While I was denied all conversation with any of the prisoners I saw them at least once a day.  But if I did not see much of them I heard them frequently, especially when punishment was being dealt out.  Then the corridor would ring with dull thuds as blows by the rifle were administered, followed by violent shrieking and wailing.  The prison, at least the precincts of the Avenue of the Damned, was ruled with a rod of iron, and various brutalities were practised and often upon the slightest pretext.  It is only necessary to relate one revolting episode which I witnessed with my own eyes.  On Friday morning, August 7, my cell-pacing was rudely interrupted by the appearance of the gaoler who curtly ordered me to stand outside my cell door.  I found that all the cells—­except one—­along the corridor were wide open, and with their occupants similarly standing at the entrances.  Between each two cells stood a soldier with his rifle ready to jab his bayonet to right or left at an instant’s notice.

I wondered what was the matter, and was told that we were to witness and to profit from the punishment which was to be dealt out to a prisoner who had broken one of the prison rules.  Lying in the centre of the corridor was the prone groaning form of a prisoner—­a Frenchman, I believe—­who had been dragged from the cell before the open door of which no one was standing.  He was terribly weak and ill.  Beside him stood four hulking, burly and heavily-booted Prussians.

At the word of command these four men rushed forward and commenced to kick the hapless prisoner for all they were worth.  The man shrieked, groaned and howled.  We all shivered at the sight and at his terrible cries.  It sickened me.  But the brutes never relented.  The more he writhed and the louder he howled the harder they kicked, face, body and head receiving the blows indiscriminately.  In a minute or so the man lay still upon the floor, literally kicked into insensibility.  Whatever any of the prisoners around may have felt none could extend assistance or interfere.  Some strove to shut out the terrible sight by covering their faces with their hands, but the bayonet point speedily induced them to look as commanded.  If any one of us had moved a step to proceed to the poor wretch’s aid we should certainly have been run through without the slightest compunction.

The unconscious prisoner was picked up and thrown into his cell, while we were likewise rushed in upon the conclusion of the disgusting exhibition.  Subsequently I enquired the reason for such a ferocious outburst.  Then I found that the prisoner, who was so ill that he really ought to have been in hospital, had rung his bell, to summon the gaoler for permission to respond to one of the calls of nature, but that he had been unable to contain himself until the dilatory official arrived.  I might mention that I had heard the bell ringing for fully ten minutes but without avail.  Although scrupulous cleanliness is demanded from each cell I know from experience that the gaolers are ever reluctant to reply to a call of the emergency bell, and think nothing of causing the hapless wretch terrible misery.  It serves to bring home to the prisoner that he is under confinement and not in a hotel to be waited on hand and foot.  Such is the German argument.