for the term of his natural life-第56章

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〃Go　on；　Dawes；〃　whispered　Kirkland；　without　turning　his　head。　〃You　are　no　more　than　another　man。〃

〃What　does　he　say？〃　asked　Burgess。

〃Telling　him　to　cut　light；　sir；〃　said　Troke；　eagerly　lying；　〃they　all　do　it。〃　〃Cut　light；　eh！　　We'll　see　about　that。　Get　on；　my　man；　and　look　sharp；　or　I'll　tie　you　up　and　give　you　fifty　for　yourself；　as　sure　as　God　made　little　apples。〃

〃Go　on；　Dawes；〃　whispered　Kirkland　again。　　〃I　don't　mind。〃

Rufus　Dawes　lifted　the　cat；　swung　it　round　his　head；　and　brought　its　knotted　cords　down　upon　the　white　back。

〃Wonn！〃　cried　Troke。

The　white　back　was　instantly　striped　with　six　crimson　bars。　Kirkland　stifled　a　cry。　　It　seemed　to　him　that　he　had　been　cut　in　half。

〃Now　then；　you　scoundrel！〃　roared　Burgess；　〃separate　your　cats！　What　do　you　mean　by　flogging　a　man　that　fashion？〃

Rufus　Dawes　drew　his　crooked　fingers　through　the　entangled　cords；　and　struck　again。　　This　time　the　blow　was　more　effective；　and　the　blood　beaded　on　the　skin。

The　boy　did　not　cry；　but　Macklewain　saw　his　hands　clutch　the　staves　tightly；　and　the　muscles　of　his　naked　arms　quiver。

〃Tew！〃

〃That's　better；〃　said　Burgess。

The　third　blow　sounded　as　though　it　had　been　struck　upon　a　piece　of　raw　beef；　and　the　crimson　turned　purple。

〃My　God！〃　said　Kirkland；　faintly；　and　bit　his　lips。

The　flogging　proceeded　in　silence　for　ten　strikes；　and　then　Kirkland　gave　a　screech　like　a　wounded　horse。

〃Oh！。。。Captain　Burgess！。。。Dawes！。。。Mr。　Troke！。。。Oh；　my　God！。。。　Oh！　　oh！。。。Mercy！。。。Oh；　Doctor！。。。Mr。　North！。。。Oh！　　Oh！　　Oh！〃

〃Ten！〃　cried　Troke；　impassively　counting　to　the　end　of　the　first　twenty。

The　lad's　back；　swollen　into　a　lump；　now　presented　the　appearance　of　a　ripe　peach　which　a　wilful　child　had　scored　with　a　pin。　Dawes；　turning　away　from　his　bloody　handiwork；　drew　the　cats　through　his　fingers　twice。　　They　were　beginning　to　get　clogged　a　little。

〃Go　on；〃　said　Burgess；　with　a　nod；　and　Troke　cried　〃Wonn！〃　again。

Roused　by　the　morning　sun　streaming　in　upon　him；　Mr。　North　opened　his　bloodshot　eyes；　rubbed　his　forehead　with　hands　that　trembled；　and　suddenly　awakening　to　a　consciousness　of　his　promised　errand；　rolled　off　the　bed　and　rose　to　his　feet。　　He　saw　the　empty　brandy　bottle　on　his　wooden　dressing…table；　and　remembered　what　had　passed。　With　shaking　hands　he　dashed　water　over　his　aching　head；　and　smoothed　his　garments。　　The　debauch　of　the　previous　night　had　left　the　usual　effects　behind　it。　　His　brain　seemed　on　fire；　his　hands　were　hot　and　dry；　his　tongue　clove　to　the　roof　of　his　mouth。　He　shuddered　as　he　viewed　his　pale　face　and　red　eyes　in　the　little　looking…glass；　and　hastily　tried　the　door。　He　had　retained　sufficient　sense　in　his　madness　to　lock　it；　and　his　condition　had　been　unobserved。　　Stealing　into　the　sitting…room；　he　saw　that　the　clock　pointed　to　half…past　six。　　The　flogging　was　to　have　taken　place　at　half…past　five。　　Unless　accident　had　favoured　him　he　was　already　too　late。　　Fevered　with　remorse　and　anxiety；　he　hurried　past　the　room　where　Meekin　yet　slumbered；　and　made　his　way　to　the　prison。　　As　he　entered　the　yard；　Troke　called　〃Ten！〃　Kirkland　had　just　got　his　fiftieth　lash。

〃Stop！〃　cried　North。　　〃Captain　Burgess；　I　call　upon　you　to　stop。〃

〃You're　rather　late；　Mr。　North；〃　retorted　Burgess。　　〃The　punishment　is　nearly　over。〃　〃Wonn！〃　cried　Troke　again；　and　North　stood　by；　biting　his　nails　and　grinding　his　teeth；　during　six　more　lashes。

Kirkland　ceased　to　yell　now；　and　merely　moaned。　　His　back　was　like　a　bloody　sponge；　while　in　the　interval　between　lashes　the　swollen　flesh　twitched　like　that　of　a　new…killed　bullock。　　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！〃　said　Burgess；　〃he's　shamming。〃

