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masses was received with shouts； and howls； and yells； which
added new and dismal terrors to the conflagration。 Those who had
axes and had spent their fury on the movables； chopped and tore
down the doors and window frames； broke up the flooring； hewed
away the rafters； and buried men who lingered in the upper
rooms； in heaps of ruins。 Some searched the drawers； the chests；
the boxes； writing…desks； and closets； for jewels； plate； and money；
while others； less mindful of gain and more mad for destruction；
cast their whole contents into the courtyard without examination；
and called to those below； to heap them on the blaze。 Men who
had been into the cellars； and had staved the casks； rushed to and
fro stark mad； setting fire to all they saw—often to the dresses of
their own friends—and kindling the building in so many parts that
some had no time for escape； and were seen； with drooping hands
and blackened faces； hanging senseless on the window…sills to
which they had crawled； until they were sucked and drawn into
the burning gulf。 The more the fire crackled and raged； the wilder
and more cruel the men grew； as though moving in that element
they became fiends； and changed their earthly nature for the
qualities that give delight in hell。
The burning pile； revealing rooms and passages red hot；
through gaps made in the crumbling walls； the tributary fires that
licked the outer bricks and stones； with their long forked tongues；
and ran up to meet the glowing mass within； the shining of the
flames upon the villains who looked on and fed them； the roaring
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of the angry blaze； so bright and high that it seemed in its rapacity
to have swallowed up the very smoke； the living flakes the wind
bore rapidly away and hurried on with； like a storm of fiery snow；
the noiseless breaking of great beams of wood； which fell like
feathers on the heap of ashes； and crumbled in the very act to
sparks and powder； the lurid tinge that overspread the sky； and
the darkness； very deep by contrast； which prevailed around； the
exposure to the coarse； common gaze； of every little nook which
usages of home had made a sacred place； and the destruction by
rude hands of every little household favourite which old
associations made a dear and precious thing： all this taking
place—not among pitying looks and friendly murmurs of
compassion； but brutal shouts and exultations； which seemed to
make the very rats who stood by the old house too long； creatures
with some claim upon the pity and regard of those its roof had
sheltered：—combined to form a scene never to be forgotten by
those who saw it and were not actors in the work； so long as life
endured。
And who were they？ The alarm…bell rang—and it was pulled by
no faint or hesitating hands—for a long time； but not a soul was
seen。 Some of the insurgents said that when it ceased； they heard
the shrieks of women； and saw some garments fluttering in the air；
as a party of men bore away no unresisting burdens。 No one could
say that this was true or false； in such an uproar； but where was
Hugh？ Who among them had seen him； since the forcing of the
doors？ The cry spread through the body。 Where was Hugh！
‘Here！’ he hoarsely cried； appearing from the darkness； out of
breath； and blackened with the smoke。 ‘We have done all we can；
the fire is burning itself out； and even the corners where it hasn’t
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Barnaby Rudge 596
spread； are nothing but heaps of ruins。 Disperse； my lads； while
the coast’s clear； get back by different ways； and meet as usual！’
With that； he disappeared again；—contrary to his wont； for he was
always first to advance； and last to go away；—leaving them to
follow homewards as they would。
It was not an easy task to draw off such a throng。 If Bedlam
gates had been flung wide open； there would not have issued forth
such maniacs as the frenzy of that night had made。 There were
men there； who danced and trampled on the beds of flowers as
though they trod down human enemies； and wrenched them from
the stalks； like savages who twisted human necks。 There were men
who cast their lighted torches in the air； and suffered them to fall
upon their heads and faces； blistering the skin with deep unseemly
burns。 There were men who rushed up to the fire； and paddled in
it with their hands as if in water； and others who were restrained
by force from plunging in； to gratify their deadly longing。 On the
skull of one drunken lad—not twenty； by his looks—who lay upon
the ground with a bottle to his mouth； the lead from the roof came
streaming down in a shower of liquid fire； white hot； melting his
head like wax。 When the scattered parties were collected； men—
living yet； but singed as with hot irons—were plucked out of the
cellars； and carried off upon the shoulders of others； who strove to
wake them as they went along； with ribald jokes； and left them；
dead； in the passages of hospitals。 But of all the howling throng
not one learnt mercy from； or sickened at； these sights； nor was
the fierce； besotted； senseless rage of one man glutted。
Slowly； and in small clusters； with hoarse hurrahs and
repetitions of their usual cry； the assembly dropped away。 The last
few red…eyed stragglers reeled after those who had gone before；
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the distant noise of men calling to each other； and whistling for
others whom they missed； grew fainter and fainter； at length even
these sounds died away； and silence reigned alone。
Silence indeed！ The glare of the flames had sunk into a fitful；