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now set in； rolling towards the marts of gain and business。 Carts；
coaches； waggons； trucks； and barrows； forced a passage through
the outskirts of the throng； and clattered onward in the same
direction。 Some of these which were public conveyances and had
come from a short distance in the country； stopped； and the driver
pointed to the gibbet with his whip； though he might have spared
himself the pains； for the heads of all the passengers were turned
that way without his help； and the coach…windows were stuck full
of staring eyes。 In some of the carts and waggons； women might be
seen； glancing fearfully at the same unsightly thing； and even little
children were held up above the people’s heads to see what kind of
a toy a gallows was； and learn how men were hanged。
Two rioters were to die before the prison； who had been
concerned in the attack upon it； and one directly afterwards in
Bloomsbury Square。 At nine o’clock； a strong body of military
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marched into the street； and formed and lined a narrow passage
into Holborn； which had been indifferently kept all night by
constables。 Through this； another cart was brought （the one
already mentioned had been employed in the construction of the
scaffold）； and wheeled up to the prison…gate。 These preparations
made； the soldiers stood at ease； the officers lounged to and fro； in
the alley they had made； or talked together at the scaffold’s foot；
and the concourse； which had been rapidly augmenting for some
hours； and still received additions every minute； waited with an
impatience which increased with every chime of St Sepulchre’s
clock； for twelve at noon。
Up to this time they had been very quiet； comparatively silent；
save when the arrival of some new party at a window； hitherto
unoccupied； gave them something new to look at or to talk of。 But；
as the hour approached； a buzz and hum arose； which； deepening
every moment； soon swelled into a roar； and seemed to fill the air。
No words or even voices could be distinguished in this clamour；
nor did they speak much to each other； though such as were better
informed upon the topic than the rest； would tell their neighbours；
perhaps； that they might know the hangman when he came out； by
his being the shorter one： and that the man who was to suffer with
him was named Hugh： and that it was Barnaby Rudge who would
be hanged in Bloomsbury Square。
The hum grew； as the time drew near； so loud； that those who
were at the windows could not hear the church…clock strike；
though it was close at hand。 Nor had they any need to hear it；
either； for they could see it in the people’s faces。 So surely as
another quarter chimed； there was a movement in the crowd—as
if something had passed over it—as if the light upon them had
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been changed—in which the fact was readable as on a brazen dial；
figured by a giant’s hand。
Three quarters past eleven！ The murmur now was deafening；
yet every man seemed mute。 Look where you would among the
crowd； you saw strained eyes and lips compressed； it would have
been difficult for the most vigilant observer to point this way or
that； and say that yonder man had cried out。 It were as easy to
detect the motion of lips in a sea…shell。
Three quarters past eleven！ Many spectators who had retired
from the windows； came back refreshed； as though their watch
had just begun。 Those who had fallen asleep； roused themselves；
and every person in the crowd made one last effort to better his
position—which caused a press against the sturdy barriers that
made them bend and yield like twigs。 The officers； who until now
had kept together； fell into their several positions； and gave the
words of command。 Swords were drawn； muskets shouldered； and
the bright steel winding its way among the crowd； gleamed and
glittered in the sun like a river。 Along this shining path； two men
came hurrying on； leading a horse； which was speedily harnessed
to the cart at the prison…door。 Then； a profound silence replaced
the tumult that had so long been gathering； and a breathless pause
ensued。 Every window was now choked up with heads； the house…
tops teemed with people—clinging to chimneys； peering over
gable…ends； and holding on where the sudden loosening of any
brick or stone would dash them down into the street。 The church
tower； the church roof； the church yard； the prison leads； the very
water…spouts and lampposts—every inch of room—swarmed with
human life。
At the first stroke of twelve the prison…bell began to toll。 Then
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the roar—mingled now with cries of ‘Hats off！’ and ‘Poor fellows！’
and； from some specks in the great concourse； with a shriek or
groan—burst forth again。 It was terrible to see—if any one in that
distraction of excitement could have seen—the world of eager
eyes； all strained upon the scaffold and the beam。
The hollow murmuring was heard within the jail as plainly as
without。 The three were brought forth into the yard； together； as it
resounded through the air。 They knew its import well。
‘D’ye hear？’ cried Hugh； undaunted by the sound。 ‘They expect
us！ I heard them gathering when I woke in the night； and turned
over on t’other side and fell asleep again。 We shall see how they
welcome the hangman； now that it comes home to him。 Ha； ha；
ha！’
The Ordinary coming up at this moment； reproved him for his
indecent mirth； and advised him to alter his demeanour。
‘And why； master？’ said Hugh。 ‘Can I do better than bear it
easily？ You bear it easily enough。 Oh！ never tell me；’ he cried； as
the other would have