ttle. My poor fellow, I'm
quite sorry for you; I really am, though you _are_ a dog."

The man opened his solitary eye and stared with amazement at Jack, who
smiled, and, putting his head a little to the other side, returned the
stare with interest.

"You're a bold fellow," said the man, on recovering a little from his
surprise.

"I'm sorry," retorted Jack, "that I cannot return you the compliment."

I was horrified. I saw that my poor friend, probably under the
influence of madness, had made up his mind to insult and defy our
captors to their teeth, regardless of consequences. I tried to speak,
but my lips refused their office. The man grinned horribly and gnashed
his teeth, while the others made as though they would rush upon us and
tear us limb from limb. But their chief, for such the spokesman seemed
to be, restrained them.

"Hah!" he gasped, looking fiercely at Jack, and at the same time
pointing to the implements on the wall, "d'ye see these things?"

"Not being quite so blind as you are, I do."

"D'ye know what they're for?"

"Not being a demon, which you seem to be, I don't."

"Hah! these--are," (he spoke very slowly, and hissed the words out
between his teeth),--"torterers!"

"What?" inquired Jack, putting his head a little more to one side and
revolving his thumbs in a contrary direction, by way of variety.

"Torterers--man-torterers! What d'ye twirl your thumbs like that for,
eh?"

"Because it reminds me how easily, if I were unchained and had on my
wooden leg, I could twirl you round your own neck, and cram your heels
into your own mouth, and ram you down your own throat, until there was
nothing of you left but the extreme ends of your shirt-collar sticking
out of your eyes."

The mention of this peculiarly complicated operation seemed to be too
much for the men: setting up a loud yell, they rushed upon Jack and
seized him.

"Quick--the screws!" cried the man with the flattened nose.

A small iron instrument was brought, Jack's thumbs inserted therein, and
the handle turned. I heard a harsh, grating sound, and observed my poor
companion's face grow deadly pale and his lips turn blue. But he
uttered no cry, and, to my surprise, he did not even struggle.

"Stop!" I shouted in a voice of thunder.

The men looked round in surprise. At that moment a great idea seemed to
fill my soul. I cannot explain what it was. To this day I do not know
what it was. It was a mystery--an indescr