THE BERNICLES. 195

replied Louis, calmly; ‘and I cannot pretend to
dispose of them.’

‘But beware of rashly refusing to submit to the
eultan’s terms,’ said the ambassador; ‘for you know
not what may happen. He will send you to the
caliph at Bagdad, who will imprison you for life; or
he will cause you to be led throughout the East, to
exhibit to all Asia a Christian king reduced to
slavery.’

‘IT am the sultan’s prisoner,’ replied Louis, un-
moved, ‘and he can do with me what he pleases.’

On hearing this answer, the ambassadors intimated
their intention of employing personal violence; and,
one of them having stamped three times with his
foot, the Eunuch Sahil entered, followed by the
jailers, bearing that frightful instrument of torture,
known as ‘ the bernicles.’

Now this terrible engine was made of pieces of
wood pierced with holes, into which the legs of the
criminal were put; and the holes were at so great a
distance from each other, and could be forced ta so
great an extension, that the pain was about the most
horrible that could be produced. Moreover, the
holes being at various distances, the legs of the
victim could be inserted into those that extended
them to the greatest distance, and while the pain
inflicted was more than flesh and blood could bear,
means were, at the same time, used to break or dis-
locate all his small bones. It was an instrument of
punishment reserved for the worst of criminals; and
no torture was deemed so awful as that which it was
capable of inflicting.