A　bucket　of　water　made　Kirkland　open　his　eyes。　　〃I　thought　so；〃　said　Burgess。　　〃Tie　him　up　again。〃

〃No。　　Not　if　you　are　Christians！〃　cried　North。

He　met　with　an　ally　where　he　least　expected　one。　　Rufus　Dawes　flung　down　the　dripping　cat。　　〃I'll　flog　no　more；〃　said　he。

〃What？〃　roared　Burgess；　furious　at　this　gross　insolence。

〃I'll　flog　no　more。　　Get　someone　else　to　do　your　blood　work　for　you。　　I　won't。〃

〃Tie　him　up！〃　cried　Burgess；　foaming。　　〃Tie　him　up。　Here；　constable；　fetch　a　man　here　with　a　fresh　cat。　　I'll　give　you　that　beggar's　fifty；　and　fifty　more　on　the　top　of　'em；　and　he　shall　look　on　while　his　back　cools。〃

Rufus　Dawes；　with　a　glance　at　North；　pulled　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　and　seamed。　　He　had　been　flogged　before。　Troke　appeared　with　Gabbettgrinning。　　Gabbett　liked　flogging。　It　was　his　boast　that　he　could　flog　a　man　to　death　on　a　place　no　bigger　than　the　palm　of　his　hand。　　He　could　use　his　left　hand　equally　with　his　right；　and　if　he　got　hold　of　a　〃favourite〃；　would　〃cross　the　cuts〃。

Rufus　Dawes　planted　his　feet　firmly　on　the　ground；　took　fierce　grasp　on　the　staves；　and　drew　in　his　breath。　　Macklewain　spread　the　garments　of　the　two　men　upon　the　ground；　and；　placing　Kirkland　upon　them；　turned　to　watch　this　new　phase　in　the　morning's　amusement。　He　grumbled　a　little　below　his　breath；　for　he　wanted　his　breakfast；　and　when　the　Commandant　once　began　to　flog　there　was　no　telling　where　he　would　stop。　　Rufus　Dawes　took　five…and…twenty　lashes　without　a　murmur；　and　then　Gabbett　〃crossed　the　cuts〃。　　This　went　on　up　to　fifty　lashes；　and　North　felt　himself　stricken　with　admiration　at　the　courage　of　the　man。　〃If　it　had　not　been　for　that　cursed　brandy；〃　thought　he；　with　bitterness　of　self…reproach；　〃I　might　have　saved　all　this。〃　At　the　hundredth　lash；　the　giant　paused；　expecting　the　order　to　throw　off；　but　Burgess　was　determined　to　〃break　the　man's　spirit〃。

〃I'll　make　you　speak；　you　dog；　if　I　cut　your　heart　out！〃　he　cried。　〃Go　on；　prisoner。〃

For　twenty　lashes　more　Dawes　was　mute；　and　then　the　agony　forced　from　his　labouring　breast　a　hideous　cry。　　But　it　was　not　a　cry　for　mercy；　as　that　of　Kirkland's　had　been。　　Having　found　his　tongue；　the　wretched　man　gave　vent　to　his　boiling　passion　in　a　torrent　of　curses。　He　shrieked　imprecation　upon　Burgess；　Troke；　and　North。　　He　cursed　all　soldiers　for　tyrants；　all　parsons　for　hypocrites。　　He　blasphemed　his　God　and　his　Saviour。　　With　a　frightful　outpouring　of　obscenity　and　blasphemy；　he　called　on　the　earth　to　gape　and　swallow　his　persecutors；　for　Heaven　to　open　and　rain　fire　upon　them；　for　hell　to　yawn　and　engulf　them　quick。　　It　was　as　though　each　blow　of　the　cat　forced　out　of　him　a　fresh　burst　of　beast…like　rage。　　He　seemed　to　have　abandoned　his　humanity。　　He　foamed；　he　raved；　he　tugged　at　his　bonds　until　the　strong　staves　shook　again；　he　writhed　himself　round　upon　the　triangles　and　spat　impotently　at　Burgess；　who　jeered　at　his　torments。　North；　with　his　hands　to　his　ears；　crouched　against　the　corner　of　the　wall；　palsied　with　horror。　　It　seemed　to　him　that　the　passions　of　hell　raged　around　him。　　He　would　fain　have　fled；　but　a　horrible　fascination　held　him　back。

In　the　midst　of　thiswhen　the　cat　was　hissing　its　loudest　Burgess　laughing　his　hardest；　and　the　wretch　on　the　triangles　filling　the　air　with　his　cries；　North　saw　Kirkland　look　at　him　with　what　he　thought　a　smile。　Was　it　a　smile？　　He　leapt　forward；　and　uttered　a　cry　of　dismay　so　loud　that　all　turned。

〃Hullo！〃　says　Troke；　running　to　the　heap　of　clothes；　〃the　young　'un's　slipped　his　wind！〃

