"Yes," he said; "I am."
"You have got some friends of ours in your custody, master."
"I have a good many people in my custody." He glanced downward as he spoke, into the jail; and the feeling that he could see into the different yards, and that he overlooked everything which was hidden from their view by the rugged walls, so lashed and goaded the mob that they howled like wolves.
"Deliver up our friends," said Hugh, "and you may keep the rest."
"It's my duty to keep them all. I shall do my duty."
"If you don't throw the doors open, we shall break 'em down," said Hugh; "for we will have the rioters out."
"All I can do, good people," Akerman replied, "is to exhort you to disperse; and to remind you that the consequences of any disturbance in this place will be very severe, and bitterly repented by most of you, when it is too late."
He made as though he would retire when he had said these words, but he was checked by the voice of the locksmith.
"Mr. Akerman!" cried Gabriel, "Mr. Akerman!"
"I will hear no more from any of you," replied the governor, turning towards the speaker, and waving his hand.