Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1900-12-06

swung to behind us, was bolted with n
click and double snap, and the foot
steps of our jailers echoed along the
passage and died away to silence.
At FIRST the dungeon seemed to us
black as a slave drivers conscience,
but gradually we noticed that a faint
light was coming in through a heavily
grated window in the wall. Bruised
and shaken with our fall, we lay on
the pavement and wondered what
would be the next evil to come to us.
"Oh. no. hoI All, ha, haw laughed
weird, unearthly VOICE from the murk-
lest corner of the cell $50 they've
given you water in pitchers and then
caused you to spill the water and
break the pitchers in the hurry of your
entry Oh, ho, hol 'Tis a merry jest.
They're funny dogs, these noble Span
iards."
| started to my feet and stared hard
into the corner. but the darkness was
too thick for me to see what manner
Of thing it was that had addressed us.
"Oh. no. hor' cackled the voice again.
More flesh to frizzle and crackle in
the flames. though there isn't over
much fat on it. More skin to be torn
by the pinchers. more stout limbs to
wear the iron boot. All. ha. ha. More
sweet work for the kind and gentle
Spaniard"'
who are you" cried Alec stern!y,
man or ghoul. to take such delight
in hcrrorsi'
"Ch. no. ho, Its the name you'd
like MY masters; But they know that,
and I'll not tell you | publish no
autobiography till I'm rackGd for it.
Tisnt safe. Walls have ears, and
recapting in the instrument room
where they've got sawdust on the floor,
remember--is wearisomp to the flesh.
But" he added. with evil glee. you'll
know that better by and by"
\ sauLGrr Of loathing ran through
me AT his words and | trrInbled as
man does when he demon of fear
takes hold OF him. And yet | DO not
usu;.i!y show it when | am afraid. But
this man was very high priest of
horrcr.
well. friend" said Alec after a
come to the light and let us have look
at you There's no danger in that"
"Oh. ho. ho. Been gazing at the day
light. have you? Eyes not attuned to
the darkness. Ell? All, ha, ha! The
noble SPaniard will teach you how to
see like barn owls before you've drunk
down all the gentle medicine for sick
souls that they will offer you. Are you
tough my mastersF
4 bony claw seized me by the leg,
and could feel the hard fingers press
ing into my flesh like iron talons.
"Ho. no, Good. Good"' he cried as
he felt the toll hardened muscles.
Here are good. stout thews and sin
ews TO be .amedr And he rubbed his
hands and tangled his fetters joyously.
They'll not set the little pot bellied
knave to man the handspike when they
lay you on the rack. You'll have the
greater honor. 1t will be the tall, lusty
one with cross eyes. | used to know
his stroke well. All, me! I'm getting
an old. worn man now, and the pot
bellied racker serves my turn. All, ha,
ha Dye take? Serves-my-turnl
Oh, no, how
The cell rang loud with his CHASTITY
merriment
''The poor fellows mad" whispered
Alec TO me. Tortured out Of his rea-
son perhaps. Still he's an English
man and may be able to give me news
Of my father" And he added aloud,
''My good man. did you ever meet or
hear of Captain ireland. who sailed out
of the port Of London for Manoa and
was taken by the Spaniards on these
coastsT'
''Oh. no. no! All, ha, hap' burst out
the unearthly cackling again. Gap