three
o'clock
A little bread and water was served out to him in the yard , and he was set on the crank again with fearful menaces . In particular Mr. Hawes repeated his favorite threat -- `` I 'll make your life hell to you . '' Josephs groaned ; but what could a boy of fifteen do , overtasked and famished for a month past and fitter now for a hospital than for hard labor of any sort ? At three o'clock his progress on the crank was so slow that Mr. Hawes ordered him to be crucified on the spot . His obedient myrmidons for the fiftieth time seized the lad and crushed him in the jacket , throttled him in the collar , and pinned him to the wall , and this time , the first time for a long while , the prisoner remonstrated loudly . `` Why not kill me at once and put me out of my misery ! '' `` Hold your tongue . ''