For the Term of His Natural Life
Page 74
August 26th.--Saw Rufus Dawes again to-day. His usual bearingis ostentatiously rough and brutal. He has sunk to a depth ofself-abasement in which he takes a delight in his degradation. Thiscondition is one familiar to me.
He is working in the chain-gang to which Hankey was made sub-overseer.Blind Mooney, an ophthalmic prisoner, who was removed from the gangto hospital, told me that there was a plot to murder Hankey, but thatDawes, to whom he had shown some kindness, had prevented it. I sawHankey and told him of this, asking him if he had been aware of theplot. He said "No," falling into a great tremble. "Major Pratt promisedme a removal," said he. "I expected it would come to this." I asked himwhy Dawes defended him; and after some trouble he told me, exacting fromme a promise that I would not acquaint the Commandant. It seems that onemorning last week, Hankey had gone up to Captain Frere's house witha return from Troke, and coming back through the garden had plucked aflower. Dawes had asked him for this flower, offering two days' rationsfor it. Hankey, who is not a bad-hearted man, gave him the sprig. "Therewere tears in his eyes as he took it," said he.
There must be some way to get at this man's heart, bad as he seems tobe.