Now they draw his head to
his knees, and his hands to his feet, forming a curve of his
disabled body. "How I bend to your strong ropes, your strong laws,
and your still stronger wills! You make good slip-nooses, and better
bows of human bodies," he says, mildly, shaking his head
contemptuously. The official, with a brutal kick, reminds him that
there will be no joking when he swings by the neck, which he
certainly will, to the great delight of many.
"I welcome the reality,--by heaven I do, for only in heaven is there
justice for me!" With these words falling from his lips, four negro
men seize the body, bear it to the door: an excited crowd having
assembled, place it upon a common dray, amid shouts and furious
imprecations of "D--him, kill him at once!" Soon the dray rolls
speedily away for the county prison, followed by the crowd, who
utter a medley of yells and groans, as it disappears within the
great gates, bearing its captive to a cell of torture.
CHAPTER XLVI.
SOUTHERN ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE.
IT is just a week since Nicholas committed the heinous offence of
wounding officer Monsel in the arm. That distinguished personage,
having been well cared for, is-to use a common phrase-about again,
as fresh as ever. With Nicholas the case is very different. His
bruised and lacerated body, confined in an unhealthy cell, has
received little care. Suspicion of treachery has been raised against
him; his name has become a terror throughout the city; and all his
bad qualities have been magnified five-fold, while not a person can
be found to say a word in praise of his good.
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