone in that
courtyard, with the bird chained at his feet,
until the last moment Of his agony should
come. At last it came, for the bird, inn
PEELED by hunger, bent down at length and
caught the flesh of Norris toe in his beak,
half wondering perhaps, if this was food to
eat The mans shrieks rose through the air,
and the bird second time, and more greed
lily, bent forward 10 taste his blood and as its
overlapping beal; met in his flesh last great
cry came from him, and again as was so
often the case, the whole world passed away
in darkness
At that moment the temple door opened,
and Chin-chn-wa looked down upon the
scene. The strong mans heart filled with
agony-a pain, which only the strong heart,
such as his, can feel in its fullness, and this
agony dwelling in him yet stilled him, for he
had now to act; but it burst from him at a
later time, when all was over, and then he
answered Vanscombe as one who scarcely
heard, as one who had passed out of terri
BILE dleam-"I do not know Now he drove
it back, and bounding forward, seized tho
white bird in his right hand, crushing the
life out of it as he tore it from the chain and
casting it from him as a dead thing, killed by
the grasp Of his powerful hand. Then he
called aloud to the priests who had followed
him, and who now stood aghast some
way behind, cowed by an anger that is sell
dom known in u man. And he commanded
them to undo the bonds and release the poor
feet, one of which was dripping blood. They
obeyed him silently. He had come to them
bearing the command from Shan-min-yuen-
Permit and give honor to Chin-chin-wa."
And for what else should he come but in
connection with the prisoner who was now
to be unbound! Chin-chin-wa took him i'll
his arms, and thus bearing him, passed out
of the court and through the temples until
he reached the outer gate, and there lie Left
the priests and went out free; for they had
seen his anger, and were afraid.--'A Swal-
lows Wing" by Charles Hammer.