vain. They offered him arms, a sword and pistols, but he refused them, and
said that he had no fear, and, in case of danger, arms would do him no
service; and alone, with only a little rattan, which was his usual walking
stick, he advanced into the hall to hold parley with the selected,
congregated, and enraged villains of the whole commonwealth.

9. He demanded their purpose in thus coming together with arms, in
violation of the prison laws. They replied that they were determined to
obtain the remission of the punishment of their three comrades. He said it
was impossible; the rules of the prison must be obeyed, and they must
submit.

10. At the hint of submission they drew a little nearer together, prepared
their weapons for service, and, as they were dimly seen in the further end
of the hall by those who observed from the gratings that opened up to the
day, a more appalling sight can not be conceived, nor one of more moral
grandeur, than that of the single man standing within their grasp, and
exposed to be torn limb from limb instantly if a word or look should add
to the already intense excitement.

11. That excitement, too, was of a most dangerous kind. It broke not forth
in noise and imprecations, but was seen only in the dark looks and the
strained nerves that showed a deep determination. The officer
expostulated. He reminded them of the hopelessness of escape; that the
town was alarmed, and that the government of the prison would submit to
nothing but unconditional surrender. He said that all those who would go
quietly away should be forgiven for this offense; but that if every
prisoner were killed in the contest, power enough would be obtained to
enforce the regulations of the prison.