The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-07-03


zeal or interest. and was beginning 10
onuer what would happen next. when
oneine turned 10 me and quietly asked
prayers?" soy Soui
elr! calculated In unutterable sur
prHse at SO impertinent a question. as II
seemed to me.
asked whether you ever said your
prayers; / ought TO have said rather
DO you ever pray? There is often a very
great difference between the two acts"
he returned quietly.
Well-ah-yes-that is-certainly. sir I
do" stammered /
Then." said Smellie. 'let me recon-
mend you TO pray now-to pray with all
the earnestness and sincerity OF which
You are capable. Make your peace with
God, IL you have not already done so.
whist you have the opportunity, for. un-
less / am very greatly mistaken, IL is our
doom TO die tonight"
was so shocked. so completely knock
ed on my balance, by this unlocked for
communication that, for the moment. I
lost all power OF speech. my tongue clave
20 the roof Of my mouth, and could only
stare at my Fellow prisoner in horrined
fncredulity
MY poor boy" he said compassIon-
ately. II am afraid have spoken to you
too abruptly. I ought TO have prepared
you gradually for so momentous a piece
OF Intelligence. To have broken the news
20 you. But. there, what matters? You
are plucky lad, Hawkesley-your con-
duct last night abundantly proved that
and am sure that. II the occasion should
come. you will stand up and face death
in the presence OF these savages as an
Englishman should / am not afraid OF
that. But. my dear boy. are you prepared
TO die? Are you In a 1T state TO meet
your God7 You are very young, quite a
lad, in fact, and good lad too: you can
not yet have erred very grievously.
Thoughtless, careless. indifferent you
may have been. but your conscience can
hardly charge you with any very serious
offense. / should think: and you may
therefore we'll hope for pardon and mercy.
Seek both at once. my dear boy"
"But-Mr Smellie-I-I-don't under
stand: you don't appear TO be afraid or
or disturbed at-the near prospect of
DEATH
mo" he replied. raising his eyes
heavenward for a moment; mo, thank
God. ! am not afraid. My mother" his
lips quvered, his voice fatered and al
most broke for an instant, and by the red
glare OF the fire l saw the tears well UP
into his eyes as he spoke that revered
name. But he steaded himself again d.
rectly, and went on-"my dear mother
taught me 10 be ready for death at any
moment: taught me so lovingly and so
thoroughly that can regard with perfect
calmness tonight. as l have score or
times before. the approach OF the Last
Enemy. But let us not waste the pre-
cious moments In conversation. Time
soon will be for us no more; and-ah! see.
there comes the vile high priest OF
loathsome idolatry to claim his first VIC
tim. Should you by any chance escape
the coming horrors OF this night, Hawkes.
ley, and live TO reach England once more,
seek out my mother-Austin will instruct
you as to where she may be found-and
tell her that her son died as she would
wish him to die, a sincere Christian.
"I am to be the first victim IL would
sppear Farewell. my dear boyl God
bless you. and grant us a happy meeting
at His right hand on the last Great
Day.
strove in vain TO reply to his solemn
erfectionate farewell l wanted to let him
know how inexpressibly precious to mo
were the few words OF exhortation and
encoura cement he had spoken: 20 say
were Il only a single word TO cheer his last
moments with the assurance that he had
not spoken in vain: but my emotion was
too great felt that In the effort 20
sneak I should inevitably burst into
tears. and so, perhaps, unman him and
those inhuman savages. So. perforce. I
held my peace. and watched with n wild
N-beating heart to see how brave man
should die.
In the meantime the fetishman had
concluded his chant, and, In the midst Of
n breathless silence on the part OF his
audience. stood looking intently rouno
tho circle at the group OF prisoners Sc
cured to the trees. lie glanced keenly at
each OF us In turn, and az length pointed
his wand straight at Smellie. IL was this
action which caused the second neuten-
nrt 10 announce 20 me his belief that n
was he who was 10 be the first victim
OF the impending sacrihcial ceremony.
Keeping his wand pointed directly ~ my
companion. the uncouth figure slowly ana
with quite indescribable undulatory
dancing motion. advanced toward our
tree the crowd hastily making way Tor
him. and four members Of the inner circle
rising 10 their feet and following him at
q touch from his finger
Overcoming by n strong effort the hor-
nble fascination which this loathsome
wretch exercised over me, I turned tc
look at my companion.