others trying to give an explanation. Hughson had threatened to take
poison, and it was thought by many that he had, and it was the effect of
this that had wrought the change in his appearance. For ten days the
Battery was thronged with spectators, gazing on these bloated, decomposing
bodies, many in their superstitious fears expecting some new
transformation. Under the increasing heat of the sun, they soon began to
drip, till at last the body of Hughson burst asunder, filling the air with
such an intolerable stench that the fishermen shunned the locality.

As simple hanging was soon thought not sufficient punishment, and they
were left to swing, and slowly rot in chains, so this last was at length
thought to be too lenient, and the convicts were condemned to be burned at
the stake. Two negroes, named Quack and Cuffee, were the first doomed to
this horrible death. The announcement of this sentence created the
greatest excitement. It was a new thing to the colonists, this mode of
torture being appropriated by the savages for prisoners taken in war.
Curious crowds gathered to see the stake erected, or stare at the loads of
wood as they passed along the street, and were unloaded at its base. It
was a strange spectacle to behold--the workmen carefully piling up the
fagots under the spring sun; the spectators looking on, some horrified,
and others fierce as savages; and over all the blue sky bending, while the
gentle wind stole up from the bay and whispered in the tree-tops overhead.
On the day of execution an immense crowd assembled. The two negroes were
brought forward, pale and terrified, and bound to the stake. As the men
approached with the fire to kindle the pile, they shrieked out in terror,
confessed the conspiracy, and promised, if released, to tell all about it.
They were at once taken down. This was the signal for an outbreak, and
shouts of "burn 'em, burn 'em" burst from the multitude. Mr. Moore then
asked the sheriff to delay execution till he could see the Governor and
get a reprieve. He hurried off, and soon returned with a conditional one.