ionship uncouth, but despite his
blistered hands and aching back, he had not experienced anything so very
terrible after all. When the muster bell rang, and the gang broke up,
Rufus Dawes, on his silent way to his separate cell, observed a notable
change of custom in the disposition of the new convict. Instead of
placing him in a cell by himself, Troke was turning him into the yard
with the others.

"I'm not to go in there?" says the ex-bank clerk, drawing back in dismay
from the cloud of foul faces which lowered upon him.

"By the Lord, but you are, then!" says Troke. "The Governor says a night
in there'll take the starch out of ye. Come, in yer go."

"But, Mr. Troke--"

"Stow your gaff," says Troke, with another oath, and impatiently
striking the lad with his thong--"I can't argue here all night. Get in."
So Kirkland, aged twenty-two, and the son of Methodist parents, went in.

Rufus Dawes, among whose sinister memories this yard was numbered,
sighed. So fierce was the glamour of the place, however, that when
locked into his cell, he felt ashamed for that sigh, and strove to erase
the memory of it. "What is he more than anybody else?" said the wretched
man to himself, as he hugged his misery close.

About dawn the next morning, Mr. North--who, amongst other vagaries not
approved of by his bishop, had a habit of prowling about the prison
at unofficial hours--was attracted by a dispute at the door of the
dormitory.

"What's the matter here?" he asked.

"A prisoner refractory, your reverence," said the watchman. "Wants to
come out."

"Mr. North! Mr. North!" cried a voice, "for the love of God, let me out
of this place!"

Kirkland, ghastly pale, bleeding, with his woollen shirt torn, and his
blue eyes wide open with terror, was clinging to the bars.

"Oh, Mr. North! Mr. North! Oh, Mr. North! Oh, for God's sake, Mr.
North!"

"What, Kirkland!" cried North, who was ignorant of the vengeance of the
Commandant. "What do you do here?"

But Kirkland could do nothing but cry,--"Oh, Mr. North! For God's sake,
Mr. North!" and beat on the bars with white and sweating hands.

"Let him out, watchman!" said North.

"Can't sir, without an order from the Commandant."

"I order you, sir!" North cried, indignant.

"Very sorry, your reverence; but your reverence knows that I daren't do
such a thing." "Mr. North!" screamed Kirkland. "Would you see me
perish, body and soul, in this place? Mr. North! Oh, you ministers of