Detective Bob Bridger — page 26: what you’re looking at

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

DETECTIVE BOB BRIDGER. “19 and who is to be flogged this very hour in the jail within. In fact, I fear we may be too late for the flogging, and I would not miss this particular execution for the world. Did you ever see a culprit flogged, Bobe?” ‘‘ Never.” “Well, TOD off with me. Come.” CHAPTER III. *SHE-REE-GO ! MASTER FANDON, SEE-REE-GO !‘ Springing as he spoke from the vehicle, the Scotch detec- tive led the way up the stone steps and into the corridor of the prison, Bridger following at his elbow. Through the hall-way, and back through erated door- ways, which obedient turnkeys opened, Fandon . conducted his companion to the gloomy jail-yard. The walls of the prison inclosed it upon all sides, and from their grated windows peered upon the scene beneath a horde of eager, vicious faces. An upright beam crossed by a frame, in which were pil- loried a culprit’s hands, stood at the yard’s center. The victim was a giant in frame, tall, broad-shouldered, deep-chested, sinewy—a man in the prime of his years and strength. His brawny body was stripped bare to the waist. A score. of solemn-visaged keepers stood guard near, while a burly keeper wielded the ugly ‘cat.’ Already nine of the twenty lashes had fallen. A hundred purple welts meshed the sufferer’s back, and attested the severity of his punishment, while where the ridges crossed, the bruised, black blood had burst forth and stood in heavy drops upon the skin. ‘ The tortured flesh seemed fairly to creep upon the man’s ones. His forehead was pressed violently forward against the cross-beam, as if he strove, by self-inflicted pain, to offset the torture he endured. The sturdy executioner calmly, determinedly. with all his strength, and with the regularity of a machine, applied the whip. As the tenth stroke fell the frenzied victim suddenly threw back his head. Its covering of sandy hair was closely clipped. In size it was small and appeared utterly out of propor- tion upon the man’s gigantic frame. co : Eomicbooks