CRUELTY 33 



•\vlio had acted as president, was the first to put the 

 sentence in force ; and the victim writhed and twisted 

 under his powerful blows, though his proud heart would 

 not suffer his lips to utter a word of complaint. Two or 

 three others followed, when, either from compassion or 

 want of muscular power, they did not draw forth from 

 the sufferer any particular signs of anguish ; but when 

 the doctor's mate, a tall, raw-boned, long-armed Scotch- 

 man, took the implement of torture, and administered his 

 blows, with all the strength a sinewy arm and malignant 

 spirit could give, the poor youth, no longer able to 

 contain himself, absolutely roared with pain. The 

 punishment over, the prisoner was cast off, when he 

 immediately ascended to the captain's cabin. 



I was a silent spectator of this specimen of Lynch law, 

 as it may be termed, and was not thought of importance 

 enough to be included in the unanimity with which the 

 whole proceeding was conducted ; but I looked with 

 something between compassion for the delinquent and 

 anger and horror at the two principal perpetrators in 

 this, to me, diabolical affair, and marked the fearful 

 silence that reigned among them, till they were one and 

 all summoned to the captain's presence. 



I followed, as did my two young messmates, who had 

 been for the same reason excluded with myself from any 

 participation in the crime or folly of the others. Those, 

 also, who fortunately had the watch on deck at the time 

 of this unjust assumption of authority and act of down- 

 right cruelty, were also called in. 



The first lieutenant stood by the side of the captain, as 

 did the doctor and purser ; the master, and most of 



VOL. I, D 



