ith 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.