Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1906-07-21
for The Term of Ills Natural Life
CHAPTER XIX.
BY MARCUS CLARKE

mind. Now that they had been captured
in a remarkable manner, popular belief
invested them with all sorts Of strange
surroundings. They had been-accord
Ing 10 r~eport-kings over savage island
ers, chiefs of lawless and ferocious pi
rates. respectable married men In Java,
merchants In Singapore, and swindlers
in Hongkong. Their adventures had
been dramatized at a theater, and the
popular novelist of that day was engag-
ed in a work descriptive of their won
drous fortunes.
John Rex, the ringleader, was related,
1t was said, to a noble family. He had
every prospect of being satisfactorily
hanged, however, for even the most out
spoken admirers of his skill and courage
could not but admit that ne had com
mitted an offense which was death by
the law. The already crowded prison
was recrammed with half a dozen life
sentence men, brought up from Port
Arthur to identify the prisoners. Among
this number was stated to be the mo
torious Dawes
This statement gave fresh food for
recollection and invention. 1t was re-
membered that 'the notorious Dawes"
was the absconder who had been brought
away by Captain Frere, and who owed
such fettered life as he possessed to the
fact that he had assisted Captain Frere
to make the wonderful boat In which
the marooned party escaped. 1t was
remembered, also, how sullen and morose
he had been on his trial five years before,
and how he had laughed when the com-
mutation of HE Aaath contnnpa wa an
nounced to him.
Miss Sylvia Vickers also received an
additional share of public attention. Her
romantic rescue by the heroic Frere, who
was shortly to reap the reward of his de-
votion in the good old fashion, made her
almost as famous as the villain Dawes,
or his confederate monster, John Rex.
1t was reported that she was to give evil
dence on the trial, together with her
aftianced husband, they being the only
two living witnesses who could speak
to the facts of the mutiny. 1t was re-
ported, also, that her lover was, nat
urally. most anxious that she should not
give evidence, as she was affected deep
ly by the illness consequent on the suf-
fering she had undergone, and in a
state of pitiable mental confusion as to
the whole business. These reports eau
ed the court, on the day of the trial,
be crowded with spectators. and as
the various particulars of the marvellous
history of this double escape were de-
tailed, the excitement grew more intense.
The aspect of the four heavily iron pris-
oners caused n sensation which, in that
city of the ironed, was quite novel, and
bets were offered and taken "a to the
line of defense which they would adopt.
Mr.. Meekin, sitting in the body of the
court, felt his religious prejudices sadly
shocked by a sight of John Rex. "A per-
feet wild beast. my dear Miss Vickers."
he said, returning, in a pause during tho
examination of the ~convicts who had
been brought to identify the prisoner, to
the little room where Sylvia and her
father were waiting. He has quite a
tigerish look about him."
Poor mani" said Sylvia, with a shud-
der.
The major tapped his fingers impa-
%tiently. Come here, Poppet," he said,
"and look through this door. You can
see them from here, and If you do not
recognize any of them, I can't see what
Is the use of putting you In the box"
The raised dock was just opposite to
the door of the room In which they were
sitting, and the -four manacled men, each
with an armed warder behind him, were
visible above the heads of tn ecrowd.
mo, papa" she said, with a sigh of
relief; 81 can't recognize them at ALL"
As she was turning from the door, a
rntNA from fha w{tnasu hn~ AnkE-l -
made her suddenly pale, and pause to
look again. The court Itself appeared, at
that moment, affected, for a murmur rar
through 1t, and some official cried. Isl.
l~ence!"
The notorious criminal, Rufus Dawes
the desperate of Port Arthur, the vile
beast whom the newspapers had judged
not at to live, had just entered the wit
ness box. He was a man of thirty, Ii
the prime of life, with a torso who's,
muscular grandeur not even the lift
ting yellow jacket could altogether con
ceal, with strong, embrowned and nerv
GUS hands, and upright carriage, and
pair of fierce black eyes that roameC
over the court %hungrily.
Not all the weight of the double iron,
swaying from the leathern thong arount
his massive loins, could mar that Gle
gance of attitude which comes only from
perfect muscular development. Not al
the frowning faces bent upon him coul,
frown an accent of respect into the con
temptuous tones In which he auswere
TO his name, Rufus Dawes, prisoner o
the crown."
Come away, my darling" said Wick
ers, alarmed at his daughters blanche,
face and eager eyes.
Wait" she said, imp~atiently, lister
Ing for the voice whose owner she coul
not see. "Rufus Dawes! Oh, | hay
heard that name before!"
you are a prisoner of the crown q
the penal settlement of Port Arthur ?
"Yes."
Sylvia turned to her father wit
breathless inquiry In her eyes. sol
papa, who is that speaking? know III
name! l know the voice.
That Is the man who was with yo
/ in the boat, dear" says Yickers. gray,
ly. ''rhe prisoner"
The eager light died out of her eve
: and In its place came a look of disar
: pointment and pain. ~ thought II w,
! q good man." she said hol5;na - =,