"The soldiers are rising! To arms! To arms! Turn out with your guns!"
While the drums continued to beat, this terrible summons resounded through first one street and then another, striking terror to the hearts of those who heard it; but causing the courageous to hasten to the scene of the murder in order to aid their townsmen, and the cowardly to seek refuge in flight.
Five minutes later, amid the rattle of drums and the menacing cries, came the pealing of bells summoning the inhabitants to defend their city.
In Dock Square men stood shoulder to shoulder, the well-to-do citizen by the side of the labourer or sailor, each armed after his own fashion, and each ready to defend the lives of those nearest and dearest to him.
During half an hour or more there was probably no person in the vicinity of the tragedy who did not firmly believe that the soldiers were rising with the intent to massacre, and then Governor Hutchinson appeared upon the scene, ordering the people to disperse, and declaring the "law should have its course."
"Has the captain who ordered the soldiers to fire been arrested?" some one cried, and instantly there went up a great shout.
"Arrest the murderers! Bring them to justice before you call upon us to go quietly to our homes! Murder has been done this night, and the blood must be avenged!"
The Governor hesitated, as if uncertain what reply should be made, and then said:
"Justice shall be meted out to all. You who have gathered here have done so in defiance of the law, and—"
"We have come here that the law shall not be broken," a voice cried. "Arrest those who have committed the murder! Do your own duty before you call upon us to do ours."