for the term of his natural life-第112章

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thwith　took　from　its　pegs　one　of　the　bridles　just　described；　and　a　pair　of　handcuffs。

I　followed　him　to　one　of　the　cells；　which　he　opened；　and　therein　was　a　man　lying　on　his　straw　mat；　undressed；　and　to　all　appearance　fast　asleep。　Gimblett　ordered　him　to　get　up　and　dress　himself。　　He　did　so；　and　came　into　the　yard；　where　Gimblett　inserted　the　iron…wood　gag　in　his　mouth。　　The　sound　produced　by　his　breathing　through　it　（which　appeared　to　be　done　with　great　difficulty）　resembled　a　low；　indistinct　whistle。　　Gimblett　led　him　to　the　lamp…post　in　the　yard；　and　I　saw　that　the　victim　of　his　wanton　tyranny　was　the　poor　blind　wretch　Mooney。　　Gimblett　placed　him　with　his　back　against　the　lamp…post；　and　his　arms　being　taken　round；　were　secured　by　handcuffs　round　the　post。　I　was　told　that　the　old　man　was　to　remain　in　this　condition　for　three　hours。　I　went　at　once　to　the　Commandant。　　He　invited　me　into　his　drawing…room　an　invitation　which　I　had　the　good　sense　to　refusebut　refused　to　listen　to　any　plea　for　mercy。　　〃The　old　impostor　is　always　making　his　blindness　an　excuse　for　disobedience；〃　said　he。And　this　is　her　husband。　　




CHAPTER　IX。

THE　LONGEST　STRAW。



Rufus　Dawes　hearing；　when　〃on　the　chain〃　the　next　day；　of　the　wanton　torture　of　his　friend；　uttered　no　threat　of　vengeance；　but　groaned　only。　〃I　am　not　so　strong　as　I　was；〃　said　he；　as　if　in　apology　for　his　lack　of　spirit。　　〃They　have　unnerved　me。〃　And　he　looked　sadly　down　at　his　gaunt　frame　and　trembling　hands。

〃I　can't　stand　it　no　longer；〃　said　Mooney；　grimly。　　〃I've　spoken　to　Bland；　and　he's　of　my　mind。　　You　know　what　we　resolved　to　do。　　Let's　do　it。〃

Rufus　Dawes　stared　at　the　sightless　orbs　turned　inquiringly　to　his　own。　The　fingers　of　his　hand；　thrust　into　his　bosom；　felt　a　token　which　lay　there。　A　shudder　thrilled　him。　　〃No；　no。　　Not　now；〃　he　said。

〃You're　not　afeard；　man？〃　asked　Mooney；　stretching　out　his　hand　in　the　direction　of　the　voice。　　〃You're　not　going　to　shirk？〃　　The　other　avoided　the　touch；　and　shrank　away；　still　　staring。　　〃You　ain't　going　to　back　out　after　you　swored　it；　Dawes？　　You're　not　that　sort。　　Dawes；　speak；　man！〃

〃Is　Bland　willing？〃　asked　Dawes；　looking　round；　as　if　to　seek　some　method　of　escape　from　the　glare　of　those　unspeculative　eyes。

〃Ay；　and　ready。　　They　flogged　him　again　yesterday。〃

〃Leave　it　till　to…morrow；〃　said　Dawes；　at　length。

〃No；　let's　have　it　over；〃　urged　the　old　man；　with　a　strange　eagerness。　〃I'm　tired　o'　this。〃

Rufus　Dawes　cast　a　wistful　glance　towards　the　wall　behind　which　lay　the　house　of　the　Commandant。　　〃Leave　it　till　to…morrow；〃　he　repeated；　with　his　hand　still　in　his　breast。

They　had　been　so　occupied　in　their　conversation　that　neither　had　observed　the　approach　of　their　common　enemy。　　〃What　are　you　hiding　there？〃　cried　Frere；　seizing　Dawes　by　the　wrist。　　〃More　tobacco；　you　dog？〃　The　hand　of　the　convict；　thus　suddenly　plucked　from　his　bosom；　opened　involuntarily；　and　a　withered　rose　fell　to　the　earth。　Frere　at　once；　indignant　and　astonished；　picked　it　up。　　〃Hallo！　What　the　devil's　this？　You've　not　been　robbing　my　garden　for　a　nosegay；　Jack？〃　　The　Commandant　was　wont　to　call　all　convicts　〃Jack〃　in　his　moments　of　facetiousness。　　It　was　a　little　humorous　way　he　had。

Rufus　Dawes　uttered　one　dismal　cry；　and　then　stood　trembling　and　cowed。　His　companions；　hearing　the　exclamation　of　rage　and　grief　that　burst　from　him；　looked　to　see　him　snatch　back　the　flower　or　perform　some　act　of　violence。　Perhaps　such　was　his　intention；　but　he　did　not　execute　it。　One　would　have　thought　that　there　was　some　charm　about　this　rose　so　strangely　cherished；　for　he　stood　gazing　at　it；　as　it　twirled　between　Captain　Frere's　strong　fingers；　as　though　it　fascinated　him。　〃You're　a　pretty　man　to　want　a　rose　for　your　buttonhole！　　Are　you　going　out　with　your　sweetheart　next　Sunday；　Mr。　Dawes？〃　　The　gang　laughed。　〃How　did　you　get　this？〃　　Dawes　was　silent。　　〃You'd　better　tell　me。〃　　No　answer。　〃Troke；　let　us　see　if　we　can't　find　Mr。　Dawes's　tongue。　　Pull　off　your　shirt；　my　man。　　I　expect　that's　the　way　to　your　hearteh；　boys？〃

