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with a haste and fury they could not have surpassed if that had
been the jail； and they were near their object。 Not one living
creature in the throng was for an instant still。 The whole great
mass were mad。
A shout！ Another！ Another yet； though few knew why； or what
it meant。 But those around the gate had seen it slowly yield； and
drop from its topmost hinge。 It hung on that side by but one； but it
was upright still； because of the bar； and its having sunk； of its
own weight； into the heap of ashes at its foot。 There was now a gap
at the top of the doorway； through which could be descried a
gloomy passage； cavernous and dark。 Pile up the fire！
It burnt fiercely。 The door was red…hot； and the gap wider。 They
vainly tried to shield their faces with their hands； and standing as
if in readiness for a spring； watched the place。 Dark figures； some
crawling on their hands and knees； some carried in the arms of
others； were seen to pass along the roof。 It was plain the jail could
hold out no longer。 The keeper； and his officers； and their wives
and children； were escaping。 Pile up the fire！
The door sank down again： it settled deeper in the cinders—
tottered—yielded—was down！
As they shouted again； they fell back； for a moment； and left a
clear space about the fire that lay between them and the jail entry。
Hugh leapt upon the blazing heap； and scattering a train of sparks
into the air； and making the dark lobby glitter with those that
hung upon his dress； dashed into the jail。
The hangman followed。 And then so many rushed upon their
track； that the fire got trodden down and thinly strewn about the
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street； but there was no need of it now； for； inside and out； the
prison was in flames。
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Chapter 65
uring the whole course of the terrible scene which was
now at its height； one man in the jail suffered a degree of
D
fear and mental torment which had no parallel in the
endurance； even of those who lay under sentence of death。
When the rioters first assembled before the building； the
murderer was roused from sleep—if such slumbers as his may
have that blessed name—by the roar of voices； and the struggling
of a great crowd。 He started up as these sounds met his ear； and；
sitting on his bedstead； listened。
After a short interval of silence the noise burst out again。 Still
listening attentively； he made out； in course of time； that the jail
was besieged by a furious multitude。 His guilty conscience
instantly arrayed these men against himself； and brought the fear
upon him that he would be singled out； and torn to pieces。
Once impressed with the terror of this conceit； everything
tended to confirm and strengthen it。 His double crime； the
circumstances under which it had been committed； the length of
time that had elapsed； and its discovery in spite of all； made him；
as it were； the visible object of the Almighty’s wrath。 In all the
crime and vice and moral gloom of the great pest…house of the
capital； he stood alone； marked and singled out by his great guilt； a
Lucifer among the devils。 The other prisoners were a host； hiding
and sheltering each other—a crowd like that without the walls。 He
was one man against the whole united concourse； a single；
solitary； lonely man； from whom the very captives in the jail fell off
and shrunk appalled。
It might be that the intelligence of his capture having been
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bruited abroad； they had come there purposely to drag him out
and kill him in the street； or it might be that they were the rioters；
and； in pursuance of an old design； had come to sack the prison。
But in either case he had no belief or hope that they would spare
him。 Every shout they raised； and every sound they made； was a
blow upon his heart。 As the attack went on； he grew more wild and
frantic in his terror： tried to pull away the bars that guarded the
chimney and prevented him from climbing up： called loudly on the
turnkeys to cluster round the cell and save him from the fury of
the rabble； or put him in some dungeon underground； no matter
of what depth； how dark it was； or loathsome； or beset with rats
and creeping things； so that it hid him and was hard to find。
But no one came； or answered him。 Fearful； even while he cried
to them； of attracting attention； he was silent。 By and bye； he saw；
as he looked from his grated window； a strange glimmering on the
stone walls and pavement of the yard。 It was feeble at first； and
came and went； as though some officers with torches were passing
to and fro upon the roof of the prison。 Soon it reddened； and
lighted brands came whirling down； spattering the ground with
fire； and burning sullenly in corners。 One rolled beneath a wooden
bench； and set it in a blaze； another caught a water…spout； and so
went climbing up the wall； leaving a long straight track of fire
behind it。 After a time； a slow thick shower of burning fragments；
from some upper portion of the prison which was blazing nigh；
began to fall before his door。 Remembering that it opened
outwards； he knew that every spark which fell upon the heap； and
in the act lost its bright life； and died an ugly speck of dust and
rubbish； helped to entomb him in a living grave。 Still； though the
jail resounded with shrieks and cries for help；—though the fire
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bounded up as if each separate flame had had a tiger’s life； and
roared as though； in every one； there were a hungry voice—
though the heat began to grow intense； and the air suffocating；
and the clamour without increased； and the danger of his situation
even from one merciless element was every moment more
extreme；—still he was afraid to raise his voice again； lest the
crowd should break in； and should； of their own ears or from the
information given them by the other prisoners； get the clue to his
place of confinement。 Thus fearful alike； of those within the prison
and of those without； of noise and silence； light and darkness； of
being released； and being left there to die； he was so tortured and
tormented； that nothing man has ever done to man in the horrible
caprice of power and cruelty； exceeds his self…inflicted
punishment。
Now； now； the door was down。 Now they came rushing through
the jail； calling to each other in the vaulted passages； clashing the
iron gates dividing yard from yard； beating at the doors of cells
and wards； wrenching off bolts and locks and bars； tearing down
the door…posts to get men out； endeavouring to drag them by main
force through gaps and windows where a child could scarcely
pass； whooping and yelling without a moment’s rest； and running
through the heat and flames as if they were cased in metal。 By
their legs； their arms； the hair upon their heads； they dragged the
prisoners out。 Some threw themselves upon the captives as they
got towards the door； and tried to file away their irons； some
danced about them with a frenzied joy； and rent their clothes； and
were ready； as it seemed； to tear them limb from limb。 Now a party