ct plagues that attacked us unceasingly.
I noted that while those who had not succumbed to their sufferings were
fed as they stood still bound to their posts, those who had become
unconscious were temporarily released, and revived by being copiously
soused with water, and, further, were allowed to eat and drink while
seated on the ground, before they were lashed up afresh; and I took the
hint, feigning insensibility for the sake of the few minutes of
temporary relief that I hoped thus to win.

By the time that the attendants reached me I was so near to swooning
that very little pretence was necessary, and when at length they
released me I sank to the ground in a heap with a low groan. I gathered
from their remarks that they were seriously concerned at my condition,
for it seemed that I was reserved for some very especial refinement of
torture, the satisfactory application of which demanded that I must come
to it in the possession of my full strength, which they feared had been
seriously sapped by the suffering which I had already endured, and they
freely expressed their concern lest, under existing circumstances, I
should not furnish quite so much sport as was being expected of me.
They therefore displayed real solicitude in their efforts to revive me,
which I took especial care they should not accomplish too quickly. But,
oh, what exquisite torment was mine when, my bonds being released, the
blood once more began to circulate through my benumbed members! I could
have screamed aloud with the excruciating agony, had not my pride
prevented me; and it was a full hour before I had sufficiently recovered
the use of my hands to enable me to convey food and drink to my lips.
The food and drink provided for me were of an especially nourishing
character, and when at length I had partaken of as much as I could force
down my throat I was again lashed to my stake, but this time so
carefully that, while for me to loose my bonds was an impossibility, the
circulation of blood was in nowise impeded; and for even this small
mercy I was inexpressibly grateful.

Meanwhile the night had fallen so intensely dark that the completion of
the task of feeding us unfortunates had to be accomplished by
torchlight; and we had not been very long left to ourselves before the
faint flickering of distant lightning and the low muttering and
grumbling of thunder warned us to expect a storm of more than ordinary
violence. Everything portended it; the