At　this　elegant　allusion　to　the　lash；　the　gang　laughed　again；　and　looked　at　each　other　astonished。　　It　seemed　possible　that　the　leader　of　the　〃Ring〃　was　going　to　turn　milksop。　　Such；　indeed；　appeared　to　be　the　case；　for　Dawes；　trembling　and　pale；　cried；　　〃Don't　flog　me　again；　sir！　　I　picked　it　up　in　the　yard。　　It　fell　out　of　your　coat　one　day。〃　Frere　smiled　with　an　inward　satisfaction　at　the　result　of　his　spirit…breaking。　The　explanation　was　probably　the　correct　one。　　He　was　in　the　habit　of　wearing　flowers　in　his　coat　and　it　was　impossible　that　the　convict　should　have　obtained　one　by　any　other　means。　　Had　it　been　a　fig　of　tobacco　now；　the　astute　Commandant　knew　plenty　of　men　who　would　have　brought　it　into　the　prison。　　But　who　would　risk　a　flogging　for　so　useless　a　thing　as　a　flower？　　〃You'd　better　not　pick　up　any　more；　Jack；〃　he　said。　〃We　don't　grow　flowers　for　your　amusement。〃　And　contemptuously　flinging　the　rose　over　the　wall；　he　strode　away。

The　gang；　left　to　itself　for　a　moment；　bestowed　their　attention　upon　Dawes。　Large　tears　were　silently　rolling　down　his　face；　and　he　stood　staring　at　the　wall　as　one　in　a　dream。　　The　gang　curled　their　lips。　One　fellow；　more　charitable　than　the　rest；　tapped　his　forehead　and　winked。　〃He's　going　cranky；〃　said　this　good…natured　man；　who　could　not　understand　what　a　sane　prisoner　had　to　do　with　flowers。　　Dawes　recovered　himself；　and　the　contemptuous　glances　of　his　companions　seemed　to　bring　back　the　colour　to　his　cheeks。

〃We'll　do　it　to…night；〃　whispered　he　to　Mooney；　and　Mooney　smiled　with　pleasure。

Since　the　〃tobacco　trick〃；　Mooney　and　Dawes　had　been　placed　in　the　new　prison；　together　with　a　man　named　Bland；　who　had　already　twice　failed　to　kill　himself。　When　old　Mooney；　fresh　from　the　torture　of　the　gag…and…bridle；　lamented　his　hard　case；　Bland　proposed　that　the　three　should　put　in　practice　a　scheme　in　which　two　at　least　must　succeed。　　The　scheme　was　a　desperate　one；　and　attempted　only　in　the　last　extremity。　　It　was　the　custom　of　the　Ring；　however；　to　swear　each　of　its　members　to　carry　out　to　the　best　of　his　ability　this　last　invention　of　the　convict…disciplined　mind　should　two　other　members　crave　his　assistance。

The　schemelike　all　great　ideaswas　simplicity　itself。

That　evening；　when　the　cell…door　was　securely　locked；　and　the　absence　of　a　visiting　gaoler　might　be　counted　upon　for　an　hour　at　least；　Bland　produced　a　straw；　and　held　it　out　to　his　companions。　　Dawes　took　it；　and　tearing　it　into　unequal　lengths；　handed　the　fragments　to　Mooney。

　〃The　longest　is　the　one；〃　said　the　blind　man。　　〃Come　on；　boys；　　and　dip　in　the　lucky…bag！〃

It　was　evident　that　lots　were　to　be　drawn　to　determine　to　whom　fortune　would　grant　freedom。　　The　men　drew　in　silence；　and　then　Bland　and　Dawes　looked　at　each　other。　　The　prize　had　been　left　in　the　bag。　Mooneyfortunate　old　fellowretained　the　longest　straw。　　Bland's　hand　shook　as　he　compared　notes　with　his　companion。　　There　was　a　moment's　pause；　during　which　the　blank　eyeballs　of　the　blind　man　fiercely　searched　the　gloom；　as　if　in　that　awful　moment　they　could　penetrate　it。

〃I　hold　the　shortest；〃　said　Dawes　to　Bland。　　〃'Tis　you　that　must　do　it。〃

〃I'm　glad　of　that；〃　said　Mooney。

Bland；　seemingly　terrified　at　the　danger　which　fate　had　decreed　that　he　should　run；　tore　the　fatal　lot　into　fragments　with　an　oath；　and　sat　gnawing　his　knuckles　in　excess　of　abject　terror。　　Mooney　stretched　himself　out　upon　his　plank…bed。　　〃Come　on；　mate；〃　he　said。　　Bland　extended　a　shaking　hand；　and　caught　Rufus　Dawes　by　the　sleeve。

〃You　have　more　nerve　than　I。　　You　do　it。〃

〃No；　no；〃　said　Dawes；　almost　as　pale　as　his　companion。　　〃I've　run　my　chance　fairly。　　'Twas　your　own　proposal。〃　　The　coward　who；　confident　in　his　own　luck；　would　seem　to　have　fallen　into　the　pit　he　had　dug　for　others；　sat　rocking　himself　to　and　fro；　holding　his　head　in　his　hands。

〃By　Heaven；　I　can't　do　it；〃　he　whispered；　lifting　a　white；　wet　face。

〃What　are　you　waiting　for？〃　said　fortunate　Mooney。　　〃Come　on；　I'm　ready。〃

〃IIthought　you　might　like　totopray　a　bit；〃　said　Bland。

The　notion　seemed　to　sober　the　senses　of　the　old　man；　exalted　too　fiercely　by　his　good　fortune。