had a lively sense of the power of money for evil; he saw it now in a new light—­for he was penniless.  After taking my father from the prison and bringing him home, I arranged as to the other prisoners and then went to the yacht.  I introduced myself to the Count.  I told him that I had deceived his spies—­that I had led a double life; that I had joined the Brotherhood and had become one of its leading spirits, with but two objects:—­to punish him and his villainous associates and to rescue my father.  That, as they had destroyed my father for money, the same instruments should now destroy him, through fear.  That they were all prisoners, and should die together a fearful death; but if they had a hundred lives they could not atone for the suffering they had caused one good and great-hearted man.  They had compelled him, for years, to work in the society of the basest of his species—­at work too hard for even a young and strong man; they had separated him from his family; they had starved his mind and heart and body; they had beaten and scourged him for the slightest offenses.  He had suffered a thousand deaths.  It would be no equivalent to simply kill them.  They should die in prolonged agony.  And as he—­the Count—­had always gone upon the principle that it was right to work upon the weaknesses of others to accomplish his purposes, I should imitate him.  I should not touch him myself.

“I then ordered the captain and his men to put him in the boat and carry him ashore.

“He begged and pleaded and abased himself; he entreated and shrieked; but he addressed hearts as hard as his own.

“On the river-bank were a body of my men.  In the midst of them they had the other prisoners—­the corrupt judge, eight of the jurymen—­four had died since the trial—­and the four lying witnesses.  They were all shackled together.  A notary public was present, and they signed and acknowledged their confessions, that they had been bribed to swear against my father and convict him; and they even acknowledged, in their terror, the precise sums which they had received for their dreadful acts.

“‘Spare me! spare me!’ shrieked the Count, groveling on the ground; ’only part of that money came from me.  I was but the instrument of the government.  I was commanded to do as I did.’

“‘The others have already gone to their account,’ I replied, ’every man of them.  You will overtake them in a little while.’

“I ordered the prisoners to chain him to a stout post which stood in the middle of one of the wharves.  They were unshackled and did so with alacrity; my men standing around ready to shoot them down if they attempted to fly.  The Count writhed and shrieked for help, but in a little while he was securely fastened to the post.  There was a ship loaded with lumber lying beside the next wharf.  I ordered them to bring the lumber; they quickly piled it up in great walls around him, within about ten feet of him; and then more and more was heaped around these walls.  The Count began to realize the death that awaited him, and his screams were appalling.  But I said to him: