The Sea Dogs by Ken Barnes

Author:Ken Barnes
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Strategic Book Publishing and Rights Co.

CHAPTER FORTY-TWO

The condemned prisoners in Newgate who had expected to be hanged on that fateful Tuesday morning were somewhat confused to find themselves still alive almost three weeks later. Of course, philosophically, they told themselves they were all living on borrowed time. None of the guards offered any reasons or explanations for the delay, and after the first few days, the prisoners stopped asking questions.

Knowing that his family had by then received word of his death, Martin Denbow could see no point in writing any further letters. He knew it was only a matter of time before his sentence would be carried out.

Then one morning at about six thirty, the prisoners were awoken by the heavy clatter of metal on metal. A troop of armed guards marched up to the cell doors and ran their pikes along the bars. As the prisoners opened their eyes and sat up, they saw Raddage with his bunch of keys opening the cell doors. There was an evil smile on his face as he shouted “Everybody up. Come on, on your feet, the lot of you.”

Martin, Budgeon, and the two other men were pushed out into the passageway along with Bess, Jenny, and Lucy from the next cell. Raddage looked cynically at Bess. “This is it, Dawlish. I know it’s three weeks overdue, but you didn’t think we’d forgotten, did you?”

“Oh, no, I knew you’d get around to us sooner or later,” she said, adding with a smile. “And I always preferred later.”

Raddage scowled. “I’ll wipe that smile off your face before this day’s over, I promise you.”

As the prisoners were herded along the passageway, they saw the reason why the complement of guards was larger than usual. They were being joined by other prisoners, both men and women, almost a hundred in all. Most of them still yawning and wiping the sleep from their eyes.

“What’s happening?” Martin asked Raddage. “What’s all this about?”

“Shut up,” shouted Raddage. “Keep moving. Come on, move.” He reached out and grabbed the arm of the female prisoner, Lucy Phelps, who was carrying a shawl that she had knitted while awaiting execution. “You won’t need that,” he snarled and snatched it from her. “Keep moving.”

Lucy began to tremble. Bess patted her shoulder. “Don’t weaken now, Lucy. Raddage would enjoy it too much.”

“Tell me, Bess,” said Lucy, “do you believe there’s a life after death.”

“I certainly hope not. I’ve had enough trouble getting through this one. I’m looking forward to a long rest.”

Lucy and some of the other prisoners laughed at Bess’s spunky reply.

“Shut up and keep moving,” barked Raddage.

They moved in the same direction as on the morning of their trial, down to the end of the passageway, through the door that led to a wider passage, leading to a gate that marked the entrance to the large yard. Raddage walked ahead and unlocked the gate. Then he turned to the prisoners.

“Everybody stop,” he shouted, holding up his arms. “You’re all to wait here.” He turned and walked through the door into the yard, closing the door after him.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.