Page:Jeanie Deans and the lily of St. Leonard's.pdf/13

13 among his companions to the name of Wildfire. The mob than [sic] possessed themselves of the guard house, and having distributed the arms among the oldest of the rioters, proceeded to the Tolbooth. Strong detachments were then placed as guards to prevent interruption, while a select party thundered at the door of the jail and demanded admission. No one answered, for the keeper had prudently made his escape with the keys, and was nowhere to be found. The door, which was of great strength, was then assailed with sledge hammers, and other instruments which had been provided for the occasion, but all their efforts were in vain. At length some one called out to try it with fire; and two or three tar barrels having been procured, a huge glaring bonfire speedily arose close to the massy portalportal. [sic] The flames roared and crackled, a terrible shout soon announced that the door was destroyed, and the rioters rushed impatiently one after another over its yet smouldering remains.

Porteous was now drugged from his place of concealment in the chimney with a violence that seemed to argue an intention to put him to death on the spot. More than one weapon was directed towards him, when Wildfire, the individual in female attire, called out in an authoritative tone, "Hold! The murderer must die on the common gibbet, on the spot where he shed so much innocent blood!" A loud shout of applause followed the proposal, and the cry, "To the gallows with the murderer!" echoed on all sidessides. [sic]

The mob had now led forth their destined victim, and were about to conduct him to the place of execution, when Butler was brought