I suppose you've heard of the cat-o'-nine-tails ?" "My reading up to the age of fifteen was confined almost exclusively to the genteel histories of pirates, buccaneers and privateersmen, Captain Trigger," announced A.A.Percival, taking the master's hand in a firm grip.

"I wonder if you know what a black-snake whip is, or a cattle-adder?
Well, they're both painful and convincing.

As director of morals in the camp I have just left behind me, it was my official duty on frequent occasions to see to it that current offenders had from fifteen to fifty applications of the black-snake in a public sort of way.

The black-snake, I may explain, could be wielded by a strong but unskilled arm.

It was different, however, with the cattle-adder.