Under the Blue Flag

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1882 Excerpt: ...and the dreadful truth as to their errand dawned upon the people's minds, had been beyond description. The soldiers had been compelled to procure the wood for the gallows themselves; neither by threats, bribes, nor even actual violence could they get any one to do it for them. They had selected the high field on the hill, though a full two miles out of Swanford, for the scene of their terrible task, because, being such an elevated spot, it could be seen for a long distance round, and so one or two small hamlets, and various outlying farms would also receive the silent but awful warning. In their grim name of "Gallows Gore," the row of cottages which stand on or near the fatal spot, enshrine to this day some dim, hazy memory of the reign of terror that followed Monmouth's defeat; though the horror that for years after hung over it, and made the country people shun it like a haunted place, has long since passed away. Humphry had spent chief part of the past night with the three unhappy prisoners, doing his best to console and prepare them for the end which every hour brought nearer. He knew he ran some risk of incurring suspicion by holding so much intercourse with them, but he felt sure it was his duty to try and comfort the poor fellows, for there was no one else to do it. Mr. Marshfield was probably hiding somewhere for his life, if indeed he were not already taken, and none of their own friends were allowed to come to them, though he was suffered to pass in and out as he pleased. He left them at last, and went home with a heavy heart, but was too restless and troubled to sleep. The early morning found him up in the field where the instruments of death were placed, waiting for the melancholy procession to come up from the village, and struggling ...