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wenty years of age。 It was astonishing many honest folks averredhow ungrateful were these juvenile convicts for the goods the Government had provided for them。 From the extremity of Long Bay； as the extension of the sea…arm was named； a convict…made tramroad ran due north； through the nearly impenetrable thicket to Norfolk Bay。 In the mouth of Norfolk Bay was Woody Island。 This was used as a signal station； and an armed boat's crew was stationed there。 To the north of Woody Island lay One…tree Pointthe southernmost projection of the drop of the earring； and the sea that ran between narrowed to the eastward until it struck on the sandy bar of Eaglehawk Neck。 Eaglehawk Neck was the link that connected the two drops of the earring。 It was a strip of sand four hundred and fifty yards across。 On its eastern side the blue waters of Pirates' Bay； that is to say； of the Southern Ocean； poured their unchecked force。 The isthmus emerged from a wild and terrible coast…line； into whose bowels the ravenous sea had bored strange caverns； resonant with perpetual roar of tortured billows。 At one spot in this wilderness the ocean had penetrated the wall of rock for two hundred feet； and in stormy weather the salt spray rose through a perpendicular shaft more than five hundred feet deep。 This place was called the Devil's Blow…hole。 The upper drop of the earring was named Forrestier's Peninsula； and was joined to the mainland by another isthmus called East Bay Neck。 Forrestier's Peninsula was an almost impenetrable thicket； growing to the brink of a perpendicular cliff of basalt。
Eaglehawk Neck was the door to the prison； and it was kept bolted。 On the narrow strip of land was built a guard…house； where soldiers from the barrack on the mainland relieved each other night and day； and on stages； set out in the water in either side； watch…dogs were chained。 The station officer was charged 〃to pay special attention to the feeding and care〃 of these useful beasts； being ordered 〃to report to the Commandant whenever any one of them became useless〃。 It may be added that the bay was not innocent of sharks。 Westward from Eaglehawk Neck and Woody Island lay the dreaded Coal Mines。 Sixty of the 〃marked men〃 were stationed here under a strong guard。 At the Coal Mines was the northernmost of that ingenious series of semaphores which rendered escape almost impossible。 The wild and mountainous character of the peninsula offered peculiar advantages to the signalmen。 On the summit of the hill which overlooked the guard…towers of the settlement was a gigantic gum…tree stump； upon the top of which was placed a semaphore。 This semaphore communicated with the two wings of the prisonEaglehawk Neck and the Coal Minesby sending a line of signals right across the peninsula。 Thus； the settlement communicated with Mount Arthur； Mount Arthur with One…tree Hill； One…tree Hill with Mount Communication； and Mount Communication with the Coal Mines。 On the other side； the signals would run thusthe settlement to Signal Hill； Signal Hill to Woody Island； Woody Island to Eaglehawk。 Did a prisoner escape from the Coal Mines； the guard at Eaglehawk Neck could be aroused； and the whole island informed of the 〃bolt〃 in less than twenty minutes。 With these advantages of nature and art； the prison was held to be the most secure in the world。 Colonel Arthur reported to the Home Government that the spot which bore his name was a 〃natural penitentiary〃。 The worthy disciplinarian probably took as a personal compliment the polite forethought of the Almighty in thus considerately providing for the carrying out of the celebrated 〃Regulations for Convict Discipline〃。
CHAPTER XXI。
A VISIT OF INSPECTION。
One afternoon ever…active semaphores transmitted a piece of intelligence which set the peninsula agog。 Captain Frere； having arrived from head…quarters； with orders to hold an inquiry into the death of Kirkland； was not unlikely to make a progress through the stations； and it behoved the keepers of the Natural Penitentiary to produce their Penitents in good case。 Burgess was in high spirits at finding so congenial a soul selected for the task of reporting upon him。
〃It's only a nominal thing； old man；〃 Frere said to his former comrade； when they met。 〃That parson has made meddling； and they want to close his mouth。〃
〃I am glad to have the opportunity of showing you and Mrs。 Frere the place；〃 returned Burgess。 〃I must try and make your stay as pleasant as I can； though I'm afraid that Mrs。 Frere will not find much to amuse her。〃
〃Frankly； Captain Burgess；〃 said Sylvia； 〃I would rather have gone straight to Sydney。 My husband； however； was obliged to come； and of course I accompanied him。〃
〃You will not have much society；〃 said Meekin； who was of the welcoming party。 〃Mrs。 Datchett； the wife of one of our stipendiaries； is the only lady here； and I hope to have the pleasure of making you acquainted with her this evening at the Commandant's。 Mr。 McNab； whom you know； is in command at the Neck； and cannot leave； or you would have seen him。〃
〃I have planned a little party；〃 said Burgess； 〃but I fear that it will not be so successful as I could wish。〃
〃You wretched old bachelor；〃 said Frere； 〃you should get married； like me。〃
〃Ah！〃 said Burgess； with a bow； 〃that would be difficult。〃
Sylvia was compelled to smile at the compliment； made in the presence of some twenty prisoners； who were carrying the various trunks and packages up the hill； and she remarked that the said prisoners grinned at the Commandant's clumsy courtesy。 〃I don't like Captain Burgess； Maurice；〃 she said； in the interval before dinner。 〃I dare say he did flog that poor fellow to death。 He looks as if he could do it。〃
〃Nonsense！〃 said Maurice； pettishly； 〃he's a good fellow enough。 Besides； I've seen the doctor's certificate。 It's a trumped…up story。 I can't understand your absurd sympathy with prisoners。〃
〃Don't they sometimes deserve sympathy？〃
〃No； certainly nota set of lying scoundrels。 You are always whining over them； Sylvia。 I don't like it； and I've told you before about it。〃
Sylvia said nothing。 Maurice was often guilty of these small brutalities； and she had learnt that the best way to meet them was by silence。 Unfortunately； silence did not mean indifference； for the reproof was unjust； and nothing stings a woman's fine sense like an injustice。 Burgess had prepared a feast； and the 〃Society〃 of Port Arthur was present。 Father Flaherty； Meekin； Doctor Macklewain； and Mr。 and Mrs。 Datchett had been invited； and the dining…room was resplendent with glass and flowers。
〃I've a fellow who was a professional gardener；〃 said Burgess to Sylvia during the dinner； 〃and I make use of his talents。〃
〃We have a professional artist also；〃 said Macklewain； with a sort of pride。 〃That picture of the 'Prisoner of Chillon' yonder was painted by him。 A very meritorious production； is it not？〃
〃I've got the place full of curiosities；〃 said Burgess； 〃quite a collection。 I'll show them to you to…morrow。 Those napkin rings were made by a prisoner。〃
〃Ah！〃 cried Frere； taking up the daintily…carved bone； 〃very neat！〃
〃That is some of Rex's handiwork；〃 sa