They brought spades and a sack; dug up everything
that was hidden there; and carried away more than
two men could lift. They handcuffed him and bound
his arms, searched him, and took away all he had.
Nobody questioned or reproached him, or seemed to
have much curiosity about him. The two men he
had stunned, were carried off by their companions in
the same business-like way in which everything else
was done. Finally, he was left under a guard
of four soldiers with fixed bayonets, while the officer
directed in person the search of the house and the
other buildings connected with it.
This was soon completed. The soldiers formed
again in the yard; he was marched out, with his guard
about him; and ordered to fall in, where a space was
left. The others closed up all round, and so they
moved away, with the prisoner in the centre.
When they came into the streets, he felt he was a
sight; and looking up as they passed quickly along,
could see people running to the windows a little too
late, and throwing up the sashes to look after him.
Sometimes he met a staring face beyond the heads about
him, or under the arms of his conductors, or peering
down upon him from a waggon-top or coach-box; but
this was all he saw, being surrounded by so many men.
The very noises of the streets seemed muffled and
subdued; and the air came stale and hot upon him,
like the sickly breath of an oven.
Tramp, tramp. Tramp, tramp. Heads erect,
shoulders square, every man stepping in exact time—all
so orderly and regular—nobody looking at
him—nobody seeming conscious of his presence,—he
could hardly believe he was a Prisoner. But at
the word, though only thought, not spoken, he felt
the handcuffs galling his wrists, the cord pressing
his arms to his sides: the loaded guns levelled
at his head; and those cold, bright, sharp, shining
points turned towards him: the mere looking down
at which, now that he was bound and helpless, made
the warm current of his life run cold.
They were not long in reaching the barracks, for the
officer who commanded the party was desirous to avoid
rousing the people by the display of military force
in the streets, and was humanely anxious to give as
little opportunity as possible for any attempt at rescue;
knowing that it must lead to bloodshed 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.
