Page:Through hell with Hiprah Hunt.djvu/138

 CANTO LXII.

explorer is now in the lowest depths.

From a precipice of crimson rock he beholds the punishment of "bunco steerers." He sees a howling group of souls huddled on the summit of a hill, from top to bottom of which is constructed a toboggan slide of sand-paper. As they stand cringing in fright, a Demon policeman yells: "Next!" and the foremost shuffles to the front and is given a shove that sends him whirling, yelling and rasping down the incline at a fearful speed. Arriving at the bottom he is immediately driven back and forced to repeat the act. Thus the performance continues throughout the centuries.