"Great lieutenant, I will obey. The force of the blows shall be doubled."
At this moment, Mole saw the eyes of Tinker fixed upon him, and he knew he should yet get help.
Mole then submitted himself resignedly to the hands of the torturers.
Binding him like the others, hand and foot, they tied him to the frame, and the chief castigator, rolling up his sleeves, proceeded to belabour Mole's soles with terrific energy.
The blows sounded fearfully loud and sharp, and each was given with such vigour that even the framework creaked under it.
But the victim showed no pain or terror.
He did not cry out, nor flinch in the least, nor strive to mitigate the pain by twisting about.
Thus ten heavy blows were given, and the inflictor paused.
A murmur of astonishment ran round the assembly.
"Truly the Frank hath wondrous strength and courage," exclaimed the lieutenant.