Meantime the Lieutenant-Governor, at his residence in North Square, heard the sound of the church-bell near by, and supposed it was an alarm of fire.  But soon, at nearly ten o’clock, a number of the inhabitants came running into the house, entreating him to go to King Street immediately, otherwise, they said, “the town would be all in blood.”  He immediately started for the scene of danger.  On his way, in the Market-Place, he found himself amidst a great body of people, some armed with clubs, others with cutlasses, and all calling for fire-arms.  He made himself known to them, but pleaded in vain for a hearing; and, to insure his safety, he retreated into a dwelling-house, and thence went by a private way into King Street, where he found an excited multitude anxiously awaiting his arrival.  He first called for Captain Preston; and a natural indignation at a high-handed act is expressed in the stern and searching questions which the civilian put to the soldier, bearing on the vital point of the subordination of the military to the civil power.

“Are you the commanding officer?”

“Yes, Sir.”

“Do you know, Sir, you have no power to fire on any body of people collected together, except you have a civil magistrate with you to give orders?”

Captain Preston replied,—­

“I was obliged to, to save the sentry.”

So great was the confusion that Preston’s reply was heard but by few.  The cry was raised, “To the Town-House! to the Town-House!” when Hutchinson, by the irresistible violence of the crowd, was forced into the building, and up to the Council-Chamber; and in a few minutes he appeared on the balcony.  Near him were prominent citizens, both Loyalists and Whigs; below him, on the one side, were his indignant townsmen, who had conferred on him every honor in their power, and on the other side, the regiment in its defiant attitude.  He could speak with eloquence and power; throughout this strange and trying scene he bore himself with dignity and self-possession; and as in the stillness of night he expressed great concern at the unhappy event, and made solemn pledges to the people, his manner must have been uncommonly earnest.  “The law,” he averred, “should have its course; he would live and die by the law.”  He promised to order an inquiry in the morning, and requested all to retire to their homes.  But words now were not satisfactory to the people; and those near him urged that the course of justice had always been evaded or obstructed in favor of the soldiery, and that the people were determined not to disperse until Captain Preston was arrested.  In consequence, Hutchinson ordered an immediate court of inquiry.  The Patriots also entreated the Lieutenant-Governor to order the troops to their barracks.  He replied, that it was not in his power to give such an order, but he would consult the officers.  They now came on to the balcony,—­Dalrymple of the Fourteenth Regiment being present,—­and after an interview with Hutchinson returned to the troops.  The men now rose from their kneeling posture; the order to “shoulder arms” was heard; and the people were greatly relieved by seeing the troops move towards their barracks.