Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1906-10-20
CHAPTER xxIT.-CContInued.)

on his wooden dressing table, and re-
membered what had passed. With shak-
Ing hands he dashed water over his ach
ing head aud smoothed his garments
The debauch Of the previous night had
left the usual effects behind H. His
brain seemed on FIRE, his hands were hot
md dry, his tongue Glove TO the roof
Of his mouth. He shuddered as he view
ed his pale face and red eyes In the
little looking glass. Stealing into the
sitting room, he saw that the clock
pointed to half-pnst six. The hogging
was to have taken place at half-pasi
FIVE. Unless accident had favored him
he was already too late. Fevered with
remorse and anxiety. he hurried past
the room where Meekin yet slumbered.
and made his way to the prison. AS.
he entered the yard Kirkland had Just
got his fftieth lash.
"Stopr' cried North. captain Bur
CESS. call upon you to stop"
you're rather late. Mr.. North" re-
torted Burgess. "rhe punishment Is
nearly over"
North stood by. biting his nails and
grinding his teeth during six more lashes.
Kirkland had ceased to yell now, and
merely moaned. His back was like
bloody sponge. while in the interval be-
tween the lashes the swollen nesh
twitched like that of a new-killed bull
lock. Suddenly Macklewain saw his
head droop on his shoulder Throw
him OIL Throw him OFF, he cried, and
Troke hurried to loosen the thongs.
"Fling some water over him! said
Rurgess ssHe's shamming"
A bucket of water made Kirkland
open his eyes. 81 thought So said
Burgess. "Tie him up again"
mo; not If you are ChristiansV cried
North.
He met with an ally where he least
expected one. Rufus Dawes flung down
the dripping cat "I'll fog no more, "
said he.
"WhatY" roared Burgess. furious at
this gross insolence.
"I'll fog no more. Get some one else
to do your bloody work for you. /
won't"
Tie him up" cried Burgess, foamins
"Tie him up. Here. constable ietch
man here with fresh cat. III give
you that beggar's fifty, and nifty more
on the top of 'em; and he shall look on
while his back cools.'
Rufus Dawes, with a glance at North,
pulled off his shirt without word
and stretched himself at the triangles
His back was not white and smooth,
like Kirkland's had been, but hard and
scanned. He had been logged before.
Troke appeared with Gabbett, grinning.
Gabbett liked logging. 1t was his boast
that he could fog a man to death ON
place no bigger than the palm OF his
hand. He could use his left hand equal
ly with his right, and II he got hold OF
a "favorite," would "cross the cuts"
Rufus Dawes planted his feet firmly
on the ground, took fierce grasp Of the
slaves, and drew In his breath. Mackle-
vain spread the garments of the two
men upon the ground, and, placing Kirk
land upon them, turned to watch this
new phase in the mornings amusement.
He grumbled a little below his breath,
for he wanted his breakfast. and when
the commandant once began to fog,
there was no telling where he would
stop. Rufus Dawes took fve-and-twen-
ty lashes without murmur, and then
Gabbett CROSSED the cuts" This went
on up to fifty leshes, and North felt
himself stricken with admiration at the
courage Of the man. 'If II had not
been for that cursed brandy" thought
he, with bitterness Of self-reproach. 81
might have saved all this" At the hun
dredth lash. the giant paused. expecting
the order to throw off, but Burgess was
determined to break the mans spirit
"I'll make you speak, you dog. II
cut your heart outv he cried. go on
prisoner"
For twenty lashes more Dawes wa,
mute, and then the agony forced from
his laboring breast a hideous cry. Bui
II was not cry for mercy, as that OF
Kirkland's had been. Having found hi,
tongue, the wretched man gave vent &c
his boiling passion In torrent. He
Bhrieked imprecations upon Burgess
1'roke and North. He cursed all sol
diers for tyrants, all parsons for hypo
critics. Ho called on the earth TO gap,
and swallow his prosecutors, for HEAVIER
to open and rain fire upon them, for hel
to yawn and engulf them quick. 1t wa.
as though each blow Of the cat forced
out Of him a fresh burst Of beast-lIks
rage. He seemed to have abandoned
his humanity. He foamed, he raved
be tugged at his bonds until the strong
slaves shook again; he writhed himself
round upon the triangles and spit lmpo
tently at Burgess, who jeered at his tor
ments. North. with his hands to his
ears, crouched against the corner Of the
wall, palsied with horror. He would
fain have fed. but a horrible fascInsti or
held him back.
In the midst OF this-when the ca,
was kissing the loudest, Burgess laugh
Ing his hardest, and the wretch on tn,
triangles filling the air with his erie,
North saw kirkland look at him with
what he thought smile. Was II ,
smile? He leaped forward. and uttered
a cry Of dismay so loud that all turned
"Hullop says Troke, running to tn,
heap Of clothes, "the young 'un's slipped
his windw
Kirkland was dead.
Throw him orr says Burgess
sghast at the unfortunate accident; ant
Gabbett reluctantly united the thong,
that bound Rufus Dawes. Two con
stables were alongside him in an instant
FOR sometimes newly tortured men grow
desperate. This one, however, was 81
lent with the last lash, only, in takin,
his shirt from under the body Of tn,
boy. he muttered Dead" and in hi
tone there seemed to be touch o.
envy. Then fiinging his shirt over hi
bleeding shoulders, he walked out, de
faint to the last.
Game. amt her said one constabl,
to the other. as they pushed him. no
urgently, into an empty cell. there I,
wait for the hospital guard. The bod,
OF Kirkland was taken away In silence
and DurUoaa flrrna1 rofb.r 81. - a,