The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1907-07-12

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yoked to the one tree like bullocks.
and dined or Of pounded grass aud
soup from native dog. And glad to
get It., tell ZEE. We wasn't pampered
and spoiit ike you biokes-aot at Toou'
gabbieI' 81
Or perhaps some wretch was groan.
ing from the scourger's lash, The First
Fleeter waxed especially eloquent on
all such occasions.
Cali that o fogging" be would
quaver from bis ledge, "Ona little
fftyf II we'd bad you at Toongabb,a
you'd know what fogging was Five,
six an even eight biooI!n' hundred
I've given ar took. What do you
:h.lk Of that There was 20 eies
about them foggings tel; se: no. an
there was no eies ahou. the Eangings
either I've seen man took an
strung up en- the spot for prigslng
handfu. Of weer.!ly biscuits. have.
AID all the time we was dyin' by doz,
ems Of the bad food an the ard graft
In the OF srn Lord. how we did die
There was big hole dug: we collect
ed 'em every day an pitched EN- 10
I mind seeing one man pitched IN be-
fore the breath was out OF i'm. !
amt dead. be says. You will be by
srndown.' says the overseer an do
you think we want you about the place
I'll! tomorrow you selfish manf There
wasn't no cies about that overseer. ei
cher; It was him as killed three men IL
fortnight by overwors at the saw.
They Just dropped dead at their work.
Take 1t away Is all he says. put 1t
In the ground an You never heard
nothing more. No. no." the old mon
ster would conclude. with his senile
chuckle. there wasn't no dies about
them old days In Toongabbie. | can
, tell zee. I'd give bit to have 'ad some
! O. this feather bed gan; there. them as
thinks they know what 'ardshlp is!"
> The First Fieeter became less ioqua-
. cious after a time, however. and much
less severe upon the luxury OF the
majors iron gang. Honeybone's shrewd
, eye was on him. and that of the First
Fieeter began to drOop and ruminate
with a cunnlng preoccupation that
made him quite silent on his ledge. At
D length. however. he took to leaning
. over and mumbling TO Tom In the
D stillest hours. And when Tom listen
ed the old wretch mumbied to others.
: including Macbeth. who had soon fol-
I lowed his enemy from Castle Sullivan
and been we'll nigh as refractory In
e the stockade. The Scot was In another
o den at nights, but the First Fleeter
made aud used his opportunities with
k characteristic craft So now there
e was a new poison In the air. and the
e virus had come all the way from
j Toongabbie In the early days.
One Of the last 10 be inoculated and
yet the one who perhaps took most
l. kindly to the process was a certain
!. sleek. bullet headed youth who came
e to the stockade on day IN midwinter.
b In the evening as Tom was sitting az
y the mess table. with bloodshot eyes
= downcast as usual. he heard his name
e In q voice he seemed 70 know.
n "weil. Erichsen." Il said. its q
. small world, ain EE
d Tom looked up and saw the bullet
4 head nodding az him across the table.
but so bloated and debauched was the
low face that he was some moments 10
recognizing his old companion Of the
a. condemned cell In Sewgate.
? Don't look at q pal like that" con
. tinued Creasey, with a smirk. You've
"A altered worse nor me. No III feeling,
: suy? I was that glad
m "sllencer' cried the noncommissioned
: oficer on duty. NO talking at your
. meals. yourg man. unless you want
10 what.for!'
a. As for Tom. he had nothing for The
Il newcomer but a surly contempt, which
IN he took no trouble 20 conceal. Creasey
N on the other hand. was studlously civil
m to him on graspIng Toms reputation II
,ol the stOckade. and secret circumstance
.. threw them not little together
o. That's q bIter." young Butterfelt
"A contrIved to say TO Tom In q day Of
4 two. Where did he know you beforef
"Sewgate."
NJ ale hates you."
a. "I.et hin"
ID aim Jealous he'll squeakT
Of "iIe might II he dare"
,r allow do you know he dursn'tr'
TOO many In II. He'd be torn 4
n. little bits. See here. Butterg'
70 "Yes. Erickson"
IN you're TO keep out Of IT,"
N Not unless you DO" said the ia'
10 firmly.
= "SIe! I'm IN u up 10 the neck. an
N all the better. but you're different
IN You're younger. your times all but ~
ID you've never had the lash. there's
20 chance for you. 80 give me your word.
al Tho lad hesitated.
n. "For my saker'
IN The lad gave In. but consoled hlmsel
IN by making up TO Creasey. who slept I
Az his hut and was already deeply impl
m Gated In that which the other thus fol
swUre.
re All was In readiness. The excit.
ID ment throughout the gang was Intens'
~ though invisible. and Ericbsen. Ma,
nj beth and Creasey were even readIe