The Land Claim — page 114: what you’re looking at

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

oo 110 THE LAND-CLAIM. Left entirely to their own devices—for public feeling forbade any serious opposition to the mob—the patrons of speedy justice were not long in putting their principles into execu- tion. Amid cries of every imaginable description, a few more authoritative commands could be distinguished, such as: “Get a barber to shave their heads!” “ Somebody find the cowhides!” “Who's ‘got the rope?’ “Be sure it’s strong enough!” ete. Some swore violently in their excitement, others pressed their lips tightly together, and, with blanched cheeks and burning eyes, worked more eagerly than the noisy ones. All were carried away by a frenzy of rage against their crime-stained but helpless. fellow-men. A spot was chosen, on the town square, in front of where the sheriff’s house had stood, for the shaving and whipping. The wagon containing the wretches was hauled into the square, and the men lifted out upon the ground, still soaked with the heavy rain of the night before. While their heads were being shaved, the two comrades of Carnes maintained a composed, if graye and anxious demeanor; but the chief criminal betrayed more agitation. Whether they proceeded from fear, pain or repentance, great tears coursed down his cheeks, and his face was convulsed with sobs. These signs of weak- ness provoked yarious expressions from the mob, few of which were sympathizing, and even caused a contemptuous remark from his fellow-sufferer, Jim. When the barber’s work was finished, the men were stripped to the waist of their clothing. The swollen condition of Carnes’ broken arm made it necessary to cut away his coat- sleeve, which called forth the remark from a bystander that it was “no matter—he wouldn’t need it any more ;’ upon which the miserable man broke forth into lamentations. “Coward!” muttered Jim. “I'd like to use the whip on u myself.” “Hurrah! that’s the talk!” yelled the crowd. “Let that feller use the cowhide—he’ll do it up right!” “Yes, let him warm himself up a little "fore Jus turn comes!” yelled others. “Gentlemen,” said Jim, “I ain't a doin’ this to save you the trouble, but to settle a little private account of my own.” Carnes was tied to the post, and the whip handed to Jim, comiclooolks. conn ;