Penny Blood Serial Cover — page 121: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

alli Date ana Ss aie aes Ce ALFRED DE ROSANN. 113 minutes after it. It resembled the stillness of the at- mosphere, which succeeds a loud burst of thunder, in ~ the mirthful month of June. At length that dread tranquillity ceased; and hisses, and groans, and loud cries speedily formed a strong contrast. The convicts discoursed among themselves; in vain the authorities endeavoured to impose silence—the.commands of the inspectors were totally disregarded. A terrible idea ‘seemed to have taken possession of that party of galley- slaves that was nearest to the scaffold; and reproaches against Edouard, mingled with threats, issued from their ranks. The Governor called to order—the sol- diers rattled their arms—and the sentries cast vigi- | lant looks around—but the spirit which now influenced the convicts was not easily repressed; and in a mo- ment the hitherto stifled shout of “ Vengeance! ven- geance on the murderer!’’ burst forth with appalling vehemence. It seemed as if a hundred thousand voices - were concentrated together to chaunt forth the terri- ble chorus: the menaces, the supplications, the orders, and the entreaties of the Commissary, the inspector, and other authorities, were, in comparison with that dread sound, as the scream of an infant on the strand of the boisterous ocean. _ Amidst the continued din of a thousand cries was soon heard the rattling of chains, and the clanking of the fetters of which the convicts endeavoured to dis- encumber themselves: and then a simultaneous rush towards the scaffold but too distinctly proclaimed the intention of the infuriate mob. © Edouard, who had hitherto remained upon the platform, now suspected that he was the cause of this disturbance—the object of that increasing ire; and, giving full vent to his terror ina loud scream, he hastily descended the steps, and sought protection by the side of the Governor. His disappearance from the scaffold of the guzllotine was instantly noticed; and another cry of extermina- tion, which struck every ear, and which no one could mistake, issued from the enraged convicts, while the 10* Connicloookxs (C@ S|