The Maid of the Mountain — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

<3 THE TRUTH WRUNG “OUT. 15 to have our proper questions answereg. I give Sy one more chance to “ But what do you intend to do ?” “J intend to make you speak,” replied Elliot. “ Bat I swear I will not.” “ Just so,” said Elliot. “ Throw the. lariat over that limb, boys.” ‘A low pine grew upon thie modhtaiiizsidereheotitig out one strong limb further than the rest. A ranger gathered up the loose ends of the lariat, like a lasso, and flung“it over this limb, so that one end hung down on the other side. Four men then took hold of the rope, and pulled ‘it taut. The Mexican was led under the tree, and the men pulled away slowly until he rose on tiptoe, his weight bearing entirely on bis thumbs. No one but a person who has endured this tor- ‘ture, or seen it inflicted on another, can lave any idea of its terrible nature. At first it was nothing, and the Mexican only looked at his torturers with s grim ‘smile. But’ a moment after his dark face began to work strangely. Nothing earthly could bear the pain which now seemed to shoot along every nerve, and to his very marrow. A hundred rods of fire seemed to run him through. His frame quivered*with agony, which he could not much longer endure, and there-stood those silent men, pitiless as death, watching his motions closely. = ENT one of them seemed frozen suddenly Inte © stataeie ean ness. ier Oty FI White terror showel itself in the face of sosttiaini with heroic fortitude he kept down the cry which pain forced to his lips. At last it broke out in a storm of groans, shrieks and curses, mingled in the strangest way. Now he threat- ened them with his vengeance in the future. Thien he pr them, for the holy Virgin's sake, to free him ‘from this dread- ful punishment, His agony was dreadful. He cursed them in every conceivable way,-and they stood ‘there silent, holding the rope, never moving a muscle of their set faces. They were not new to this kind of work ; but they knew that it was necessary. Great drops of sweat gathered on the brow of the agonized man. His thumbs were-stretched until they seemed about to be pulled from their sockets.” ‘The screams and blasphemies were redoubled. — conmnicloooks.conn