Kirkland　was　dead。

〃Throw　him　off！〃　says　Burgess；　aghast　at　the　unfortunate　accident；　and　Gabbett　reluctantly　untied　the　thongs　that　bound　Rufus　Dawes。　Two　constables　were　alongside　him　in　an　instant；　for　sometimes　newly　tortured　men　grew　desperate。　　This　one；　however；　was　silent　with　the　last　lash；　only　in　taking　his　shirt　from　under　the　body　of　the　boy；　he　muttered；　〃Dead！〃　and　in　his　tone　there　seemed　to　be　a　touch　of　envy。　　Then；　flinging　his　shirt　over　his　bleeding　shoulders；　he　walked　outdefiant　to　the　last。

〃Game；　ain't　he？〃　said　one　constable　to　the　other；　as　they　pushed　him；　not　ungently；　into　an　empty　cell；　there　to　wait　for　the　hospital　guard。　The　body　of　Kirkland　was　taken　away　in　silence；　and　Burgess　turned　rather　pale　when　he　saw　North's　threatening　face。

〃It　isn't　my　fault；　Mr。　North；〃　he　said。　　〃I　didn't　know　that　the　lad　was　chicken…hearted。〃　But　North　turned　away　in　disgust；　and　Macklewain　and　Burgess　pursued　their　homeward　route　together。

〃Strange　that　he　should　drop　like　that；〃　said　the　Commandant。

〃Yes；　unless　he　had　any　internal　disease；〃　said　the　surgeon。

〃Disease　of　the　heart；　for　instance；〃　said　Burgess。

〃I'll　post…mortem　him　and　see。〃

〃Come　in　and　have　a　nip；　Macklewain。　　I　feel　quite　qualmish；〃　said　Burgess。　　And　the　two　went　into　the　house　amid　respectful　salutes　from　either　side。　　Mr。　North；　in　agony　of　mind　at　what　he　considered　the　consequence　of　his　neglect；　slowly；　and　with　head　bowed　down；　as　one　bent　on　a　painful　errand；　went　to　see　the　prisoner　who　had　survived。　He　found　him　kneeling　on　the　ground；　prostrated。　　〃Rufus　Dawes。〃

At　the　low　tone　Rufus　Dawes　looked　up；　and；　seeing　who　it　was；　waved　him　off。

〃Don't　speak　to　me；〃　he　said；　with　an　imprecation　that　made　North's　flesh　creep。　　〃I've　told　you　what　I　think　of　youa　hypocrite；　who　stands　by　while　a　man　is　cut　to　pieces；　and　then　comes　and　whines　religion　to　him。〃

North　stood　in　the　centre　of　the　cell；　with　his　arms　hanging　down；　and　his　head　bent。

〃You　are　right；〃　he　said；　in　a　low　tone。　　〃I　must　seem　to　you　a　hypocrite。　I　a　servant　of　Christ？　　A　besotted　beast　rather！　　I　am　not　come　to　whine　religion　to　you。　　I　am　come　toto　ask　your　pardon。　I　might　have　saved　you　from　punishmentsaved　that　poor　boy　from　death。　I　wanted　to　save　him；　God　knows！　　But　I　have　a　vice；　I　am　a　drunkard。　I　yielded　to　my　temptation；　andI　was　too　late。　　I　come　to　you　as　one　sinful　man　to　another；　to　ask　you　to　forgive　me。〃　And　North　suddenly　flung　himself　down　beside　the　convict；　and；　catching　his　blood…bespotted　hands　in　his　own；　cried；　〃Forgive　me；　brother！〃

Rufus　Dawes；　too　much　astonished　to　speak；　bent　his　black　eyes　upon　the　man　who　crouched　at　his　feet；　and　a　ray　of　divine　pity　penetrated　his　gloomy　soul。　　He　seemed　to　catch　a　glimpse　of　misery　more　profound　than　his　own；　and　his　stubborn　heart　felt　human　sympathy　with　this　erring　brother。　　〃Then　in　this　hell　there　is　yet　a　man；〃　said　he；　and　a　hand…grasp　passed　between　these　two　unhappy　beings。　North　arose；　and；　with　averted　face；　passed　quickly　from　the　cell。　Rufus　Dawes　looked　at　his　hand　which　his　strange　visitor　had　taken；　and　something　glittered　there。　　It　was　a　tear。　　He　broke　down　at　the　sight　of　it；　and　when　the　guard　came　to　fetch　the　tameless　convict；　they　found　him　on　his　knees　in　a　corner；　sobbing　like　a　child。




CHAPTER　XVI。

KICKING　AGAINST　THE　PRICKS。



The　morning　after　this；　the　Rev。　Mr。　North　departed　in　the　schooner　for　Hobart　Town。　　Between　the　officious　chaplain　and　the　Commandant　the　events　of　the　previous　day　had　fixed　a　great　gulf。　　Burgess　knew　that　North　meant　to　report　the　death　of　Kirkland；　and　guessed　that　he　would　not　be　backward　in　relating　the　story　to　such　persons　in　Hobart　Town　as　would　most　readily　repeat　it。　　〃Blank　awkward　the　fellow's　dying；〃　he　confessed　to　himsel