As soon as this device was understood, all those who had laboured hitherto, cast down their tools and helped to swell the heap; which reached half-way across the street, and was so high, that those who threw more fuel on the top, got up by ladders.

When all the keeper's goods were flung upon this costly pile, to the last fragment, they smeared it with the pitch, and tar, and rosin they had brought, and sprinkled it with turpentine.

To all the woodwork round the prison-doors they did the like, leaving not a joist or beam untouched.

This infernal christening performed, they fired the pile with lighted matches and with blazing tow, and then stood by, awaiting the result.
The furniture being very dry, and rendered more combustible by wax and oil, besides the arts they had used, took fire at once.

The flames roared high and fiercely, blackening the prison-wall, and twining up its loftly front like burning serpents.