At these words, Barnaby furled his flag, and tied it round thepole. His heart beat high while he did so, but he had no more fearor thought of retreating than the pole itself. The friendlystragglers hurried past him, after giving him notice of his danger,and quickly passed into the house, where the utmost confusionimmediately prevailed. As those within hastily closed the windowsand the doors, they urged him by looks and signs to fly withoutloss of time, and called to him many times to do so; but he onlyshook his head indignantly in answer, and stood the firmer on hispost. Finding that he was not to be persuaded, they took care ofthemselves; and leaving the place with only one old woman in it,speedily withdrew.
As yet there had been no symptom of the news having any betterfoundation than in the fears of those who brought it, but The Boothad not been deserted five minutes, when there appeared, comingacross the fields, a body of men who, it was easy to see, by theglitter of their arms and ornaments in the sun, and by theirorderly and regular mode of advancing--for they came on as oneman--were soldiers. In a very little time, Barnaby knew that theywere a strong detachment of the Foot Guards, having along with themtwo gentlemen in private clothes, and a small party of Horse; thelatter brought up the rear, and were not in number more than six oreight.
They advanced steadily; neither quickening their pace as they camenearer, nor raising any cry, nor showing the least emotion oranxiety. Though this was a matter of course in the case of regulartroops, even to Barnaby, there was something particularlyimpressive and disconcerting in it to one accustomed to the noiseand tumult of an undisciplined mob. For all that, he stood hisground not a whit the less resolutely, and looked on undismayed.
Presently, they marched into the yard, and halted. Thecommanding-officer despatched a messenger to the horsemen, one ofwhom came riding back. Some words passed between them, and they glanced at Barnaby; who well remembered the man he had unhorsed atWestminster, and saw him now before his eyes. The man beingspeedily dismissed, saluted, and rode back to his comrades, whowere drawn up apart at a short distance.
The officer then gave the word to prime and load. The heavyringing of the musket-stocks upon the ground, and the sharp andrapid rattling of the ramrods in their barrels, were a kind ofrelief to Batnahy, deadly though he knew the purport of such soundsto be. When this was done, other commands were given, and thesoldiers instantaneously formed in single file all round the houseand stables; completely encircling them in every part, at adistance, perhaps, of some half-dozen yards; at least that seemedin Barnaby"s eyes to be about the space left between himself andthose who confronted him. The horsemen remained drawn up bythemselves as before.
The two gentlemen in private clothes who had kept aloof, now rodeforward, one on either side the officer. The proclamation havingbeen produced and read by one of them, the officer called onBarnaby to surrender.
He made no answer, but stepping within the door, before which he had kept guard, held his pole crosswise to protect it. In themidst of a profound silence, he was again called upon to yield.
Still he offered no reply. Indeed he had enough to do, to run hiseye backward and forward along the half-dozen men who immediatelyfronted him, and settle hurriedly within himself at which of themhe would strike first, when they pressed on him. He caught the eyeof one in the centre, and resolved to hew that fellow down, thoughhe died for it.
Again there was a dead silence, and again the same voice calledupon him to deliver himself up.
Next moment he was back in the stable, dealing blows about him likea madman. Two of the men lay stretched at his feet: the one hehad marked, dropped first--he had a thought for that, even in thehot blood and hurry of the struggle. Another blow--another! Down,mastered, wounded in the breast by a heavy blow from the butt-endof a gun (he saw the weapon in the act of falling)--breathless--anda prisoner.
An exclamation of surprise from the officer recalled him, in somedegree, to himself. He looked round. Grip, after working in secret all the afternoon, and with redoubled vigour whileeverybody"s attention was distracted, had plucked away the strawfrom Hugh"s bed, and turned up the loose ground with his iron bill.
The hole had been recklessly filled to the brim, and was merelysprinkled with earth. Golden cups, spoons, candlesticks, coinedguineas--all the riches were revealed.
They brought spades and a sack; dug up everything that was hiddenthere; and carried away more than two men could lift. Theyhandcuffed him and bound his arms, searched him, and took away allhe had. Nobody questioned or reproached him, or seemed to havemuch curiosity about him. The two men he had stunned, were carriedoff by their companions in the same business-like way in whicheverything else was done. Finally, he was left under a guard offour soldiers with fixed bayonets, while the officer directed inperson the search of the house and the other buildings connectedwith it.
This was soon completed. The soldiers formed again in the yard; hewas marched out, with his guard about him; and ordered to fall in,where a space was left. The others closed up all round, and sothey moved away, with the prisoner in the centre.
When they came into the streets, he felt he was a sight; andlooking up as they passed quickly along, could see people runningto the windows a little too late, and throwing up the sashes tolook after him. Sometimes he met a staring face beyond the headsabout him, or under the arms of his conductors, or peering downupon 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 streetsseemed muffled and subdued; and the air came stale and hot uponhim, like the sickly breath of an oven.
Tramp, tramp. Tramp, tramp. Heads erect, shoulders square, everyman stepping in exact time--all so orderly and regular--nobodylooking at him--nobody seeming conscious of his presence,--he couldhardly believe he was a Prisoner. But at the word, though onlythought, not spoken, he felt the handcuffs galling his wrists, thecord pressing his arms to his sides: the loaded guns levelled athis head; and those cold, bright, sharp, shining points turnedtowards him: the mere looking down at which, now that he was boundand helpless, made the warm current of his life run cold.