nding him like the others, hand and foot, they tied him to the frame,
and the chief castigator, rolling up his sleeves, proceeded to belabour
Mole's soles with terrific energy.

The blows sounded fearfully loud and sharp, and each was given with
such vigour that even the framework creaked under it.

But the victim showed no pain or terror.

He did not cry out, nor flinch in the least, nor strive to mitigate the
pain by twisting about.

Thus ten heavy blows were given, and the inflictor paused.

A murmur of astonishment ran round the assembly.

"Truly the Frank hath wondrous strength and courage," exclaimed the
lieutenant.

"Englishman are generally brave," said an old Turk; "but I never knew
one who would silently undergo such pain as this."

"Make the next ten blows harder."

The second man, therefore, in his turn, rained down upon the inanimate
soles of the ex-pasha, such fearful blows as resounded through the
place, and made many spectators shudder.

But still the victim neither flinched nor cried out.

"_Bismallah!_ this is truly wonderful, that a giaour so old, so grey,
so apparently feeble, should thus bear so terrible a punishment.
Harder, Selim. Now do you not feel it, prisoner?"

"Of course I feel it, great pasha; it even tickles my beard," replied
Mole; "but heaven hath given me power to withstand this terrible
torture, and the high spirit of an Englishman forbids me to cry out."

"I could scarcely have believed it, did I not behold it with my own
eyes," said the puzzled lieutenant. "Selim, a little harder."

"Your eminence, the tale of blows is fully counted," said the man,
laying aside his cane.

"Five-and-twenty already? I was so interested with the prisoner's
fortitude, that I didn't count them. He has not suffered enough yet;
give him five blows more."

"I am ready," said Mole, stroking his false beard. "Remember, an
Englishman fears not pain. Strike away."

And he stretched out his cork legs to their full extent.

Five blows more were given, but had no more effect than the previous
ones.

"By the holy kaaba! but this amounts to a miracle," exclaimed the
lieutenant. "I shall begin to respect the infidel for his heroism.
Hamed, give him ten more blows; no, make it twenty, and do you, Selim,
assist. That will be fifty; just double the amount of the sentence. If
he flinches not this time, he will deserve being let off altogether."

And in truth, it would, under ordinary circumstances