Fleet Market, at that time, was a long irregular row of woodensheds and penthouses, occupying the centre of what is now calledFarringdon Street. They were jumbled together in a most unsightlyfashion, in the middle of the road; to the great obstruction of thethoroughfare and the annoyance of passengers, who were fain to maketheir way, as they best could, among carts, baskets, barrows,trucks, casks, bulks, and benches, and to jostle with porters,hucksters, waggoners, and a motley crowd of buyers, sellers, pickpockets,vagrants, and idlers. The air was perfumed with thestench of rotten leaves and faded fruit; the refuse of thebutchers" stalls, and offal and garbage of a hundred kinds. It wasindispensable to most public conveniences in those days, that theyshould be public nuisances likewise; and Fleet Market maintainedthe principle to admiration.
To this place, perhaps because its sheds and baskets were atolerable substitute for beds, or perhaps because it afforded themeans of a hasty barricade in case of need, many of the rioters hadstraggled, not only that night, but for two or three nights before.
It was now broad day, but the morning being cold, a group of themwere gathered round a fire in a public-house, drinking hot purl,and smoking pipes, and planning new schemes for to-morrow.
Hugh and his two friends being known to most of these men, werereceived with signal marks of approbation, and inducted into themost honourable seats. The room-door was closed and fastened tokeep intruders at a distance, and then they proceeded to exchangenews.
"The soldiers have taken possession of The Boot, I hear," saidHugh. "Who knows anything about it?"
Several cried that they did; but the majority of the companyhaving been engaged in the assault upon the Warren, and allpresent having been concerned in one or other of the night"sexpeditions, it proved that they knew no more than Hugh himself;having been merely warned by each other, or by the scout, andknowing nothing of their own knowledge.
"We left a man on guard there to-day," said Hugh, looking roundhim, "who is not here. You know who it is--Barnaby, who broughtthe soldier down, at Westminster. Has any man seen or heard ofhim?"
They shook their heads, and murmured an answer in the negative, aseach man looked round and appealed to his fellow; when a noise washeard without, and a man was heard to say that he wanted Hugh--thathe must see Hugh.
"He is but one man," cried Hugh to those who kept the door; "lethim come in."
"Ay, ay!" muttered the others. "Let him come in. Let him comein."
The door was accordingly unlocked and opened. A one-armed man,with his head and face tied up with a bloody cloth, as though hehad been severely beaten, his clothes torn, and his remaining handgrasping a thick stick, rushed in among them, and panting forbreath, demanded which was Hugh.
"Here he is," replied the person he inquired for. "I am Hugh.
What do you want with me?"
"I have a message for you," said the man. "You know one Barnaby."
"What of him? Did he send the message?"
"Yes. He"s taken. He"s in one of the strong cells in Newgate. Hedefended himself as well as he could, but was overpowered bynumbers. That"s his message."
"When did you see him?" asked Hugh, hastily.
"On his way to prison, where he was taken by a party of soldiers.
They took a by-road, and not the one we expected. I was one ofthe few who tried to rescue him, and he called to me, and told meto tell Hugh where he was. We made a good struggle, though itfailed. Look here!"
He pointed to his dress and to his bandaged head, and still pantingfor breath, glanced round the room; then faced towards Hugh again.
"I know you by sight," he said, "for I was in the crowd on Friday,and on Saturday, and yesterday, but I didn"t know your name.
You"re a bold fellow, I know. So is he. He fought like a liontonight, but it was of no use. I did my best, considering that Iwant this limb."
Again he glanced inquisitively round the room or seemed to do so,for his face was nearly hidden by the bandage--and again facingsharply towards Hugh, grasped his stick as if he half expected tobe set upon, and stood on the defensive.
If he had any such apprehension, however, he was speedily reassuredby the demeanour of all present. None thought of the bearer of thetidings. He was lost in the news he brought. Oaths, threats, andexecrations, were vented on all sides. Some cried that if theybore this tamely, another day would see them all in jail; some,that they should have rescued the other prisoners, and this wouldnot have happened. One man cried in a loud voice, "Who"ll followme to Newgate!" and there was a loud shout and general rush towardsthe door.
But Hugh and Dennis stood with their backs against it, and keptthem back, until the clamour had so far subsided that their voicescould be heard, when they called to them together that to go now,in broad day, would be madness; and that if they waited until nightand arranged a plan of attack, they might release, not only theirown companions, but all the prisoners, and burn down the jail.
"Not that jail alone," cried Hugh, "but every jail in London. Theyshall have no place to put their prisoners in. We"ll burn them alldown; make bonfires of them every one! Here!" he cried, catchingat the hangman"s hand. "Let all who"re men here, join with us.
Shake hands upon it. Barnaby out of jail, and not a jail leftstanding! Who joins?"
Every man there. And they swore a great oath to release theirfriends from Newgate next night; to force the doors and burn thejail; or perish in the fire themselves.