The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1906-06-21
For The Term of His Natural Life
BY MARCUS CLARKE

Marcus CLARKE

shot eyes. rubbed his forehead with
hands that trembled, and suddenly awak-
ening. rolled eff the bed and rose to his
feet He saw the empty brandy bottle
on his wooden dressing table. and re
membered what had passed With shak-
ing hands he dashed water over his ach-
ing head, and smoothed his garments.
The debauch of the previous night had
left the usual effects behind it. His
brain seemed on fire, his hands were hot
and dry, his tongue Glove TO the roof
of his mouth. He shuddere6 as he view
ed his pale face and red eyes in the
little looking glass. Stealing into the
sitting room, be saw that the clock
pointed to haf-past six. The hogsing
was to have taken place at half-past
Eve 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.
"Stopv' cried North. Captain Bur-
CESS. I call upon you TO stop.
you're rather late. Mr.. North" re-
torted Burgess. ssThe 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 a
bloody sponge, while In the interval be
tween the lashes the swollen flesh
twitched like that of new-killed bull
lock. Suddenly Macklewain saw his
head droop on his shoulder Throw
him of. Throw him off, he cried, and
Troke hurried to loosen the thongs !.
Filing some water over him.! said
Burgess. Hes shamming.'
A bucket Of water made Kirkland
open his eyes. II thought so,' said
Burgess. "Tie him up again."
'No: not if you are ChristiansT cried
North.
he net with an ally where he least
expected one. Rufus Dawes flung down
the dripping cat "I'll aog no mole,
said he
"whatY' roared Burgess, furious al
this gross insolence.
aIu fog no more. Get some one else
70 do your bloody work for you.
went"
lie QlIU VI. CIlCu - "a 6~S~f
sTie him up. Here. constable letcn
man here with a 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 coois.
Rafus Dawes, with a glance at North
pulled of his shirt without q word
and stretched himself at the t-'angies
His back was not white and smooth
ike Kirkland's had been, but hard and
seamed. He had been logged before
Troke appeared with Gabbett, grinning
Gabbett liked fogging. 1t was his boast
that he could fog man to death on.a
place no bigger than the palm OF his
hand. He could use his left hand equal
" with his right, and If he got hold OF
4 s.fayorite," 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 or 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 commandment once began to fog
there was no telling where he would
STOP Rufus Dawes took fve-and-twen-
t. lashes without a murmur, and then
Gabbett crossed the cuts" This went
on up to fifty lashsss. and North felt
himself stricken Will admiration at the
courage of the man. eff it had not
been for that cursed brandy" thought
he. with bitterness of self-reproach. Il
might have saved all this" At the hun
dredth lash, the giant paused, expecting
the order to throw OF, but Burgess was
determined to "break the mans spirit,
I'm make you speak, you dog, If
cut your heart out" he cried go on
prisoner"
For twenty lashes more Dawes W..
mute, and then the agony forced frsn
his iaboring breast hideous cry. lsu
it was not cry for mercy, as that o.
Kirklands had been. Having found hil
tongue, the wretched man gave vent tt
his boiling passion IN a torrent. HI,
shrieked imprecations upon Burgess
Troke and North. He cursed all sol
diers for tyrants, all parsons for hypo
critics. He called on the earth to gap,
and swallow his prosecutors. for heavei
to open and rain Ere upon them. for hel
to yavn and engulf them quick 1t wa
as though each blow Of the cat forces
out of him A fresh burst Of beast-lik
rage. He seemed to have abandoned
his humanity. He foamed. he ravsd
be tugged at his bonds until the stronl
slaves shook again: he writhed himsel
round upon the triangles and spit impo
bently at Burgess, who jeered at his tor
l. n +.
ears, crouched against the corner Of tn
wall. palsied with horror. He woul'
fam have fed, but q horrible fascination
held him back
In the midst of this-when the ca
was kissing the loudest. Burgess laugh
ing his hardest, and the wretch on th
triansles filing the air with his cries
North saw Kirkland look at him wit
what he thought smile. Was II
smile7 He leapec forward, and uttere,
cry Of disrlay so loud that all turned
"Hull6r says Troke. running to tn
heap Of clothes, ''tbe young 'un's slippe,
his windr'
Kirkland was dead.
Throw him off, says Burgess
aghast at the unfortunate accident: an
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 "Deadv' and In hi
tone there seemed to be a touch o
envy. Then finging his shirt over hi
bleeding shoulders. be walked out, de
6ant 20 the last.
"Game, amt he?" said one constabl
to the other. as they pushed him, no
urgently, into an empty cell, there t
wait for the hospital guard. The bod
OF Kirkland was taken away in silence
and Burgess turned rather pale whe
he saw North's threatening face. II
isn't my fault, Mr.. North" he said
didn't know that the lad was chic'ier
hearted" But North turned away i
disgust, and Macklewain and Burgess
pursued their homeward route togethel
Mr.. North, in agony of mind at wha
be considered the consequences of hi
neglect. slowly, and with head bowe