The interior of the prison flashed white with suddenly turned faces.

The gloom scintillated with rapidly moving hands.
"Air! air! Give us air!" "That's it!" said Sanders to his companions.

"I thought the news would rouse 'em." Gabbett--all the savage in his blood stirred by the sight of flashing eyes and wrathful faces--would have thrown himself forward with the rest, but Vetch plucked him back.
"It'll be over in a moment," he said.

"It's only a fit they've got." He spoke truly.

Through the uproar was heard the rattle of iron on iron, as the guard "stood to their arms," and the wedge of grey cloth broke, in sudden terror of the levelled muskets.
There was an instant's pause, and then old Pine walked, unmolested, down the prison and knelt by the body of Rufus Dawes.
The sight of the familiar figure, so calmly performing its familiar duty, restored all that submission to recognized authority which strict discipline begets.