lf　seizing　it　and　quenching　the　fire　that　burned　within　him。　　He　wept；　he　prayed；　he　fought　with　his　desire　as　with　a　madness。　　He　told　himself　that　another's　life　depended　on　his　exertions；　that　to　give　way　to　his　fatal　passion　was　unworthy　of　an　educated　man　and　a　reasoning　being；　that　it　was　degrading；　disgusting；　and　bestial。　　That；　at　all　times　debasing；　at　this　particular　time　it　was　infamous；　that　a　vice；　unworthy　of　any　man；　was　doubly　sinful　in　a　man　of　education　and　a　minister　of　God。　In　vain。　　In　the　midst　of　his　arguments　he　found　himself　at　the　cupboard；　with　the　bottle　at　his　lips；　in　an　attitude　that　was　at　once　ludicrous　and　horrible。
  He　had　no　cancer。　　His　disease　was　a　more　terrible　one。　The　Reverend　James　Northgentleman；　scholar；　and　Christian　priest　was　what　the　world　calls　〃a　confirmed　drunkard〃。
  CHAPTER　XV。
  ONE　HUNDRED　LASHES。
  The　morning　sun；　bright　and　fierce；　looked　down　upon　a　curious　sight。　In　a　stone…yard　was　a　little　group　of　personsTroke；　Burgess；　Macklewain；　Kirkland；　and　Rufus　Dawes。
  Three　wooden　staves；　seven　feet　high；　were　fastened　together　in　the　form　of　a　triangle。　　The　structure　looked　not　unlike　that　made　by　gypsies　to　boil　their　kettles。　　To　this　structure　Kirkland　was　bound。　His　feet　were　fastened　with　thongs　to　the　base　of　the　triangle；　his　wrists；　bound　above　his　head；　at　the　apex。　　His　body　was　then　extended　to　its　fullest　length；　and　his　white　back　shone　in　the　sunlight。　During　his　tying　up　he　had　said　nothingonly　when　Troke　pulled　off　his　shirt　he　shivered。
  〃Now；　prisoner；〃　said　Troke　to　Dawes；　〃do　your　duty。〃
  Rufus　Dawes　looked　from　the　three　stern　faces　to　Kirkland's　white　back；　and　his　face　grew　purple。　　In　all　his　experience　he　had　never　been　asked　to　flog　before。　　He　had　been　flogged　often　enough。
  〃You　don't　want　me　to　flog　him；　sir？〃　he　said　to　the　Commandant。
  〃Pick　up　the　cat；　sir！〃　said　Burgess；　astonished；　〃what　is　the　meaning　of　this？〃　　Rufus　Dawes　picked　up　the　heavy　cat；　and　drew　its　knotted　lashes　between　his　fingers。
  〃Go　on；　Dawes；〃　whispered　Kirkland；　without　turning　his　head。　〃You　are　no　more　than　another　man。〃
  〃What　does　he　say？〃　asked　Burgess。
  〃Telling　him　to　cut　light；　sir；〃　said　Troke；　eagerly　lying；　〃they　all　do　it。〃　〃Cut　light；　eh！　　We'll　see　about　that。　Get　on；　my　man；　and　look　sharp；　or　I'll　tie　you　up　and　give　you　fifty　for　yourself；　as　sure　as　God　made　little　apples。〃
  〃Go　on；　Dawes；〃　whispered　Kirkland　again。　　〃I　don't　mind。〃
  Rufus　Dawes　lifted　the　cat；　swung　it　round　his　head；　and　brought　its　knotted　cords　down　upon　the　white　back。
  〃Wonn！〃　cried　Troke。
  The　white　back　was　instantly　striped　with　six　crimson　bars。　Kirkland　stifled　a　cry。　　It　seemed　to　him　that　he　had　been　cut　in　half。
  〃Now　then；　you　scoundrel！〃　roared　Burgess；　〃separate　your　cats！　What　do　you　mean　by　flogging　a　man　that　fashion？〃
  Rufus　Dawes　drew　his　crooked　fingers　through　the　entangled　cords；　and　struck　again。　　This　time　the　blow　was　more　effective；　and　the　blood　beaded　on　the　skin。
  The　boy　did　not　cry；　but　Macklewain　saw　his　hands　clutch　the　staves　tightly；　and　the　muscles　of　his　naked　arms　quiver。
  〃Tew！〃
  〃That's　better；〃　said　Burgess。
  The　third　blow　sounded　as　though　it　had　been　struck　upon　a　piece　of　raw　beef；　and　the　crimson　turned　purple。
  〃My　God！〃　said　Kirkland；　faintly；　and　bit　his　lips。
  The　flogging　proceeded　in　silence　for　ten　strikes；　and　then　Kirkland　gave　a　screech　like　a　wounded　horse。
