, have wanted
well-nigh the strength of Samson or Hercules to endure such torture as
now came upon the schoolmaster.

Hamed and Selim, each armed with a heavy rattan, rained down
alternately thick and fast, a shower of blows upon Mole's wonderful
feet, which even shook the room, but still couldn't shake Mole's
resolution.

He writhed not, nor uttered cry, and showed not the faintest sign of
giving way.

On the contrary, he jeered at the men.

"Bah! see how an Englishman can bear pain," exclaimed Mole.

And to the intense astonishment of the Turks, he plucked out a
good-sized handful of hair from his beard and threw before the officer.

"Allah is--ah!"

And the Turk stopped in the midst of his speech to spit out a second
handful which Mole, with good aim, had thrown into his mouth.

"Wonderful!" exclaimed the bystanders, as Mole tore away at his false
beard till he had nearly stripped the framework, while the tormentors
worked away at his feet with redoubled energy.

"Stop, stop," cried the pasha, for the men in their energy had exceeded
even the fifty blows without knowing it, and seemed to be going on
_ad libitum_, "stop; unbind and release the prisoner."

The two men, who were bathed in perspiration through their exertions,
accordingly removed Mole's bonds, assisted him to his feet, and helped
him put on his shoes.

"Prisoner," said the lieutenant, "your heroic conduct this day has won
my deepest admiration. Be seated, and rest your poor feet, and then
tell me something of your history."

"My poor feet will still support me, therefore I will not be seated,
but standing thus," said Mole, stamping his cork feet on the ground,
"will show you something wonderful."

CHAPTER LXXIX.

MOLE PASHA ASTONISHES THE NATIVES STILL MORE--THE ORDER OF THE GLASS
BUTTON.

"I am all attention," replied the lieutenant.

"I came from a land," said Mr. Mole, with a grandiloquent flourish,
"where we despise physical suffering."

The august Turks around were filled with wonder and with admiration for
the speaker.

After what they had witnessed, they were prepared to credit Mr. Mole's
most extravagant assertions.

"Would you have some further proof of my great courage?" demanded Mr.
Mole, folding his arms and striking a defiant attitude.

"Brave man, what more can you show us of your courage?" was the reply.

"Behold!" cried Mole.

The whole assembly eyed Mr. Mole's movements with the greatest
curiosity n