In ten long years
of outrage there had been no single conviction, and the only
danger that ever threatened the Scowrers lay in the victim
himself--who, however outnumbered and taken by surprise, might
and occasionally did leave his mark upon his assailants.
McMurdo had been warned that some ordeal lay before him; but no
one would tell him in what it consisted. He was led now into an
outer room by two solemn brothers. Through the plank partition
he could hear the murmur of many voices from the assembly within.
Once or twice he caught the sound of his own name, and he knew
that they were discussing his candidacy. Then there entered an
inner guard with a green and gold sash across his chest.
"The Bodymaster orders that he shall be trussed, blinded, and
entered," said he.
The three of them removed his coat, turned up the sleeve of his
right arm, and finally passed a rope round above the elbows and
made it fast. They next placed a thick black cap right over his
head and the upper part of his face, so that he could see
nothing. He was then led into the assembly hall.
It was pitch dark and very oppressive under his hood.
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