Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1907-10-17

Of the morning lash. Those two instru-
ments supplied the street music Of the
convict city. There were few days
and few hours when you might not
hear their melancholy duet. To Tom
the sound of it was still physical tor
ture, the more unbearable after this
cruel taste of better things. Nearly
all his shipmates had been assigned
and taken away In his absence. Only
one other special" was left, a London
clerk transported for fraud. Toms
late master, a friend Of the superin-
tendent, was allowed to carry him off
in Toms stead, and long afterward
the latter heard the curious sequel Of
his own misfortune. So thoroughly
did his successor teach what he knew
that both tutor and pupil were pres
emily transported to Van Dieman's
Land for life.
The incident was sufficiently dis
heartening at the time, and yet it had
its hopeful side. 1t revealed the posi-
bilities of the assignment system, or.
rather, its better possibilities, from the
convict's point Of view. AS a punish
ment it must needs prove a farce in a
community which preferred to estimate
convicts by their capacity as colonists
rather than by their crimes as felons.
Such was Toms comforting reflection,
for not yet did he realize how entirely
the condition of the convict was de-
pendent upon the character Of the
master; but, having had one good mas
ter, though for so brief a period, he
looked cheerfully for another.
The other, however, was slow to
come. His false start seemed to tell
against Tom with the authorities.
They were in no hurry to assign him
again, and presently he found himself
the last man of his draft in the bar.
racks, with his hammock the only one
a-swing between the stanchions Of the
great dormitory upstairs. Then one
morning he heard a row in the yard,
and there was a very overdressed,
thickset and thick spoken young man
abusing the officers because there were
no convicts left.
II tell you we applied for three, and
I've come down expressly for Them"
he spluttered out. cover a hundred
blessed miles I've come, from Castle
Sullivan, near the Hunter river, for
two farm laborers and a groom, all
properly applied for in lots of time.
And just because I get a touch Of the
sur and can't come on the right day
I'm to go back empty handed, am /?
Well see about that. I'll complain TO
the board"
"That won't do no good. We've only
n man left, and the board can't
split i'm into three"
ooh, you have one, have you? Haul
him out and let's have a look at the
lubber."
So Tom was produced to receive the
unsteady scrutiny OF Il swimming blue
eye that told a tale, and was informed
with an oath that he was a special"
and they wanted none of that kidney
at Castle Sullivan.
Great was Toms relief, for a coarser
face he had seldom seen, but at this
liz O11SAl1o z Tia IL was d
special" OF nothing, and the bleared
eyes were on him once more.
"Come from the country"
"Yes."
SADDLE a horse?"
eyes"
Sand ride him after?"
"Better try me-"
StyTn11 ca r will vo,y 1o ,,ooHv IN or
hour, and a horse'll be ready for you.
I'll go back with a groom if with
nothing else"
"Wait!!' said Tom.
whats up now?"
"I'm supposed to have committed a
murder" said Tom through his teeth.
''In II family they wouldn't keep
me-
The other drowned his words with
a believing laugh.
"You won't be the only one at Castle
S%ullivan!' cried he. 1--WE don't mind
what you've done, bless you, so long
as you don't try it on again up there.
If you do"-and he jerked a great
close cropped head In the direction Of
SAC OdAAdSA IAAuASlCSs Willie u DlOdlGu
lower lip stuck out like a tongue be-
tween his short fair beard and mus
tache. '"There never yet was the lag
that bested Nat Sullivan" he added,
with another of his oaths, land you
don't look the fool to try it on. So be
ready in an hour sharp, or you look
OUT"
"Is he Nat Sullivan" said Tom to
the officers as the stout young man
staggered off.
SAY, ay," said they; that's the cele-
brated Mr.. Nat"
"Celebrated?"
'sThey're all that, you'll find, are the
Sullivans Of Castle Sullivan. You wait
and see. / shan't say nothing to set
you agen 'em, but I wish you joy Of
each other, don't you, Bill?'
Bill laughed, and Tom troubled them
with no more questions.
Mr.. Nat did not come in an hour. He
came in three. swaying in his saddle,
but still managing to lead a pack horse
and a horse for Tom. His blue eyes