ade of those with whom the rulers experienced much trouble;
and in a case like this, where a prisoner attempted the life of a free
settler, his doom was fixed before he was placed at the bar; nothing but
his life could expiate for such a crime. Dick well knew this, and also
that if there were any mitigating circumstances, his master would spare
no trouble in securing his execution; he was not therefore at all
surprised that he was sentenced to the extreme rigour of the law.
However, death appeared to the miserable culprit only a release from his
bodily suffering; and he hailed its consummation with more delight than
he had experienced in any of his earthly pursuits; but his sufferings
were not yet at an end. His execution was fixed; notwithstanding that
some slight effort was made to save him by some persons more humane than
their compeers, and who knew the character of the victim's persecutor;
and he was led away to the final scene of his drama. Before the
adjustment of the hempen order he was enlivened by the brutal taunts and
lampoons of his master; who, forgetful of his own narrow escape from
the grave, jested, with an unparalleled coarseness, on the fate awaiting
the condemned wretch before him.

The signal was given; the bolt was withdrawn; and Dick, with the hoarse
laugh of his master ringing in his ears, was launched into the air, if
not into eternity. But by some gross mismanagement the culprit's feet
came in contact with the ground; while his ears continued to be assailed
with the blaspheming raillery of the man, who was equally deserving of
such a fate. In this position the unfortunate wretch remained, until a
hole was dug to make his suspension complete; and he was again launched
forth; though with no better success. The authorities were by this time
felt to be in a fix; but the victim was not to escape, at least, so said
the master; who with an oath, volunteered to finish the work himself.
Carrying his offer into execution, he mounted the rope that suspended
the criminal, and added his weight by standing on the man's shoulders,
to effect a dislocation, or strangulation. But he was again frustrated;
for the rope, which had done service on many similar occasions, gave way
under the additional weight; and both were precipitated into the pit,
amidst the oaths and imprecations of the one, and the groans and
lamentations of the other.

The body of the half strangled man was then removed; while fresh
exertions we