Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1906-08-03
For The Term of Ills Natural Life
BY MARCUS CLARKE

2CUS CLARKE


likely man, will you. That last fellow
you had ought to have been tied up
yourself. His fogging wouldn't have
killed a foa."
'You can't get 'em to warm one an
other, your honor" says Troke "They
won't do it,"
"Oh, yes, they will. though" says
Burgess, cor I'll know the reason why.
l won't have my men knocked up with
hOgging these rascals. If the scourger
won't do his duty, tie him up and give
him ive-and-twenty for himself. I'll be
down in the mOrning myself, If I can"
Very good, your honor" says Troke.
kirkland was put into a separate cell
that night; and Troke by way of as
surfing him a good nights rest, told him
that he was to have "hfty" in the
morning. "And Dawes'n lay it on" he
added. Hes one of the smartest men
''You will find this terrible place,
Mr.. Meekin," said North to his sup
commandments to dinner. ut has made
me heart sick"
II thought it was a little paradise"
the scenery is delightful
The dinner went off successfully.
Burgess-desirous, perhaps, of favora-
bly, impressing the chaplain whom the
bishop delighted to honor-was urbane
enough. You'll find us rough, Mr..
Meekin," he said, 'but you'll find us
all there when we're wanted. This
is a little kingdom in itself. Pray help
yourself to wine"
THANK you, none" said North, fill
| ing a tumbler with water. 81 have a
headache"
His manner Of speech and action was
80 awkward that a silence fell upon
the party, caused by each one wonder
ing why Mr.. North should grow con-
fused, and drum his fingers on the ia
Bile, and stare everywhere but at the de-
canter. Meekin was the first to speak
Have you many visitors, Captain Bur-
gess?"
Every few. Sometimes a party comes
over with a recommendation from the
governor, and 1 show them over the
place; but, as a rule, we see no one
but ourselves"
IT asked" said Meekin, because
some friends of mine were thinking Of
coming. Do you know Captain Frere?"
"Frere! should say So" returned
Burgess. 81 was quartered with him
at Sarah Island. So he's a friend of
yours, ehT'
II had the pleasure of meeting him
in society. He is just married, you
know. To Miss Vickers, a charming
young person. They are going to Sgd
ney, where Captain Frere has some
| interest, and Frere thinks of taking Port
| Arthur on his way down."
"a strange fancy for a honeymoon
trip" said North.
| Captain Frere takes a deep inter
est in all relating to convict discipline"
went on Meekin, "and is anxious that
Mrs. Frere should see this place. A
romantic story, Captain Burgess. He
saved her life, you know"
"Ah! that was a queer thing, that
mutiny," said Burgess. We've got the
fellows here, you know"
Il saw them tried at Hobart Town."
said Meekin. 'In fact, the ringleader.
John Rex, gave me his confession, and
l sent it to the bishop. Captain Frere
tried to make me think his letters con-
tanned a hidden meaning, but l don't
believe they did. He seems to me to
be truly penitent for his offenses-a
misguided but not a hypocriticaI man.
If my knowledge of human nature goes
for anything"
Il hope he is" said North. 'I
wouldn't trust him.
"Oh, there's no fear of him." said
Burgess, cheerily; ''if he grows uproari-
GUS, Wen soon give him a touch of the
cat"
Here attention was called by the
strange behavior of Mr.. North. He had
risen and, without apology, flung wide
the window, as though he gasped for
air. 'HallO, Northl What's the mat
terT'
Nothing" said North, recovering
himself with an effort. "a spasm.
have these attacks at times"
'Have some brandy?" said Burgess.
mo, no, it will pass. No, 1 say.
Well, If you insist" And selling the
tumbler offered to him, he half filed it
with raw spirits and swallowed the fiery
draught at agulp. The Reverend Nee
kin eyed his clerical brother with hor-
ror.
"HaP' said North, looking wildly
round upon them. "That's better"
So they went on to the veranda, and
looked down upon the lights of the
prison, and listened to the sea tapping
the shore. The Rev. Mr.. North, in this
cool atmosphere, seemed to recover him
self, and conversation progressed with
some sprightliness.
By and by short figure came up out
of the dark, and proved to be Doctor
Macklewain, who had been prevented
from attending the dinner by reason of
an accident to a constable at Norfolk
Bay, which had claimed his professional