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with Gashford； and still Barnaby and his mother followed close
behind them。
They had arrived at the top of a long line of some eight hundred
men in single file； and Lord George had turned his head to look
back； when a loud cry of recognition—in that peculiar and half…
stifled tone which a voice has； when it is raised in the open air and
in the midst of a great concourse of persons—was heard； and a
man stepped with a shout of laughter from the rank； and smote
Barnaby on the shoulders with his heavy hand。
‘How now！’ he cried。 ‘Barnaby Rudge！ Why； where have you
been hiding for these hundred years？’
Barnaby had been thinking within himself that the smell of the
trodden grass brought back his old days at cricket； when he was a
young boy and played on Chigwell Green。 Confused by this
sudden and boisterous address； he stared in a bewildered manner
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at the man； and could scarcely say ‘What！ Hugh！’
‘Hugh！’ echoed the other； ‘ay； Hugh—Maypole Hugh！ You
remember my dog？ He’s alive now； and will know you； I warrant。
What； you wear the colour； do you？ Well done！ Ha ha ha！’
‘You know this young man； I see；’ said Lord George。
‘Know him； my lord！ as well as I know my own right hand。 My
captain knows him。 We all know him。’
‘Will you take him into your division？’
‘It hasn’t in it a better； nor a nimbler； nor a more active man；
than Barnaby Rudge；’ said Hugh。 ‘Show me the man who says it
has！ Fall in； Barnaby。 He shall march； my lord； between me and
Dennis； and he shall carry；’ he added； taking a flag from the hand
of a tired man who tendered it； ‘the gayest silken streamer in this
valiant army。’
‘In the name of God； no！’ shrieked the widow； darting forward。
‘Barnaby—my lord—see—he’ll come back—Barnaby—Barnaby！’
‘Women in the field！’ cried Hugh； stepping between them； and
holding her off。 ‘Holloa！ My captain there！’
‘What’s the matter here？’ cried Simon Tappertit； bustling up in
a great heat。 ‘Do you call this order？’
‘Nothing like it； captain；’ answered Hugh； still holding her back
with his outstretched hand。 ‘It’s against all orders。 Ladies are
carrying off our gallant soldiers from their duty。 The word of
command； captain！ They’re filing off the ground。 Quick！’
‘Close！’ cried Simon； with the whole power of his lungs。 ‘Form！
March！’
She was thrown to the ground； the whole field was in motion；
Barnaby was whirled away into the heart of a dense mass of men；
and she saw him no more。
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Chapter 49
he mob had been divided from its first assemblage into
four divisions； the London； the Westminster； the
T
Southwark； and the Scotch。 Each of these divisions being
subdivided into various bodies； and these bodies being drawn up
in various forms and figures； the general arrangement was； except
to the few chiefs and leaders； as unintelligible as the plan of a
great battle to the meanest soldier in the field。 It was not without
its method； however； for； in a very short space of time after being
put in motion； the crowd had resolved itself into three great
parties； and were prepared； as had been arranged； to cross the
river by different bridges； and make for the House of Commons in
separate detachments。
At the head of that division which had Westminster Bridge for
its approach to the scene of action； Lord George Gordon took his
post； with Gashford at his right hand； and sundry ruffians； of most
unpromising appearance； forming a kind of staff about him。 The
conduct of a second party； whose route lay by Blackfriars； was
entrusted to a committee of management； including perhaps a
dozen men： while the third； which was to go by London Bridge；
and through the main streets； in order that their numbers and
their serious intentions might be the better known and
appreciated by the citizens； were led by Simon Tappertit （assisted
by a few subalterns； selected from the Brotherhood of United
Bulldogs）； Dennis the hangman； Hugh； and some others。
The word of command being given； each of these great bodies
took the road assigned to it； and departed on its way； in perfect
order and profound silence。 That which went through the City
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greatly exceeded the others in number； and was of such
prodigious extent that when the rear began to move； the front was
nearly four miles in advance； notwithstanding that the men
marched three abreast and followed very close upon each other。
At the head of this party； in the place where Hugh； in the
madness of his humour； had stationed him； and walking between
that dangerous companion and the hangman； went Barnaby； as
many a man among the thousands who looked on that day
afterwards remembered well。 Forgetful of all other things in the
ecstasy of the moment； his face flushed and his eyes sparkling with
delight； heedless of the weight of the great banner he carried； and
mindful only of its flashing in the sun and rustling in the summer
breeze； on he went； proud； happy； elated past all telling：—the only
light…hearted； undesigning creature； in the whole assembly。
‘What do you think of this？’ asked Hugh； as they passed
through the crowded streets； and looked up at the windows which
were thronged with spectators。 ‘They have all turned out to see
our flags and streamers？ Eh； Barnaby？ Why； Barnaby’s the
greatest man of all the pack！ His flag’s the largest of the lot； the
brightest too。 There’s nothing in the show； like Barnaby。 All eyes
are turned on him。 Ha ha ha！