Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1906-08-11
for The Term of Ills Natural Life
BY MARCUS CLARKE
CHAPTER XxII.-(Continuedl
ARGUS CLARKE

feet. lie saw the empty brandy bottl
on his wooden dressing table, and re
| membered what had passed. With shall
ing hands he dashed water over his ach
: ing head, and smoothed his garments
The debauch of the previous night haC
left the usual effects behind II. Hi
: brain seemed on fire, his hands were no
and dry, his tongue Glove to the rooi
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-past six. The hogging
was to have taken place at halt-past
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 iftieth lash.
Stop cried North. captain Bur
CESS, l call upon you to stop
you're rather late. Mr.. North" re-
torted Burgess. 1.-THE 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 flesh
twitched like that of a new-killed bull
lock. Suddenly Macklewain saw his
head droop on his shoulder. Throw
him off! 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. Il thought So" said
Burgess. Tie him up again.
mo; not if you are Christians" 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.
"What?' 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, foaming.
"Tie him up! Here. constable, fetch
man here with fresh cat. I'll give
you that beggar's fifty, and fifty 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 1ogged before.
Troke appeared with Gabbett, grinning.
Gabbett liked hogging. 1t was his boast
that he could fog n man to death on a
place no bigger than the palm of his |
hand He could use his left hand equal |
ly with his right, and if 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 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 five-and-twen-
ty lashes without a murmur, and then
Gabbett CROSSED the cuts" This went
on up to fifty lashes, and North felt
himself stricken with admiration at the
courage of the man. IF it 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"
TN make you speak, you dog. if I
cut your heart out!' he cried. Go on.
prisoner"
For twenty lashes more Dawes was
mute. and then the agony forced from
his labOrinS breast a hideous cry. Rut
1t was not cry for mercy, as that of
kirkland's had been. Having found his
tongue, the wretched man gave vent to
his boiling passion in torrent. He
shrieked imprecations upon Burgess.
Iroke and North. He cursed all sol
diers for tyrants, all parsons for hypo-
critics. He called on the earth To game
and swallow his prosecutors. for heaven
20 open and rain fire upon them. for beu
to yawn aud engulf them quick. II was
as though each blow of the cat forced
out of him fresh burst of bea lilo
rage. He seemed to have abandoned
his humanity. He foamed, he raved
he tugged at his bonds until the strong
slaves shook again; he writhed himself
round upon the triangles and spit imno-
tently at Burgess. who jeered at his FOR.
ments. North, with his hands to his
ears, crouched against the corner NJ Tho
wall palsied with horror. He wonld
tain have fed, but horrible tascination
held him back.
In the midst of this-when tho cot
was Kissing the loudest Burgess laugh
Ing his hardest, and the wretch On tho
triangles filling the air with his crias
North saw Kirkland look at him Win
what he thought a smile. Was il a
smiief He leaped forward, and uttered
cry Of dismay 30 loud that all turned
"Hullo!" says Troke, running 10 the
heap of clothes, ''the young 'un's shines
his windr' FP00
Kirkland was dead.
Throw him off, saws Ruryass
aghast at the unfortunate accident. an,
Gabbett reluctantly united the thong
that bound Rufus Dawes. Two con
stables were alongside him in an instant
Tor sometimes newly tortured men proy
70 This 49,