The spacious house was filled with the candidates for liberty.

All was animation and eagerness.
A mighty chorus of voices swelled the song of expectation and joy, and as they united in prayer, the voice of the leader was drowned in the universal acclamations of thanksgiving and praise, and blessing, and honor, and glory, to God, who had come down for their deliverance.

In such exercises the evening was spent until the hour of twelve approached.

The missionary then proposed that when the clock on the cathedral should begin to strike, the whole congregation should fall upon their knees and receive the boon of freedom in silence.
Accordingly, as the loud bell tolled its first note, the immense assembly fell prostrate on their knees.

All was silence, save the quivering half-stifled breath of the struggling spirit.