Alfred de Rosann by G.W.M. Reynolds — page 88: what you’re looking at

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

Alfred de Rosann. 69 simultaneousness of the movement on the part of the galley-slaves, and knew that those behind were even more guilty as agitators than those in front. The sentries, therefore, received orders to remain quiet for the present. But the dilemma in which the Governor was placed, soon became more and more deplorable. It was in vain that he attempted to address the infuriate multitude—his voice was drowned amidst the cries of “ Vengeance !” and shouts of ‘ Slaughter !"—the revolt soon became general. To increase the disagreeableness, if not danger, of his position, Edouard now implored protection on his knees before him, and only added to the irresolution of himself and the other authorities. They had not, however, many minutes to deliberate; for the continued clanking of the chains, and occasional hburrahs, proved that some of the galley-slaves were endeavouring to divest themselves of those impediments. ‘‘ Fire! fire indiscriminately!” cried the Governor to the sentries ranged around the enclosure; and in an instant the stunning report of half a dozen muskets proclaimed the commencement of the work of death. A pause in the shouts and the rush of the convicts ensned upon this explosion: but it was momentary; for the extreme measure adopted by the Governor only excited, instead of terrifying, the minds of those who had seen and done too much in their lives to be well acquainted with fear. The barriers were knocked down, the sentries driven back, the Governor and the inspectors were mingled with the crowd; and as the destructive billows of a boisterous main carry all before them, so did spars, platform, railing, and the other appendages of the guillotine, wave for a moment, like the masts of a foundering vessel, above the heads of the disorderly multitude, and then suddenly disappear. The space, where the scaffold ere now stood, was soon covered over by the waves of that living ocean, which was poured out in such wild confusion all around; and the hollow murmur of a thousand voices, succeeding to the harsh cries that had hitherto rent the air, sounded to the ear like the distant rush of a vast torrent. For some time Edouard clung with agonizing tenacity to the arm of the Commissary; but the agitation of the crowd, the frequent shocks each individual experienced, and the force of those often-repeated con- cussions, occasioned by the oscillating movements of the great entire mass which no one in particular seemed to direct, but of which every soul was an assistant spring to sustain an unwearied motion, soon sepa- rated the wretched young man from the side of his protector, and he shortly found himself in the midst of those convicts who had commenced the riot, and who were the most inveterately disposed against him. A yell of satisfaction, which one might fancy to resemble the deadly whoop of Indians dancing round the fire whereat their prisoners are cooking for the repast of those savage anthropophagi, arose amongst the convicts when Edouard was thus thrown into their power; and a dismal, loud, long shriek issued from the lips of the wretched being, who but too well divined the horrible fate that was in reserve for him. While the victim was thus secured to those who thirsted for his blood in the centre of the mutinous body, the convicts on the outside had to COnicbooolks (GO)