We'll have to quit, though, and that's a
pity. It was just getting good."
He surrendered the hose to a fireman, who promptly retreated with
it to a discreet position, then followed his captors, who were now
buzzing like bees.
"Don't get excited," he said to Allan, noting his frightened look.
"They'll turn us loose all right."
But a moment after they were clear of the town he was surprised to
see that the negro's captors had snapped "come-alongs" upon him in
spite of his repeated promises to go quietly.
These handcuffs, Kirk saw, were of the type used upon desperate
criminals, consisting of chains fitted with handles so contrived
that a mere twist of the officer's hand would cut the prisoner's
flesh to the bone.
"You don't need to do that," he assured the fellow who had made
the arrest, but, instead of heeding his words, the men on each
side of the Jamaican twisted stoutly, forcing the black boy to cry
out in pain. He hung back, protesting:
"All right, sar, I'll come. I'll come."
But again they tightened their instruments of torture, and their
victim began to struggle. At this an evil-faced man in blue struck
him brutally upon the head with his club, then upon the shoulders,
as if to silence his groans.
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