The Frozen Crew Of The Ice-Bound Ship; Or, Terrors Of The Arctic Region — page 21: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE FROZEN CREW His only eye merely gave. occasionally, a glance of anger at the bonds which confined his person. ‘The sturdy Black Bill, as judge, having acquainted himself before hand with the conditions and supposed offences of the captive, was enabled to have in readi- ness replies to expected answers, and at once, in a magisterial tone, commenced his interrogation. “Your name?” Whether the addressed party was too much gb- sorbed in his own thoughts to answer, did not appear; however, was itso or otherwise, he maintained silence, and looked steadfastly at the spokesman, who repeated his question. ** He is called, or rather calls himself, Hans Hinck- man,” cried several voices. ‘‘Humph! It would be as well for him if he dis- closed his own name—namely, that of the devil.” A roar of laughter burst from the audience—vehe- ment, contagious, and universal. Hans Hinckman merely turned about, and shrugged his broad and lusty shoulders with disdai “Now, your business?’’ ‘said Black Bill, going on agreeably to the routine of persons in such a position as that which he now held. The prisoner was silent as before, “Hark ye!” exclaimed the judge; “if you do not reply to me, I will have such a peal\rung on your back that you will not forget till the day of your death! “Tell me, and quickly,” he continued, “ how do you employ yourself ?” “Various ways,’ returned Hans Hinckman, with imperturable coolness; ‘‘ there are times when I bite my finger nails. ‘“Times when, for want of thought, I whistle a tune. ‘Times when I read the stars,” “You hear, messmates,”’ said Black Bill ; “he ac- knowledges himself to be a magician.”’ “There may be mystery, but no magic in the skies,’ returned the prisoner. “If I peruse the starry scroll of heaven, it is to gather lore, by which I am enabled to avert thestroke of danger, or control the destiny otherwise allotted to man.” “That will do,” said Black Bill, to the seamen around him, who began to whisper and look at one another. \ “ You are accused,” continued he, turning to Hans Hinckman, ‘‘of sorcery, magic, and attempt to poison our captain, Paul Jones.” An angry roar followed this remark, mixed with cries from some of the pirates for summary justice. “You had better tell all you know,’’ cried Black Bill, ‘‘ or I shall not be able to preserve you from the fury of my messmates.’’ “Vhat I dare not do,’ repiied Hans Hinckman, shaking his head; and then he added, firmly, “ what is more, if I could, I would not.” The answer so infuriated the crowd, that, but for the interference of the judge, the previous threats which had been uttered by it would have been put into execution. “‘ Belay there!’’ he exclaimed; “ though he deserves a halter, I won’t let him swing till he has spoken out, and I think we kave means of making him do so.”’ Upon the deck of the 4] Malachor was now placed a cube of wood-work some ten feet high, and hollow within. A rude flight of steps led to an upper platform, upon which was seen a horizontal wheel constructed ot oak. To this wheel the culprit was at once bound, upon his knees, and with his hands tied behind him. Jerkin and shirt were taken off, and Hans Hinck- man allowed himself to be stripped to the waist without the least opposition. AND ICE-BOUND SHIP. 15 An axle of timber, moved by a capstan, next caused the wheel to revolve, and exhibit the face of the pinioned wretch to every point of the compass. This was called by the pirates “harnessing” a prisoner to the wheel. | A loud laugh was raised by those assembled when they beheld Hans Hickman’s naked hump, his camel breast, and scaly shoulders. Amidst all this mirth, a man of Herculean frame advanced, It was Caesar, the black, whom we have already introduced to our readers. He had bared his right arm by turning up the sleeve of his shirt to the elbow: over the left arm was seen hanging a whip. This same was composed of long, white glistening thongs, knotted, twisted, and pointed with sharp bits of metal. The negro had no sooner taken his stand beside the prisoner, than Black Bill stamped with his foot. The wheel began to turn. Hans Hinckman shook in his bonds. The expression of his hideous face at this crisis, drew fresh shouts from the pirates who surrounded him. All at once, when the wheel in its revolutions pre- sented the shoulders of the culprit to Caesar, he raised his whip-armed hand. The thin lashes hissed sharply in the air like so many wasps, and descended with fury upon the back of the unfortunate manikin. He started like one awakened from a troubled dream. He writhed and struggled. A violent contraction of pain distorted the muscles of his face, but he heaved not a sigh nor uttered a murmur. He merely turned his head one way and then the other, balancing it the while like some bull pierced in the flank by the weapon of a picador. A second dull thud succeeded the first stroke, then came a third and another and another. The wheel continued to turn, and the blows at its rotation to fall. The blood began to flow from the swart and lace- rated body of Hans Hinckman, and the thongs to sprinkle it in drops over the persons of his unpitying and ruthless perscutors. In defying his torture, the offender had not. over- calculated his strengtn, but the agony he endured forced, at length, from him one of those shrieks which baffle the orthography of every human language. ‘Hold,’ said Black Bill, signaling to the negro that he might cease his barbarous duty. “I thought we should be able to make this oracle open his mouth. 2 “Wizard,” he continued, ‘do you persist in deny- ing the charges laid against you, more especially that of conspiring against the life and welfare of our captain ?” “JT am innocent,” groaned Hans Hinckman, who now resembled a lump of quivering flesh rather than a living creature. “You are still obdurate,” said Black Bill, fiercely; “but I may yet be merciful it you explain the other impious charges that are alleged against you.” * J cannot.” ‘Do you deny them ?” « Everything ; and torture shall fail to extort from me a confession.”’ ‘¢That we have yet to see,’ returned Black Bill, with a sardonic smile. Again the wheel was set in motion. Caesar, preparing to renew his labour, again took up his station near Hans Hinckman. The dread ot future punishment seemed to in- (CCOMNICLOOKS (C©)