for the term of his natural life- 第61部分

〃Miserable　blasphemer；〃　says　North；　〃I　tell　you　that　you　shall　not　flog　the　boy。〃

Burgess；　white　with　rage；　rang　the　bell　that　summoned　his　convict　servant。

〃Show　Mr。　North　out；〃　he　said；　〃and　go　down　to　the　Barracks；　and　tell　Troke　that　Kirkland　is　to　have　a　hundred　lashes　to…morrow。　I'll　show　you　who's　master　here；　my　good　sir。〃

〃I'll　report　this　to　the　Government；〃　said　North；　aghast。　　〃This　is　murderous。〃

〃The　Government　may　go　to；　and　you；　too！〃　roared　Burgess。　　〃Get　out！〃　And　God's　viceregent　at　Port　Arthur　slammed　the　door。

North　returned　home　in　great　agitation。　　〃They　shall　not　flog　that　boy；〃　he　said。　　〃I'll　shield　him　with　my　own　body　if　necessary。　I'll　report　this　to　the　Government。　　I'll　see　Sir　John　Franklin　myself。　I'll　have　the　light　of　day　let　into　this　den　of　horrors。〃　He　reached　his　cottage；　and　lighted　the　lamp　in　the　little　sitting…room。　All　was　silent；　save　that　from　the　adjoining　chamber　came　the　sound　of　Meekin's　gentlemanly　snore。　　North　took　down　a　book　from　the　shelf　and　tried　to　read；　but　the　letters　ran　together。　　〃I　wish　I　hadn't　taken　that　brandy；〃　he　said。　　〃Fool　that　I　am。〃

Then　he　began　to　walk　up　and　down；　to　fling　himself　on　the　sofa；　to　read；　to　pray。　　〃Oh；　God；　give　me　strength！　　Aid　me！　　Help　me！　　I　struggle；　but　I　am　weak。　　O；　Lord；　look　down　upon　me！〃

To　see　him　rolling　on　the　sofa　in　agony；　to　see　his　white　face；　his　parched　lips；　and　his　contracted　brow；　to　hear　his　moans　and　muttered　prayers；　one　would　have　thought　him　suffering　from　the　pangs　of　some　terrible　disease。　　He　opened　the　book　again；　and　forced　himself　to　read；　but　his　eyes　wandered　to　the　cupboard。　There　lurked　something　that　fascinated　him。　　He　got　up　at　length；　went　into　the　kitchen；　and　found　a　packet　of　red　pepper。　He　mixed　a　teaspoonful　of　this　in　a　pannikin　of　water　and　drank　it。　It　relieved　him　for　a　while。

〃I　must　keep　my　wits　for　to…morrow。　　The　life　of　that　lad　depends　upon　it。　Meekin；　too；　will　suspect。　　I　will　lie　down。〃

He　went　into　his　bedroom　and　flung　himself　on　the　bed；　but　only　to　toss　from　side　to　side。　　In　vain　he　repeated　texts　of　Scripture　and　scraps　of　verse；　in　vain　counted　imaginary　sheep；　or　listened　to　imaginary　clock…tickings。　　Sleep　would　not　come　to　him。　It　was　as　though　he　had　reached　the　crisis　of　a　disease　which　had　been　for　days　gathering　force。　　〃I　must　have　a　teaspoonful；〃　he　said；　〃to　allay　the　craving。〃

Twice　he　paused　on　the　way　to　the　sitting…room；　and　twice　was　he　driven　on　by　a　power　stronger　than　his　will。　　He　reached　it　at　length；　and　opening　the　cupboard；　pulled　out　what　he　sought。　　A　bottle　of　brandy。　With　this　in　his　hand；　all　moderation　vanished。　　He　raised　it　to　his　lips　and　eagerly　drank。　　Then；　ashamed　of　what　he　had　done；　he　thrust　the　bottle　back；　and　made　for　his　room。　　Still　he　could　not　sleep。　The　taste　of　the　liquor　maddened　him　for　more。　　He　saw　in　the　darkness　the　brandy　bottlevulgar　and　terrible　apparition！　　He　saw　its　amber　fluid　sparkle。　　He　heard　it　gurgle　as　he　poured　it　out。　He　smelt　the　nutty　aroma　of　the　spirit。　　He　pictured　it　standing　in　the　corner　of　the　cupboard；　and　imagined　himself　seizing　it　and　quenching　the　fire　that　burned　within　him。　　He　wept；　he　prayed；　he　fought　with　his　desire　as　with　a　madness。　　He　told　himself　that　another's　life　depended　on　his　exertions；　that　to　give　way　to　his　fatal　passion　was　unworthy　of　an　educated　man　and　a　reasoning　being；　that　it　was　degrading；　disgusting；　and　bestial。　　That；　at　all　times　debasing；　at　this　particular　time　it　was　infamous；　that　a　vice；　unworthy　of　any　man；　was　doubly　sinful　in　a　man　of　education　and　a　minister　of　God。　In　vain。　　In　the　midst　of　his　arguments　he　found　himself　at　the　cupboard；　with　the　bottle　at　his　lips；　in　an　attitude　that　was　at　once　ludicrous　and　horrible。

He　had　no　cancer。　　His　disease　was　a　more　terrible　one。　The　Reverend　James　Northgentleman；　scholar；　and　Christian　priest　was　what　the　world　calls　〃a　confirmed　drunkard〃。




CHAPTER　XV。

ONE　HUNDRED　LASHES。



The　morning　sun；　bright　and　fierce；　looked　down　upon　a　curious　sight。　In　a　stone…yard　was　a　little　group　of　personsTroke；　Burgess；　Macklewain；　Kirkland；　and　Rufus　Dawes。

Three　wooden　staves；　seven　feet　high；　were　fastened　together　in　the　form　of　a　triangle。　　The　structure　looked　not　unlike　that　made　by　gypsies　to　boil　their　kettles。　　To　this　structure　Kirkland　was　bound。　His　feet　were　fastened　with　thongs　to　the　base　of　the　triangle；　his　wrists；　bound　above　his　head；　at　the　apex。　　His　body　was　then　extended　to　its　fullest　length；　and　his　white　back　shone　in　the　sunlight。　During　his　tying　up　he　had　said　nothingonly　when　Troke　pulled　off　his　shirt　he　shivered。

〃Now；　prisoner；〃　said　Troke　to　Dawes；　〃do　your　duty。〃

Rufus　Dawes　looked　from　the　three　stern　faces　to　Kirkland's　white　back；　and　his　face　grew　purple。　　In　all　his　experience　he　had　never　been　asked　to　flog　before。　　He　had　been　flogged　often　enough。

〃You　don't　want　me　to　flog　him；　sir？〃　he　said　to　the　Commandant。

〃Pick　up　the　cat；　sir！〃　said　Burgess；　astonished；　〃what　is　the　meaning　of　this？〃　　Rufus　Dawes　picked　up　the　heavy　cat；　and　drew　its　knotted　lashes　between　his　fingers。

〃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