Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1906-07-27
for The Term of His Natural Life
BY MARCUS CLARKE
CHAPTER XXII.-(Continued1

hands that trembled, and suddenly awak-
ening, rolled off 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 1t. 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 hogging
was to have taken place at half-past
FIVE. Unless accident had favored him
he was already too late. Fevered with
remorse aud 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 fiftieth lash.
"Stop!' cried North. Captain Bur
CESS, | call upon you to stop
you're rather late, Mr.. North" re-
torted Burgess. 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, ana
merely moaned. His back was like
bloody sponge, while in the interval be-
tween the lashes the swollen hesh
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 him! saiu
Burgess. He's shamming."
A bucket of water made Kirkland
omen his eyes. ~ thought So" said
Burgess. "Tie him up again. ,
"So. not If YOU are Christians! cried
North.
He met with an ally where he least
expected one. Rufus Dawes hung do"i,
the dripping cat. 'Tll fog no more'
said he. ~
.WhatY roared Burgess, furious al
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
cite him up! Here, constable, tetcn
man here with a fresh cat. III give
YOU that beggar's fifty, and htty more
On the ton of 'em; and he shall look Oh
while his back cools.
Rufus Dawes with a glance at Nortn
nulled off his shirt without a word
and stretched himself at the triangles
His back was not white and smooth
like Kirkland's had been, but hard ah'
scanned. He had been logged Delore
Troke appeared with Gabbett, grinning
Gabbett liked hogging. 1t was MS Doas
that he could fog a man to death on
place no bigger than the palm OF MI
hand. He could use his left hand equal
" with his right, and if he got hold o
"fayorite," would "cross the cuts.
Rufus Dawes planted his feet frml!
on the ground, took fierce grasp OF tn
staves. and drew in his breath. Mackle
vain spread the garments OF the tw'
men upon the ground, and, placing Kirk
land upon them, turned to watch thi
new phase In the mornings amusement
He grumbled little below his breath
for he wanted his breakfast, and whe
the commandant once began to hoe
there was no telling where he woul
stop. Rufus Dawes took fve-and-twer
ty lashes without a murmur, and the
Gabbett "crossed the cuts" This wen
on I'D to fifty lashes, and North fe
himself stricken with admiration at tn
courage of the man. "If it had nc
been for that cursed brandy" though
he. with bitterness of self-reproach, e
might have saved all this" At the hui
dredth lash, the giant paused, expectin
the order to throw off, but Burgess wa
determined to "break the mans spirit.
"Tn make you speak, you dog, If
cut your heart out" he cried. Go ol
prisoner"
For twenty lashes more Dawes wa
mute and then the agony forced frol
his laboring breast hideous cry. B'
1t was not a cry for mercy, as that
Kirkland's had been. Having found h
tongue, the wretched man gave vent
his boiling passion in torrent. Il
shrieked imprecations upon Burges
T'roke and North. He cursed all SC
diers for tyrants all parsons for hyp
critics. He called on the earth to gal
and swallow his prosecutors, for heavt
to open and rain fire upon them, for he
TO yawn and engulf them quick. 1t WI
as though each blow of the cat force
out of him fresh burst of beast-lil
rage. He seemed to have abandon'
his humanity. He foamed, he rave
he tugged at his bonds until the strol
slaves shook again; he writhed himse
round upon the triangles and spit imp
tently at Burgess, who jeered at his tc
ments. North, with his hands to b
ears, crouched against the corner OF t
wall, palsied with horror. He wou
fain have fed, but a horrible fascinati
held him back.
In the midst Of this-when the c
was Kissing the loudest, Burgess laug
ing his hardest, and the wretch on t
triangles filing the air with his cri
North saw kirkland look at him wi
what he thought a smile. Was It
smile3 He leaped forward, and utter