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"They are here, captain."
"Let them stand up."
Allen rose with difficulty, and staggered as he tried to stand at"attention."
"Drunk, eh? Here, sergeant, see to it that this rebel does not have adrop of anything to drink for twenty-four hours."
"Except water, captain?"
"I said not a drop of anything. He is drunk."
"Please, sir, he has had nothing to----"
"Silence! Do you want to be ordered to the hold?"
The sergeant was silent, though his whole nature rebelled against suchtreatment.
The captain looked at Allen for a minute, then he asked:
"You were at Ticonderoga?"
"And I treated the prisoners with justice," answered Allen.
The only reply was a vigorous kick from the officer's well-shod foot.
Allen bit his lips, but did not resent the affront.
He knew that it was done to provoke him so that his persecutors mighthave an excuse for inflicting some terrible punishment on him.
"See to it that these rebels do not sit down until I give permission."
It was the parting order of the captain, and the sergeant blushed withshame as he heard the command.
When the officer left the deck Allen sat down.
"You must not do that, sir," said the sergeant, kindly; "you heard myorders."
"I know, but I shall die unless----"
"Lie down, sir; I shall not stop you doing that. The orders were thatyou must not sit."
Once more the two prisoners were lying down on their backs; the ironsprevented their reposing on their sides.
By daylight the prisoners were nearly dead with thirst, but not a dropof water was allowed them.
The captain made his round of inspection at seven o'clock, and Allenasked if they were to be allowed to have anything to eat or drink.
"No. You will get a rope round your necks soon, and it won't matterwhether you are hungry or not."
"But, sir, you have no right----"
"Stay, there! You are a rebel and have forfeited all right to beconsidered in the matter."
Eben listened to the insulting words, and he was in such a positionthat he was able to drag his iron bar right across the captain's path.
As the officer stepped back he tripped over the iron and fell sprawlingon the deck.
"Beg your pardon, captain, but I am not accustomed to move about with abar of iron on my leg, so couldn't tell where it was
