barnaby rudge(巴纳比·卢杰)-第138章
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eloquence on them boards—you know what boards I mean—and
have heerd a degree of mouth given to them speeches； that they
was as clear as a bell； and as good as a play。 There’s a pattern！ And
always； when a thing of this natur’s to come off； what I stand up
for； is； a proper frame of mind。 Let’s have a proper frame of mind；
and we can go through with it； creditable—pleasant—sociable。
Whatever you do （and I address myself in particular； to you in the
furthest）； never snivel。 I’d sooner by half； though I lose by it； see a
man tear his clothes a’ purpose to spile ’em before they come to
me； than find him snivelling。 It’s ten to one a better frame of mind；
every way！’
While the hangman addressed them to this effect； in the tone
and with the air of a pastor in familiar conversation with his flock；
the noise had been in some degree subdued； for the rioters were
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busy in conveying the prisoners to the Sessions House； which was
beyond the main walls of the prison； though connected with it； and
the crowd were busy too； in passing them from thence along the
street。 But when he had got thus far in his discourse； the sound of
voices in the yard showed plainly that the mob had returned and
were coming that way； and directly afterwards a violent crashing
at the grate below； gave note of their attack upon the cells （as they
were called） at last。
It was in vain the hangman ran from door to door； and covered
the grates； one after another； with his hat； in futile efforts to stifle
the cries of the four men within； it was in vain he dogged their
outstretched hands； and beat them with his stick； or menaced
them with new and lingering pains in the execution of his office；
the place resounded with their cries。 These； together with the
feeling that they were now the last men in the jail； so worked upon
and stimulated the besiegers； that in an incredibly short space of
time they forced the strong grate down below； which was formed
of iron rods two inches square； drove in the two other doors； as if
they had been but deal partitions； and stood at the end of the
gallery with only a bar or two between them and the cells。
‘Halloa！’ cried Hugh； who was the first to look into the dusky
passage： ‘Dennis before us！ Well done； old boy。 Be quick； and open
here； for we shall be suffocated in the smoke； going out。’
‘Go out at once； then；’ said Dennis。 ‘What do you want here？’
‘Want！’ echoed Hugh。 ‘The four men。’
‘Four devils！’ cried the hangman。 ‘Don’t you know they’re left
for death on Thursday？ Don’t you respect the law—the
constitootion—nothing？ Let the four men be。’
‘Is this a time for joking？’ cried Hugh。 ‘Do you hear ’em？ Pull
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away these bars that have got fixed between the door and the
ground； and let us in。’
‘Brother；’ said the hangman； in a low voice； as he stooped under
pretence of doing what Hugh desired； but only looked up in his
face； ‘can’t you leave these here four men to me； if I’ve the whim！
You do what you like； and have what you like of everything for
your share；—give me my share。 I want these four men left alone； I
tell you！’
‘Pull the bars down； or stand out of the way；’ was Hugh’s reply。
‘You can turn the crowd if you like； you know that well enough；
brother；’ said the hangman； slowly。 ‘What！ You will come in； will
you？’
‘Yes。’
‘You won’t let these men alone； and leave ’em to me？ You’ve no
respect for nothing—haven’t you？’ said the hangman； retreating to
the door by which he had entered； and regarding his companion
with a scowl。 ‘You will come in； will you； brother！’
‘I tell you； yes。 What the devil ails you？ Where are you going？’
‘No matter where I’m going；’ rejoined the hangman； looking in
again at the iron wicket； which he had nearly shut upon himself；
and held ajar。 ‘Remember where you’re coming。 That’s all！’
With that； he shook his likeness at Hugh； and giving him a grin；
compared with which his usual smile was amiable； disappeared；
and shut the door。
Hugh paused no longer； but goaded alike by the cries of the
convicts； and by the impatience of the crowd； warned the man
immediately behind him—the way was only wide enough for one
abreast—to stand back； and wielded a sledge…hammer with such
strength； that after a few blows the iron bent and broke； and gave
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them free admittance。
It the two sons of one of these men； of whom mention has been
made； were furious in their zeal before； they had now the wrath
and vigour of lions。 Calling to the man within each cell； to keep as
far back as he could； lest the axes crashing through the door
should wound him； a party went to work upon each one； to beat it
in by sheer strength； and force the bolts and staples from their
hold。 But although these two lads had the weakest party； and the
worst armed； and did not begin until after the others； having
stopped to whisper to him through the grate； that door was the
first open； and that man was the first out。 As they dragged him
into the gallery to knock off his irons； he fell down among them； a
mere heap of chains； and was carried out in that state on men’s
shoulders； with no sign of life。
The release of these four wretched creatures； and conveying
them； astounded and bewildered； into the streets so full of life—a
spectacle they had never thought to see again； until they emerged
from solitude and silence upon that last journey； when the air
should be heavy with the pent…up breath of thousands； and the
streets and houses should be built and roofed with human faces；
not with bricks and tiles and stones—was the crowning horror of
the scene。 Their pale and haggard looks and hollow eyes； their
staggering feet； and hands stretched out as if to save themselves
from falling； their wandering and uncertain air； the way they
heaved and gasped for breath； as though in water； when they were
first plunged into the crowd； all marked them for the men。 No
need to say ‘this one was doomed to die；’ for there were the words
broadly stamped and branded on his face。 The crowd fell off； as if
they had been laid out for burial； and had risen in their shrouds；
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and many were seen to shudder； as though they had been actually
dead men； when they chanced to touch or brush against their
garments。
At the bidding of the mob； the houses were all illuminated that
night—lighted up from top to bottom as at a time of public gaiety
and joy。 Many years afterwards； old people who lived in their
youth near this part of the city； remembered being in a great glare
of light； within doors and without； and as they looked； timid and
frightened children； from the windows； seeing a face go by。
Though the whole great crowd and all its other terrors had faded
from their recollection； this one object remained； alone； distinct；
and well remembered。 Even in the unpractised minds of infants；
one of these doomed men darting past； and but an instant seen；
was an image of force enough to dim the whole concourse； to find
itself an all…absorbing place； and hold it ever after。
When this last task had been achieved； the shouts and cries
grew fainter； the clank of fetters； which had resounded on all sides
as the prisoners escaped； was heard no more； all the noises of the
crowd subsided into a hoarse and sullen murmur as it passed into
the distance； and when the human tide had rolled away； a
melancholy heap of smoking ruins marked the spot where it had
lately chafed and roared。
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Chapter 66
lthough he had had no rest upon the previous night； and
Ahad watched with little intermission for some weeks past；
sleeping only in the day by starts and snatches； Mr
Haredale； from the dawn of morning until sunset； sought his niece
in every place where he deemed it possible she could have taken
refuge。 All day long； nothing； save a draught of water； passed his
lips； though he prosecuted his inquiries far and wide； and never so
much as sat down； once。
In every quarter he could think of； at Chigwell and in London；
at the houses of the tradespeople with whom he dealt； and of the
friends he knew； he pursued his search。 A prey to the most
harrowing anxieties and apprehensions； he went from magistrate
to magistrate； and finally to the Secretary of State。 The only
comfort he received was from this minister； who assured him that
the Government； being now driven to the exercise of the extreme
prerogatives of the Crown； were determined to exert them； that a
proclamation would probably be out upon the morrow； giving to
the military； discretionary and unlimited power in the suppression
of the riots； that the sympathies of the King； the Administration；
and both Houses of Parliament； and indeed o
