The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1907-06-18

here.
Tom never knew how bis legs carried |
him through the barrack gates. and
when the draft were drawn up within
and formally addressed there by the
deputy governor he caught but little
of the harangue. He felt deadly sick,
his heart ached like a tooth. and for
hours to come those piercing screams
pursued his tingling ears, However.
he supposed the punishment must have
been timed expressly as a salntary
warning for the newcomers. Deyoutly
he hoped so, but he soon knew better.
Next morning there were two fog
gings. and one again the morning aft
.r. 1t was, in fact, a daily detail at
the Hyde Park barracks, which were,
on the other hand. the headquarters Of
several hundreds of the most desper.
ate felons in New South Wales. Tom
and his draft were only to remain
there until assigned into private serv-
ice, but the rest had all been turned
into government as unmanageable by
their masters and were in barracks for
repunishment. Their days were spent
10 road gangs or In other organized 10.
Dor about the town. and not few OF
their nights In depredations winked at
by the barrack officers.
For the corruption OF the place was
rs fragrant as the discipline was harsh.
The very first night. when Tom was
driven from bis hammock By the fetid
heat OF the overcrowded dormitory. he
witnessed an instructive Incident from
the window. II was the return of such
a depredator and the division Of his
spoil with the officer on duty. Tom
soon learned that burglaries and high
way robberies were nightly occur
rences in Sydney. and as often the
work of acoDyicts under nominal lock
and key as that Of the assigned sery-
ants who infested the streets after
dark.
Meanwhile he was himself assigned
TO a resident in urgent quest Of ''spe-
'cIal," or gentleman convict" as such
as Tom were termed. The applicant
was a genial graybeard. with. a philo-
sophie eye. which looked Tom well up
and down at their interview.
what I want" said he. lis tutor
for my son. I hear you are universe.
ty man. May I ask what makes you
staref" 's..I
81 tutorw
"wellT'
"you can't know what ! was trans
ported for *r#
."oh. yes. do. I could wish It had
been for something else, certainly; but
that doesn't make you any the less a
university man. And the other spe.
Gals seem to be poor lot. and mean
to give you a trial. But wen drop that
name Of yours. which I'm afraid may
be known In my house. and you shall
start fair. In half an hour, then. Jones.
shall call for you IN my chaise."
And Tom actually found himself
quite q privileged member Of a decent
household before he had time to realize
his good fortune. The other servants
were ordered to treat him with respect
His pupil was put entirely in bis
charge. He had his meals with The
family and had reveIed for one night
In a deliciousiy clean bed and bedroom
when the master Of the house came e
him In the morning with very WHY
face.
"Its all up, Jones'" said that philoso
pher, with the blunt intimacy which
had made Tom like him from the first
MY good wife has discovered who yoI
are, and she refuses to leave her bed
while you remain IN the house. Shs
has read Of you In the English papers
confouDd them. and she simply won
have you on the premlsesi II seems IN
reasonable when you consider that oul
cook was q bIoodthIrsty baby farmer
our coachman a professional burgial
and so on right through the staff-ha
bituai criminals every one-whlch
don't think you are. Still there's On
other side to t. There's the boy to u
considered. and though I think you're
the very man for him. q mothers feel
ings must be studied 10 such matters
You see like you well enough TO b
perfectly frank about the matter. bu
the fact IL the chalse ls waiting for u
outside"
So ended that chapter. and Tom wa
back at barracks IN time TO hear th,
clank OF chain gangs shutting faint!
out 10 work and the swish and whistl
Of the morning lash. Those two instru
ments supplied the street music OF tn
convict city. There were few day
and few hours when you might no
hear their melancholy duet. To Ton
the sound Of II was still physical TOT
ture, the more unbearable after thi
cruel taste Of better things. Nearl.
oil bis shIpmates had been assigneI
and taken away IN bis absence. OnI.
one other "speciar' was left. q LondoI
clerk transported for fraud. Tom
late master. q friend Of the superin
tendent, was allowed 20 carry him 81
IN Toms stead. and long afterwar
the latter heard the curious sequel o
his own misfortune. So thorough
: did bis successor teach what be kneS
that both tutor and pupil were pres
entity transported 10 Van Dieman'
) Land for life.
The incident was sufficiently DIFF
p A a