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King and Government can’t know it’s me； I’m sure they can’t
know it’s me； or they never would bring me to this dreadful
slaughterhouse。 They know my name； but they don’t know it’s the
same man。 Stop my execution—for charity’s sake stop my
execution； gentlemen—till they can be told that I’ve been
hangman here； nigh thirty year。 Will no one go and tell them？’ he
implored； clenching his hands and glaring round； and round； and
round again—‘will no charitable person go and tell them！’
‘Mr Akerman；’ said a gentleman who stood by； after a moment’s
pause； ‘since it may possibly produce in this unhappy man a better
frame of mind； even at this last minute； let me assure him that he
was well known to have been the hangman； when his sentence
was considered。’
‘—But perhaps they think on that account that the
punishment’s not so great；’ cried the criminal； shuffling towards
this speaker on his knees； and holding up his folded hands；
‘whereas it’s worse； it’s worse a hundred times； to me than any
man。 Let them know that； sir。 Let them know that。 They’ve made
it worse to me by giving me so much to do。 Stop my execution till
they know that！’
The governor beckoned with his hand； and the two men； who
had supported him before； approached。 He uttered a piercing cry：
‘Wait！ Wait。 Only a moment—only one moment more！ Give me
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a last chance of reprieve。 One of us three is to go to Bloomsbury
Square。 Let me be the one。 It may come in that time； it’s sure to
come。 In the Lord’s name let me be sent to Bloomsbury Square。
Don’t hang me here。 It’s murder。’
They took him to the anvil： but even then he could he heard
above the clinking of the smiths’ hammers； and the hoarse raging
of the crowd； crying that he knew of Hugh’s birth—that his father
was living； and was a gentleman of influence and rank—that he
had family secrets in his possession—that he could tell nothing
unless they gave him time； but must die with them on his mind；
and he continued to rave in this sort until his voice failed him； and
he sank down a mere heap of clothes between the two attendants。
It was at this moment that the clock struck the first stroke of
twelve； and the bell began to toll。 The various officers； with the
two sheriffs at their head； moved towards the door。 All was ready
when the last chime came upon the ear。
They told Hugh this； and asked if he had anything to say。
‘To say！’ he cried。 ‘Not I。 I’m ready。—Yes；’ he added； as his eye
fell upon Barnaby； ‘I have a word to say； too。 Come hither； lad。’
There was； for the moment； something kind； and even tender；
struggling in his fierce aspect； as he wrung his poor companion by
the hand。
‘I’ll say this；’ he cried； looking firmly round； ‘that if I had ten
lives to lose； and the loss of each would give me ten times the
agony of the hardest death； I’d lay them all down—ay； I would；
though you gentlemen may not believe it—to save this one。 This
one；’ he added； wringing his hand again； ‘that will be lost through
me。’
‘Not through you；’ said the idiot； mildly。 ‘Don’t say that。 You
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were not to blame。 You have always been very good to me。—Hugh；
we shall know what makes the stars shine； now！’
‘I took him from her in a reckless mood； and didn’t think what
harm would come of it；’ said Hugh； laying his hand upon his head；
and speaking in a lower voice。 ‘I ask her pardon； and his。—Look
here；’ he added roughly； in his former tone。 ‘You see this lad？’
They murmured ‘Yes；’ and seemed to wonder why he asked。
‘That gentleman yonder’—pointing to the clergyman—‘has
often in the last few days spoken to me of faith； and strong belief。
You see what I am—more brute than man； as I have been often
told—but I had faith enough to believe； and did believe as strongly
as any of you gentlemen can believe anything； that this one life
would be spared。 See what he is！—Look at him！’
Barnaby had moved towards the door； and stood beckoning
him to follow。
‘If this was not faith； and strong belief！’ cried Hugh； raising his
right arm aloft； and looking upward like a savage prophet whom
the near approach of Death had filled with inspiration； ‘where are
they！ What else should teach me—me； born as I was born； and
reared as I have been reared—to hope for any mercy in this
hardened； cruel； unrelenting place！ Upon these human shambles；
I； who never raised this hand in prayer till now； call down the
wrath of God！ On that black tree； of which I am the ripened fruit； I
do invoke the curse of all its victims； past； and present； and to
come。 On the head of that man； who； in his conscience； owns me
for his son； I leave the wish that he may never sicken on his bed of
down； but die a violent death as I do now； and have the night…wind
for his only mourner。 To this I say； Amen； amen！’
His arm fell downward by his side； he turned； and moved
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towards them with a steady step； the man he had been before。
‘There is nothing more？’ said the governor。
Hugh motioned Barnaby not to come near him （though without
looking in the direction where he stood） and answered； ‘There is
nothing more。’
‘Move forward！’
‘—Unless；’ said Hugh； glancing hurriedly back；—‘unless any
person here has a fancy for a dog； and not then； unless he means
to use him well。 There’s one； belongs to me； at the house I came
from； and it wouldn’t be easy to find a better。 He’ll whine at first；
but he’ll soon get over that。—You wonder that I think about a dog
just now； he added； with a kind of laugh。 ‘If any man deserved it of
me half as well； I’d think of him。’
He spoke no more； but moved onward in his place； with a
careless air； though listening at the same time to the Service for
the Dead； with something between sullen attention； and
quickened curiosity。 As soon as he had passed the door； his
miserable associate was carried out； and the crowd beheld the
rest。
Barnaby would have mounted the steps at the same time—
indeed he would have gone before them； but in both attempts he
was restrained； as he was to undergo the sentence elsewhere。 In a
few minutes the sheriffs reappeared； the same procession was
again formed； and they passed through various rooms and
passages to another door—that at which the cart was waiting。 He
held down his head to avoid seeing what he knew his eyes must
otherwise encounter； and took his seat sorrowfully；—and yet with
something of a childish pride and pleasure；—in the vehicle。 The
officers fell into their places at the sides； in front and in the rear；
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the sheriffs’ carriages rolled on； a guard of soldiers surrounded the
whole； and they moved slowly forward through the throng and
pressure toward Lord Mansfield’s ruined house。
It was a sad sight—all the show； and strength； and glitter；
assembled round one helpless creature—and sadder yet to note； as
he rode along； how his wandering thoughts found strange
encouragement in the crowded windows and the