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nflinched front faced the gallows； the desert； and the sea； confessed his debased humanity beneath the physical torture of the lash。 He had been flogged before； and had wept in secret at his degradation； but he now for the first time comprehended how terrible that degradation might be made； for he realized how the agony of the wretched body can force the soul to quit its last poor refuge of assumed indifference； and confess itself conquered。
Not many months before； one of the companions of the chain； suffering under Burgess's tender mercies； had killed his mate when at work with him； and； carrying the body on his back to the nearest gang； had surrendered himselfgoing to his death thanking God he had at last found a way of escape from his miseries； which no one would envy him save his comrades。 The heart of Dawes had been filled with horror at a deed so bloody； and he had； with others； commented on the cowardice of the man that would thus shirk the responsibility of that state of life in which it had pleased man and the devil to place him。 Now he understood how and why the crime had been committed； and felt only pity。 Lying awake with back that burned beneath its lotioned rags； when lights were low； in the breathful silence of the hospital； he registered in his heart a terrible oath that he would die ere he would again be made such hideous sport for his enemies。 In this frame of mind； with such shreds of honour and worth as had formerly clung to him blown away in the whirlwind of his passion； he bethought him of the strange man who had deigned to clasp his hand and call him 〃brother〃。 He had wept no unmanly tears at this sudden flow of tenderness in one whom he had thought as callous as the rest。 He had been touched with wondrous sympathy at the confession of weakness made to him； in a moment when his own weakness had overcome him to his shame。 Soothed by the brief rest that his fortnight of hospital seclusion had afforded him； he had begun； in a languid and speculative way； to turn his thoughts to religion。 He had read of martyrs who had borne agonies unspeakable； upheld by their confidence in Heaven and God。 In his old wild youth he had scoffed at prayers and priests； in the hate to his kind that had grown upon him with his later years he had despised a creed that told men to love one another。 〃God is love； my brethren；〃 said the chaplain on Sundays； and all the week the thongs of the overseer cracked； and the cat hissed and swung。 Of what practical value was a piety that preached but did not practise？ It was admirable for the 〃religious instructor〃 to tell a prisoner that he must not give way to evil passions； but must bear his punishment with meekness。 It was only right that he should advise him to 〃put his trust in God〃。 But as a hardened prisoner； convicted of getting drunk in an unlicensed house of entertainment； had said； 〃God's terrible far from Port Arthur。〃
Rufus Dawes had smiled at the spectacle of priests admonishing men； who knew what he knew and had seen what he had seen； for the trivialities of lying and stealing。 He had believed all priests impostors or fools； all religion a mockery and a lie。 But now； finding how utterly his own strength had failed him when tried by the rude test of physical pain； he began to think that this Religion which was talked of so largely was not a mere bundle of legend and formulae； but must have in it something vital and sustaining。 Broken in spirit and weakened in body； with faith in his own will shaken； he longed for something to lean upon； and turnedas all men turn when in such caseto the Unknown。 Had now there been at hand some Christian priest； some Christian…spirited man even； no matter of what faith； to pour into the ears of this poor wretch words of comfort and grace； to rend away from him the garment of sullenness and despair in which he had wrapped himself； to drag from him a confession of his unworthiness； his obstinacy； and his hasty judgment； and to cheer his fainting soul with promise of immortality and justice； he might have been saved from his after fate； but there was no such man。 He asked for the chaplain。 North was fighting the Convict Department； seeking vengeance for Kirkland； and （victim of 〃clerks with the cold spurt of the pen〃） was pushed hither and thither； referred here； snubbed there； bowed out in another place。 Rufus Dawes； half ashamed of himself for his request； waited a long morning； and then saw； respectfully ushered into his cell as his soul's physicianMeekin。
CHAPTER XIX。
THE CONSOLATIONS OF RELIGION。
〃Well； my good man；〃 said Meekin； soothingly； 〃so you wanted to see me。〃
〃I asked for the chaplain；〃 said Rufus Dawes； his anger with himself growing apace。 〃I am the chaplain；〃 returned Meekin； with dignity； as who should say〃none of your brandy…drinking； pea…jacketed Norths； but a Respectable chaplain who is the friend of a Bishop！〃
〃I thought that Mr。 North was〃
〃Mr。 North has left； sir；〃 said Meekin； dryly； 〃but I will hear what you have to say。 There is no occasion to go； constable； wait outside the door。〃
Rufus Dawes shifted himself on the wooden bench； and resting his scarcely…healed back against the wall； smiled bitterly。 〃Don't be afraid； sir； I am not going to harm you；〃 he said。 〃I only wanted to talk a little。〃
〃Do you read your Bible； Dawes？〃 asked Meekin； by way of reply。 〃It would be better to read your Bible than to talk； I think。 You must humble yourself in prayer； Dawes。〃
〃I have read it；〃 said Dawes； still lying back and watching him。
〃But is your mind softened by its teachings？ Do you realize the Infinite Mercy of God； Who has compassion； Dawes； upon the greatest sinners？〃 The convict made a move of impatience。 The old； sickening； barren cant of piety was to be recommenced then。 He came asking for bread； and they gave him the usual stone。
〃Do you believe that there is a God； Mr。 Meekin？〃
〃Abandoned sinner！ Do you insult a clergyman by such a question？〃
〃Because I think sometimes that if there is； He must often be dissatisfied at the way things are done here；〃 said Dawes； half to himself。
〃I can listen to no mutinous observations； prisoner；〃 said Meekin。 〃Do not add blasphemy to your other crimes。 I fear that all conversation with you； in your present frame of mind； would be worse than useless。 I will mark a few passages in your Bible； that seem to me appropriate to your condition； and beg you to commit them to memory。 Hailes； the door； if you please。〃
So； with a bow； the 〃consoler〃 departed。
Rufus Dawes felt his heart grow sick。 North had gone； then。 The only man who had seemed to have a heart in his bosom had gone。 The only man who had dared to clasp his horny and blood…stained hand； and call him 〃brother〃； had gone。 Turning his head； he saw through the windowwide open and unbarred； for Nature； at Port Arthur； had no need of barsthe lovely bay； smooth as glass； glittering in the afternoon sun； the long quay； spotted with groups of parti…coloured chain…gangs； and heard； mingling with the soft murmur of the waves； and the gentle rustling of the trees； the never…ceasing clashing of irons； and the eternal click of hammer。 Was he to be for ever bur