THE EXECUTION OF CARL CADWALLER. 237 



was then unbound from the chair and lifted into the 

 cart, and the head being put in by the side of it, 

 the whole was taken away to a field and there 

 buried, without any kind of ceremony, just as if it 

 had been a dog or any other dumb animal. 



The people at once dispersed and went away to 

 their different homes, from which many had come, 

 as I heard, very long distances. 



So ended one of the most curious and horrible 

 scenes that can well be imagined. 



During the whole of the proceedings the conduct 

 of the crowd had been most orderly. There was 

 no drinking or rioting, playing at pitch and toss, 

 cracking nuts, whistling and hooting, knocking off 

 hats, and such scenes, so disgraceful in this country. 

 Before the principal actors on this occasion arrived 

 there was a certain amount of talking, and what 

 might be called passing the time of day to each 

 other, but the moment that there was any sign of 

 those who were to take part in the execution all 

 took their places, and as they sat in rows on the 

 green bank, in breathless expectation of what was 

 going to take place, the utmost silence was preserved, 

 and you might literally, to use the familiar term, 

 have heard a pin drop. 



