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pressing on； and swarming round the walls； forced Gabriel Varden
close up to the door。
In vain the basket of tools was laid upon the ground before him；
and he was urged in turn by promises； by blows； by offers of
reward； and threats of instant death； to do the office for which they
had brought him there。 ‘No；’ cried the sturdy locksmith； ‘I will
not！’
He had never loved his life so well as then； but nothing could
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move him。 The savage faces that glared upon him； look where he
would； the cries of those who thirsted； like wild animals； for his
blood； the sight of men pressing forward； and trampling down
their fellows； as they strove to reach him； and struck at him above
the heads of other men； with axes and with iron bars； all failed to
daunt him。 He looked from man to man； and face to face； and still；
with quickened breath and lessening colour； cried firmly； ‘I will
not！’
Dennis dealt him a blow upon the face which felled him to the
ground。 He sprung up again like a man in the prime of life； and
with blood upon his forehead； caught him by the throat。
‘You cowardly dog！’ he said： ‘Give me my daughter。 Give me my
daughter。’
They struggled together。 Some cried ‘Kill him；’ and some （but
they were not near enough） strove to trample him to death。 Tug as
he would at the old man’s wrists； the hangman could not force him
to unclench his hands。
‘Is this all the return you make me； you ungrateful monster？’ he
articulated with great difficulty； and with many oaths。
‘Give me my daughter！’ cried the locksmith； who was now as
fierce as those who gathered round him： ‘Give me my daughter！’
He was down again； and up； and down once more； and
buffeting with a score of them； who bandied him from hand to
hand； when one tall fellow； fresh from a slaughter…house； whose
dress and great thigh…boots smoked hot with grease and blood；
raised a pole…axe； and swearing a horrible oath； aimed it at the old
man’s uncovered head。 At that instant； and in the very act； he fell
himself； as if struck by lightning； and over his body a one…armed
man came darting to the locksmith’s side。 Another man was with
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him； and both caught the locksmith roughly in their grasp。
‘Leave him to us！’ they cried to Hugh—struggling； as they
spoke； to force a passage backward through the crowd。 ‘Leave him
to us。 Why do you waste your whole strength on such as he； when
a couple of men can finish him in as many minutes！ You lose time。
Remember the prisoners！ remember Barnaby！’
The cry ran through the mob。 Hammers began to rattle on the
walls； and every man strove to reach the prison； and be among the
foremost rank。 Fighting their way through the press and struggle；
as desperately as if they were in the midst of enemies rather than
their own friends； the two men retreated with the locksmith
between them； and dragged him through the very heart of the
concourse。
And now the strokes began to fall like hail upon the gate； and
on the strong building； for those who could not reach the door；
spent their fierce rage on anything—even on the great blocks of
stone； which shivered their weapons into fragments； and made
their hands and arms to tingle as if the walls were active in their
stout resistance； and dealt them back their blows。 The clash of
iron ringing upon iron； mingled with the deafening tumult and
sounded high above it； as the great sledge…hammers rattled on the
nailed and plated door： the sparks flew off in showers； men
worked in gangs； and at short intervals relieved each other； that all
their strength might be devoted to the work； but there stood the
portal still； as grim and dark and strong as ever； and； saving for
the dints upon its battered surface； quite unchanged。
While some brought all their energies to bear upon this
toilsome task； and some； rearing ladders against the prison； tried
to clamber to the summit of the walls they were too short to scale；
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and some again engaged a body of police a hundred strong； and
beat them back and trod them under foot by force of numbers；
others besieged the house on which the jailer had appeared； and
driving in the door； brought out his furniture； and piled it up
against the prison…gate； to make a bonfire which should burn it
down。 As soon as this device was understood； all those who had
laboured hitherto； cast down their tools and helped to swell the
heap； which reached half…way across the street； and was so high；
that those who threw more fuel on the top； got up by ladders。
When all the keeper’s goods were flung upon this costly pile； to the
last fragment； they smeared it with the pitch； and tar； and rosin
they had brought； and sprinkled it with turpentine。 To all the
woodwork round the prison…doors they did the like； leaving not a
joist or beam untouched。 This infernal christening performed；
they fired the pile with lighted matches and with blazing tow； and
then stood by； awaiting the result。
The furniture being very dry； and rendered more combustible
by wax and oil； besides the arts they had used； took fire at once。
The flames roared high and fiercely； blackening the prison…wall；
and twining up its lofty front like burning serpents。 At first they
crowded round the blaze； and vented their exultation only in their
looks： but when it grew hotter and fiercer—when it crackled；
leaped； and roared； like a great furnace—when it shone upon the
opposite houses； and lighted up not only the pale and wondering
faces at the windows； but the inmost corners o