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and loss of life； and that if the civil authorities by whom he was
accompanied； empowered him to order his men to fire； many
innocent persons would probably fall； whom curiosity or idleness
had attracted to the spot。 He therefore led the party briskly on；
avoiding with a merciful prudence the more public and crowded
thoroughfares； and pursuing those which he deemed least likely to
be infested by disorderly persons。 This wise proceeding not only
enabled them to gain their quarters without any interruption； but
completely baffled a body of rioters who had assembled in one of
the main streets； through which it was considered certain they
would pass； and who remained gathered together for the purpose
of releasing the prisoner from their hands； long after they had
deposited him in a place of security； closed the barrack…gates； and
set a double guard at every entrance for its better protection。
Arrived at this place； poor Barnaby was marched into a stone…
floored room； where there was a very powerful smell of tobacco； a
strong thorough draught of air； and a great wooden bedstead；
large enough for a score of men。 Several soldiers in undress were
lounging about； or eating from tin cans； military accoutrements
dangled on rows of pegs along the whitewashed wall； and some
half…dozen men lay fast asleep upon their backs； snoring in
concert。 After remaining here just long enough to note these
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things； he was marched out again； and conveyed across the
parade…ground to another portion of the building。
Perhaps a man never sees so much at a glance as when he is in
a situation of extremity。 The chances are a hundred to one； that if
Barnaby had lounged in at the gate to look about him； he would
have lounged out again with a very imperfect idea of the place；
and would have remembered very little about it。 But as he was
taken handcuffed across the gravelled area； nothing escaped his
notice。 The dry； arid look of the dusty square； and of the bare brick
building； the clothes hanging at some of the windows； and the men
in their shirt…sleeves and braces； lolling with half their bodies out
of the others； the green sun…blinds at the officers’ quarters； and
the little scanty trees in front； the drummer…boys practising in a
distant courtyard； the men at drill on the parade； the two soldiers
carrying a basket between them； who winked to each other as he
went by； and slily pointed to their throats； the spruce serjeant who
hurried past with a cane in his hand； and under his arm a clasped
book with a vellum cover； the fellows in the ground…floor rooms；
furbishing and brushing up their different articles of dress； who
stopped to look at him； and whose voices as they spoke together
echoed loudly through the empty galleries and passages；—
everything； down to the stand of muskets before the guard…house；
and the drum with a pipe…clayed belt attached； in one corner；
impressed itself upon his observation； as though he had noticed
them in the same place a hundred times； or had been a whole day
among them； in place of one brief hurried minute。
He was taken into a small paved back yard； and there they
opened a great door； plated with iron； and pierced some five feet
above the ground with a few holes to let in air and light。 Into this
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Barnaby Rudge 622
dungeon he was walked straightway； and having locked him up
there； and placed a sentry over him； they left him to his
meditations。
The cell； or black hole； for it had those words painted on the
door； was very dark； and having recently accommodated a
drunken deserter； by no means clean。 Barnaby felt his way to
some straw at the farther end； and looking towards the door； tried
to accustom himself to the gloom； which； coming from the bright
sunshine out of doors； was not an easy task。
There was a kind of portico or colonnade outside； and this
obstructed even the little light that at the best could have found its
way through the small apertures in the door。 The footsteps of the
sentinel echoed monotonously as he paced its stone pavement to
and fro （reminding Barnaby of the watch he had so lately kept
himself）； and as he passed and repassed the door； he made the cell
for an instant so black by the interposition of his body； that his
going away again seemed like the appearance of a new ray of light；
and was quite a circumstance to look for。
When the prisoner had sat sometime upon the ground； gazing
at the chinks； and listening to the advancing and receding
footsteps of his guard； the man stood still upon his post。 Barnaby；
quite unable to think； or to speculate on what would be done with
him； had been lulled into a kind of doze by his regular pace； but
his stopping roused him； and then he became aware that two men
were in conversation under the colonnade； and very near the door
of his cell。
How long they had been talking there； he could not tell； for he
had fallen into an unconsciousness of his real position； and when
the footsteps ceased； was answering aloud some question which
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Barnaby Rudge 623
seemed to have been put to him by Hugh in the stable； though of
the fancied purport； either of question or reply； notwithstanding
that he awoke with the latter on his lips； he had no recollection
whatever。 The first words that reached his ears； were these：
‘Why is he brought here then； if he has to be taken away again
so soon？’
‘Why where would you have him go！ Damme； he’s not as safe
anywhere as among the king’s troops； is he？ What would you do
with him？