Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1895-01-31
CHAPTER III.

forth for the old familiar walls anc
heavy gates of Portsmouth town TO Dc
leveled to the ground, that the space
which these now useless relics OF the
past occupied might be covered WIN
buildings connected with the detenStS
and adapted to the requirements OF
the present. Down went many a hnt
old elm beneath AK and rope, and BIZ
by bit the ramparts disappeared, and
the bitches We're filed by the busy
hands of sunburned men, armed with
barrow, pick-ax, and spade.
One summer morning, while these
works were in progress, the sun shone
brightly in the clear blue sky, and
over the quiet sea and the quieter har-
Dor; on the twop-ships and mail-clad
men of-war, the busy steamers and
countless boats of every description
which fill these peaceful waters; on the
gay garrison town, and on the beach,
crowded with batherS. Now and
again a bugle rang out, gun was
fired, snatches of military music We're
heard; on the breezy common, the
strong horses and heavy guns OF
mounted artillery We're careering
through thick duSt-cloudS, whence the
sparkle Of arms and accouterments
cleaned more effectively in the bril-
liant sunlight. Portsmouth streets
We're full of life and the melodious
chimes of the parish church floated
sweetly over street, harbor, and bas-
ton at every quarter.
Not very far from the Queens Bias
ton party of men were at work upon
the partly leveled fortitimtions. They
toiled on in the hot sunshine in a list
less, unwilling manner, each man ap-
parently trying to accomplish as lit
tie as possible. They We're an ugly set,
for the most part, with low brows,
heavy jaws, and brutal look, and their
close-cropped hair, small black oilskin
caps, dingy yellow clothes, and clumsy
boots by no means softened their re-
pulsive appearance. Many of them
looked at the gay carriages and
brightly clad women and children
passing and repaSsing, while some
bent their scowlng brows stolidly over
their spades. But the gazers did not
look up with a direct glance; they
looked out of the corners Of their eyes,
round their noses. with all kinds of
crooked and toltuous chances. like the
traitors Dante saw in his Inferno"
Few of these men could give a level
glance or a candid answer; still fewer
could think clear and honest
Thought.
At intervals, watching them, and oc-
casionally giving a sharp, stern order,
stood armed men, stalwart and blue
Clad with faces like rocks. Their
guns>we loaded with ball, and their
side-arms, cleaning in the sun, looked
terribly practical. AS the conviets pur-
sued their forced, unwelcome toll, with
the sweat beading their weather
stained brows, slow, melancholy, long
drawn music pealed from the distance,
and grew more and more distant,
while the passengers thickened and
q slowly moving mass of scarlet, in.
terSperSed with flashes of steel and
gold, came into sight. The wall Of
the trumpebs rose into notes of Shriller
anguish, while the heavy roll of the
muffied drums beneath was like the
despairing voice of some irrevocable
doom, and smote heavily upon the
heart Of one of the convicts, who rec
ognized in the wailing music, the re-
yersed arms, and slow rhythm of the
soldiers even march, the solemn
pageant of a military funeral.
AS the procession drew nearer, the
road became more choked with pas
sengers and gazerS. aud people climbed
on the unfenced works, some to see
better, others to be out of the way till
the crowd was past. They gradually
pressed closer and closer on the con-
victs, whose dangerous proximity
they did not heed, until the wart1ers.
finding it impossible to keep them
away, formed the convicts in line as
far away as possible, and bid them
stand at attention while the funeral
glided by in its slow majesty.
The convict in whose breast the sor.
rowful music had found such re-
spOnsive echo was on the outside of
the two-deep line pearest the road
and was within a few PAGES of two
ladies who had drawn aside to avoid
the crowd. At first sight there was
nothing to distinguish No. 81 from his
repulsive comrades, but a closer gaze
revealed an intellectual face. gaunt
and lined with suffering; dark hazel
eyes. with a straight, thoughtful
glance; and a genial mouth, which had
lost its old habit of smiling. He was
of slighter build than most of the
convicts, but strong and well set. His
name, which he had not heard for a
weary time, and which his nearest and
dearest friends had long ceased to
pronounce, was Henry Everard.
Many an old memory stirred within
him as he heard the muffled roll of
the drums and looked upon the scarlet
mass of silent men moving by; for
many Of the soldiers wore the number
of his brothers regiment on their uni
forms. and he thought Of the sunny