The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1906-08-10
For The Term of Ills Natural Life
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CHAPTER xxu.-(continued.)
by MARCUS CLARKE


Reused by the morning sun streaming
In upon him., Mr.. North opened his blood
shot eyes, rubbed his forehead with
hands that trembled, and suddenly awak-
ening, rolled of 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 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 fogging
was to have taken place at half-past
five. Unless accident had favored him
he was already too late. Fevered with
remorse and anxiety, he hurried past
the room where Meekin vet slumbered,
and made his way to the prison. As
he entered the yard kirkland had just
got his fiftieth lash.
"Stopy' cried North. Captain Bur-
CESS, 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 a
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.
"Fling some water over himV said
Burgess. Hes shamming."
A bucket of water made Kirkland
open his eyes. II thought So" said
Burgess. "Tie him up again"
''No; not IL 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?" reared Burgess, furious at
this gross insolence.
"I'll fog no more. Get some one else
70 do your bloody work for you.
won't"
LIE HlW ups CIlcu DuA6 OSct AO"AA-AAo'
"Tie him up! Here, constable, fetch
man here with fresh cat. III give
you that beggar's fifty, and fifty more
on the top of EN-; and he shall look ON
while his back cools."
Rufus Dawes, with 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 fiogged before.
Troke appeared with Gabbett, grinning.
GabDett liked iogging 1t was his boast
that he could fog 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 if he got hold of
''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 five-and-twen-
ty lashes without 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, az
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"
"Ill make you speak, you dog. if
cut your heart outr' he cried. go on,
prisoner"
For twenty lashes more Dawes was
mute, and then the agony forced from
his laboring breast hideous cry But
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 cape
and swallow his prosecutors, for heaven
20 open and rain fire upon them. for hell
to yawn and engulf them quick. 1t was
as though each blow of the cat forced
out Of him a fresh burst of beast-like
rage. BE 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 impo-
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 horrible fascination
held him back.
In the midst of this-when the cat
{ was kissing the loudest, Burgess laugh
ing his hardest, and the wretch on the
triangles filling the air with his cries.
North saw Kirkland look at him with
& what he thought a smile. Was II a
smile7 He leaped forward, and uttered
cry Of dismay so loud that all turned.
"Hullop says Troke, running to the
heap of clothes, ''the young 'un's slipped
his windr'
Kirkland was dead.
Throw him OFF, says Burgess,
aghast at the unfortunate accident; and
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