Along this shining path, two men came hurrying on, leading a horse, which was speedily harnessed to the cart at the prison-door.

Then, a profound silence replaced the tumult that had so long been gathering, and a breathless pause ensued.
Every window was now choked up with heads; the house-tops teemed with people--clinging to chimneys, peering over gable-ends, and holding on where the sudden loosening of any brick or stone would dash them down into the street.

The church tower, the church roof, the church yard, the prison leads, the very water-spouts and lampposts--every inch of room--swarmed with human life.
At the first stroke of twelve the prison-bell began to toll.

Then the roar--mingled now with cries of 'Hats off!' and 'Poor fellows!' and, from some specks in the great concourse, with a shriek or groan--burst forth again.

It was terrible to see--if any one in that distraction of excitement could have seen--the world of eager eyes, all strained upon the scaffold and the beam.
The hollow murmuring was heard within the jail as plainly as without.
The three were brought forth into the yard, together, as it resounded through the air.