Probably the ventilation was ample, yet I felt stifled, and so powerful is imagination that I breathed heavily and irregularly.

But reason soon came to my assistance and allayed my apprehensions, although a remnant of fancy still speculated on what would happen if the vehicle upset.
Presently the door was banged, and "Black Maria" started with her living freight.

We had the conveyance, or rather its interior, all to ourselves.

Surely the boxes we were pent in never held such company before.

Three "blasphemers," who had never injured man, woman or child, were travelling to gaol under a collective sentence of two years' imprisonment, for no other crime than honestly criticising a dishonest creed.