第19章
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  althoughtheglassfellfromthewindow-sashes,andtheleadandironontheroofsblisteredtheincautioushandthattouchedthem,andthesparrowsintheeavestookwing,andrenderedgiddybythesmoke,fellflutteringdownupontheblazingpile;stillthefirewastendedunceasinglybybusyhands,androundit,menweregoingalways。Theyneverslackenedintheirzeal,orkeptaloof,butpressedupontheflamessohard,thatthoseinfronthadmuchadotosavethemselvesfrombeingthrustin;ifonemanswoonedordropped,adozenstruggledforhisplace,andthatalthoughtheyknewthepain,andthirst,andpressuretobeunendurable。Thosewhofelldowninfainting-fits,andwerenotcrushedorburnt,werecarriedtoaninn-yardcloseathand,anddashedwithwaterfromapump;ofwhichbucketsfullwerepassedfrommantomanamongthecrowd;butsuchwasthestrongdesireofalltodrink,andsuchthefightingtobefirst,that,forthemostpart,thewholecontentswerespilledupontheground,withoutthelipsofonemanbeingmoistened。

  Meanwhile,andinthemidstofalltheroarandoutcry,thosewhowerenearesttothepile,heapedupagaintheburningfragmentsthatcametopplingdown,andrakedthefireaboutthedoor,which,althoughasheetofflame,wasstilladoorfastlockedandbarred,andkeptthemout。Greatpiecesofblazingwoodwerepassed,besides,abovethepeople’sheadstosuchasstoodabouttheladders,andsomeofthese,climbinguptothetopmoststave,andholdingonwithonehandbytheprisonwall,exertedalltheirskillandforcetocastthesefire-brandsontheroof,ordownintotheyardswithin。Inmanyinstancestheireffortsweresuccessful;

  whichoccasionedanewandappallingadditiontothehorrorsofthescene:fortheprisonerswithin,seeingfrombetweentheirbarsthatthefirecaughtinmanyplacesandthrivedfiercely,andbeingalllockedupinstrongcellsforthenight,begantoknowthattheywereindangerofbeingburntalive。Thisterriblefear,spreadingfromcelltocellandfromyardtoyard,venteditselfinsuchdismalcriesandwailings,andinsuchdreadfulshrieksforhelp,thatthewholejailresoundedwiththenoise;whichwasloudlyheardevenabovetheshoutingofthemobandroaringoftheflames,andwassofullofagonyanddespair,thatitmadetheboldesttremble。

  ItwasremarkablethatthesecriesbeganinthatquarterofthejailwhichfrontedNewgateStreet,where,itwaswellknown,themenwhoweretosufferdeathonThursdaywereconfined。Andnotonlywerethesefourwhohadsoshortatimetolive,thefirsttowhomthedreadofbeingburntoccurred,buttheywere,throughout,themostimportunateofall:fortheycouldbeplainlyheard,notwithstandingthegreatthicknessofthewalls,cryingthatthewindsetthatway,andthattheflameswouldshortlyreachthem;

  andcallingtotheofficersofthejailtocomeandquenchthefirefromacisternwhichwasintheiryard,andfullofwater。

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