Alfred de Rosann by G.W.M. Reynolds — page 90: what you’re looking at

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

e Alfred de Rosann. 71 his eyes almost started from his head—his teeth were knocked out—his mouth was dripping with gore. A convict, perhaps from merciful mo- tives of putting a speedy end to his miseries, or else with a savage thirst for blood and cruelty, raised his chains, and struck the unfortunate boy a severe blow on the head. Then the screams suddenly ceased; and a shapeless, filthy, disgusting mass of flesh, without the slightest sign of life, fell at the feet of De Rosann and Belle-Rose, who exchanged looks of unutterable horror. But before the sanguinary deed was accomplished, and while the screams of Edouard yet thrilled in every ear, the soldiers, awaking to energy from a pause which was only of sufficient duration to allow them to inquire and discover the cause of those heart-rending yells, proceeded, by the command of their officers, to force a passage to the centre of the throng, with the intention of rescuing the victim from the clutches of his murderers. They, however, experienced a fierce and powerful opposi- tion. Many of the convicts had disencumbered themselves of their iron fetters, and converted them into weapons of defence. The strife was ° therefore savage—much blood was shed—and the contention had as- sumed a most serious aspect, when the sad cause of it, deprived of life, was thrown at De Rosann’s feet. The combat still raged: the soldiers endeavoured to secure those con- victs who had succeeded in extricating themselves from their manacles, and to compel the others to return to a state of tranquillity and order; while the galley-slaves fought to resist the military. In the midst of the confusion— when the turmoil was at its greatest height—when cries and shouts made a deafening din, and each individual was as regardless of the actions of his neighbour as self-interest and the idea of self-preser- vation could possibly make him—when the Governor vainly essayed once more an interposition of his authority—when an inspector, who cried out ‘“ Peace!” as loud his voice could bawl, received for all answer a knock on the mouth with a chain—when the soldiers had left the walls, under which they were at first ranged, and had become mingled promiscuously with the original promoters of the strife—and when, by a sudden move- ment, the whole belligerent mass verged towards the building in which the door that gave ingress and egress to the prison was situate ;—at that auspicious moment an old man made his way with difficulty through the crowd, and sought the place where De Rosann and Belle-Rose were together resisting the shocks and concussions of those who surrounded them. Plombier—for it was he—gavea single nod of recognition, and put a little key into the hands of each. Not a word passed between them. De Rosann and Belle-Rose were well aware of the purpose for which those diminutive instruments were given, and speedily availed themselves of so useful an agency to cast off the galling fetters that had hitherto restrained their limbs in ignominious thrall. Plombier then made a sign for them to follow him, and again forced his way . through the crowd. But instead of taking the direction of the principal gate, he pursued another, which obliged him, and those who were guided by his motions, to force their road amongst the densest part of the throng. At length Fortune and hardy elbows favoured their schemes, and they stopped at the wall that bounded one side of the large square. Within a few yards was a small door, which Plombier opened; and an- COMRnIClooo SS (GO)