  〃Oh！。。。Captain　Burgess！。。。Dawes！。。。Mr。　Troke！。。。Oh；　my　God！。。。　Oh！　　oh！。。。Mercy！。。。Oh；　Doctor！。。。Mr。　North！。。。Oh！　　Oh！　　Oh！〃
  〃Ten！〃　cried　Troke；　impassively　counting　to　the　end　of　the　first　twenty。
  The　lad's　back；　swollen　into　a　lump；　now　presented　the　appearance　of　a　ripe　peach　which　a　wilful　child　had　scored　with　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。〃
  〃Tie　him　up！〃　cried　Burgess；　foaming。　　〃Tie　him　up。　Here；　constable；　fetch　a　man　here　with　a　fresh　cat。　　I'll　give　you　that　beggar's　fifty；　and　fifty　more　on　the　top　of　'em；　and　he　shall　look　on　while　his　back　cools。〃
  Rufus　Dawes；　with　a　glance　at　North；　pulled　off　his　shirt　without　a　word；　and　stretched　himself　at　the　triangles。　　His　back　was　not　white　and　smooth；　like　Kirkland's　had　been；　but　hard　and　seamed。　　He　had　been　flogged　before。　Troke　appeared　with　Gabbettgrinning。　　Gabbett　liked　flogging。　It　was　his　boast　that　he　could　flog　a　man　to　death　on　a　place　no　bigger　than　the　palm　of　his　hand。　　He　could　use　his　left　hand　equally　with　his　right；　and　if　he　got　hold　of　a　〃favourite〃；　would　〃cross　the　cuts〃。
  Rufus　Dawes　planted　his　feet　firmly　on　the　ground；　took　fierce　grasp　on　the　staves；　and　drew　in　his　breath。　　Macklewain　spread　the　garments　of　the　two　men　upon　the　ground；　and；　placing　Kirkland　upon　them；　turned　to　watch　this　new　phase　in　the　morning's　amusement。　He　grumbled　a　little　below　his　breath；　for　he　wanted　his　breakfast；　and　when　the　Commandant　once　began　to　flog　there　was　no　telling　where　he　would　stop。　　Rufus　Dawes　took　five…and…twenty　lashes　without　a　murmur；　and　then　Gabbett　〃crossed　the　cuts〃。　　This　went　on　up　to　fifty　lashes；　and　North　felt　himself　stricken　with　admiration　at　the　courage　of　the　man。　〃If　it　had　not　been　for　that　cursed　brandy；〃　thought　he；　with　bitterness　of　self…reproach；　〃I　might　have　saved　all　this。〃　At　the　hundredth　lash；　the　giant　paused；　expecting　the　order　to　throw　off；　but　Burgess　was　determined　to　〃break　the　man's　spirit〃。
  〃I'll　make　you　speak；　you　dog；　if　I　cut　your　heart　out！〃　he　cried。　〃Go　on；　prisoner。〃
  For　twenty　lashes　more　Dawes　was　mute；　and　then　the　agony　forced　from　his　labouring　breast　a　hideous　cry。　　But　it　was　not　a　cry　for　mercy；　as　that　of　Kirkland's　had　been。　　Having　found　his　tongue；　the　wretched　man　gave　vent　to　his　boiling　passion　in　a　torrent　of　curses。　He　shrieked　imprecation　upon　Burgess；　Troke；　and　North。　　He　cursed　all　soldiers　for　tyrants；　all　parsons　for　hypocrites。　　He　blasphemed　his　God　and　his　Saviour。　　With　a　frightful　outpouring　of　obscenity　and　blasphemy；　he　called　on　the　earth　to　gape　and　swallow　his　persecutors；　for　Heaven　to　open　and　rain　fire　upon　them；　for　hell　to　yawn　and　engulf　them　quick。　　It　was　as　though　each　blow　of　the　cat　forced　out　of　him　a　fresh　burst　of　beast…like　rage。　　He　seemed　to　have　abandoned　his　humanity。　　He　foamed；　he　raved；　he　tugged　at　his　bonds　until　the　strong　staves　shook　again；　he　writhed　himself　round　upon　the　triangles　and　spat　impotently　at　Burgess；　who　jeered　at　his　torments。　North；　with　his　hands　to　his　ears；　crouched　against　the　corner　of　the　wall；　palsied　with　horror。　　It　seemed　to　him　that　the　passions　of　hell　raged　around　him。　　He　would　fain　have　fled；　but　a　horrible　fascination　held　him　back。
  In　the　midst　of　thiswhen　the　cat　was　hissing　its　loudest　Burgess　laughing　his　hardest；　and　the　wretch　on　the　triangles　filling　the　air　with　h