Page:Life of John Boyle O'Reilly.djvu/699

 Rh Till she comes again!" that I had no heart

To try to persuade him then to part

From all that was left to him here,—her grave;

So I stayed by his side that night, and, save

One heart-cutting cry, he uttered no sound,—

God! that wail— like the wail of a hound!

'Tis six long years since I heard that cry,

But 'twill ring in my ears till the day I die.

Since that fearful night no one has heard

Poor David Sloane utter sound or word.

You have seen to-day how he always goes:

He's been given that suit of convict's clothes

By some prison officer. On his back

You noticed a load like a peddler's pack?

Well, that's what he lives for: when reason went,

Still memory lived, for his days are spent

In searching for Dukites; and year by year

That bundle of skins is growing. 'Tis clear

That the Lord out of evil some good still takes;

For he's clearing this bush of the Dukite snakes.

THE MONSTER DIAMOND.

A TALE OF THE PENAL COLONY OF WEST AUSTRALIA.

'LL have it, I tell you! Curse you!—there!"

The long knife glittered, was sheathed, and was bare.

The sawyer staggered and tripped and fell.

And falling he uttered a frightened yell:

His face to the sky, he shuddered and gasped.

And tried to put from him the man he had grasped

A moment before in the terrible strife.

"I'll have it, I tell you, or have your life!