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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
of a dozen men came darting through the yard into which the
murderer cast fearful glances from his darkened window；
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dragging a prisoner along the ground whose dress they had nearly
torn from his body in their mad eagerness to set him free； and who
was bleeding and senseless in their hands。 Now a score of
prisoners ran to and fro； who had lost themselves in the intricacies
of the prison； and were so bewildered with the noise and glare that
they knew not where to turn or what to do； and still cried out for
help； as loudly as before。 Anon some famished wretch whose theft
had been a loaf of bread； or scrap of butcher’s meat； came skulking
past； barefooted—going slowly away because that jail； his house；
was burning； not because he had any other； or had friends to meet；
or old haunts to revisit； or any liberty to gain； but liberty to starve
and die。 And then a knot of highwaymen went trooping by；
conducted by the friends they had among the crowd； who muffled
their fetters as they went along； with handkerchiefs and bands of
hay； and wrapped them in coats and cloaks； and gave them drink
from bottles； and held it to their lips； because of their handcuffs
which there was no time to remove。 All this； and Heaven knows
how much more； was done amidst a noise； a hurry； and
distraction； like nothing that we know of； even in our dreams；
which seemed for ever on the rise； and never to decrease for the
space of a single instant。
He was still looking down from his window upon these things；
when a band of men with torches； ladders； axes； and many kinds
of weapons； poured into the yard； and hammering at his door；
inquired if there were any prisoner within。 He left the window
when he saw them coming； and drew back into the remotest
corner of the cell； but although he returned them no answer； they
had a fancy that some one was inside； for they presently set
ladders against it； and began to tear away the bars at the
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casement； not only that； indeed； but with pickaxes to hew down
the very stones in the wall。
As soon as they had made a breach at the window； large enough
for the admission of a man’s head； one of them thrust in a torch
and looked all round the room。 He followed this man’s gaze until it
rested on himself； and heard him demand why he had not
answered； but made him no reply。
In the general surprise and wonder； they were used to this；
without saying anything more； they enlarged the breach until it
was large enough to admit the body of a man； and then came
dropping down upon the floor； one after another； until the cell was
full。 They caught him up among them； handed him to the window；
and those who stood upon the ladders passed him down upon the
pavement of the yard。 Then the rest came out； one after another；
and； bidding him fly； and lose no time； or the way would be choked
up； hurried away to rescue others。
It seemed not a minute’s work from first to last。 He staggered to
his feet； incredulous of what had happened； when the yard was
filled again； and a crowd