Chapter XXXIII.

by James Fenimore Cooper

　　"Fetch here the stocks, ho!You stubborn ancient knave,you reverend bragget, Well teach you."--Lear.

　　The long days and early sun of July allowed time for a gathering ofthe interested, before the little bell of the academy announced thatthe appointed hour had arrived for administering right to the wronged,and punishment to the guilty. Ever since the dawn of day, thehighways and woodpaths that, issuing from the forests, and windingamong the sides of the mountains, centred in Templeton, had beenthronged with equestrians and footmen, bound to the haven of justice.There was to be seen a well-clad yeoman, mounted on a sleek, switch-tailed steed, rambling along the highway, with his red face elevatedin a manner that said, "I have paid for my land, and fear no man;"while his bosom was swelling with the pride of being one of the grandinquest for the county. At his side rode a companion, his equal inindependence of feeling, perhaps, but his inferior in thrift, as inproperty and consideration. This was a professed dealer in lawsuits--aman whose name appeared in every calendar--whose substance, gained inthe multifarious expedients of a settlers change able habits, waswasted in feeding the harpies of the courts. He was endeavoring toimpress the mind of the grand juror with the merits of a cause now atissue, Along with these was a pedestrian, who, having thrown a riflefrock over his shirt, and placed his best wool hat above his sunburntvisage, had issued from his retreat in the woods by a footpath, andwas striving to keep company with the others, on his way to hear andto decide the disputes of his neighbors, as a petit juror. Fiftysimilar little knots of countrymen might have been seen, on thatmorning, journeying toward the shire-town on the same errand.

　　By ten oclock the streets of the village were filled with busy faces;some talking of their private concerns, some listening to a popularexpounder of political creeds; and others gaping in at the openstores, admiring the finery, or examining scythes, axes, and suchother manufactures as attracted their curiosity or excited theiradmiration. A few women were in the crowd, most carrying infants, andfollowed, at a lounging, listless gait, by their rustic lords andmasters. There was one young couple, in whom connubial love was yetfresh, walking at a respectful distance from each other; while theswain directed the timid steps of his bride, by a gallant offering ofa thumb.

　　At the first stroke of the bell, Richard issued from the door of the"Bold Dragoon," flourishing a sheathed sword, that he was fond ofsaying his ancestors had carried in one of Cromwells victories, andcrying, in an authoritative tone, to "clear the way for the court."The order was obeyed promptly, though not servilely, the members ofthe crowd nodding familiarly to the members of the procession as itpassed. A party of constables with their staves followed the sheriff,preceding Marmaduke and four plain, grave-looking yeomen, who were hisassociates on the bench. There was nothing to distinguish theseSubordinate judges from the better part of the spectators, exceptgravity, which they affected a little more than common, and that oneof their number was attired in an old-fashioned military coat, withskirts that reached no lower than the middle of his thighs, andbearing two little silver epaulets, not half so big as a modern pairof shoulder-knots. This gentleman was a colonel of the militia, inattendance on a court-martial, who found leisure to steal a momentfrom his military to attend to his civil jurisdiction; but thisincongruity excited neither notice nor comment. Three or four clean-shaved lawyers followed, as meek as if they were lambs going to theslaughter. One or two of their number had contrived to obtain an airof scholastic gravity by wearing spectacles. The rear was brought upby another posse of constables, and the mob followed the whole intothe room where the court held its sitting.

　　The edifice was composed of a basement of squared logs, perforatedhere and there with small grated windows, through which a few wistfulfaces were gazing at the crowd without. Among the captives were theguilty, downcast countenances of the counterfeiters, and the simplebut honest features of the Leather-Stocking. The dungeons were to bedistinguished, externally, from the debtors apartments only by thesize of the apertures, the thickness of the grates, and by the headsof the spikes that were driven into the logs as a protection againstthe illegal use of edge-tools. The upper story was of frame work,regularly covered with boards, and contained one room decently fittedup for the purpose of justice. A bench, raised on a narrow platformto the height of a man above the floor, and protected in front by alight railing. ran along one of its sides. In the centre was a seat,furnished with rude arms, that was always filled by the presidingjudge. In front, on a level with the floor of the room, was a largetable covered with green baize, and surrounded by benches; and ateither of its ends were rows of seats, rising one over the other, forjury-boxes. Each of these divisions was surrounded by a railing. Theremainder of the room was an open square, appropriated to thespectators.

　　When the judges were seated, the lawyers had taken possession of thetable, and the noise of moving feet had ceased in the area, theproclamations were made in the usual form, the jurors were sworn, thecharge was given, and the court proceeded to hear the business beforethem.

　　We shall not detain the reader with a description of the captiousdiscussions that occupied the court for the first two hours, JudgeTemple had impressed on the jury, in his charge, the necessity fordispatch on their part, recommending to their notice, from motives ofhumanity, the prisoners in the jail as the first objects of theirattention. Accordingly, after the period we have mentioned hadelapsed, the cry of the officer to "clear the way for the grand jury,"announced the entrance of that body. The usual forms were observed,when the foreman handed up to the bench two bills, on both of whichthe Judge observed, at the first glance of his eye, the name ofNathaniel Bumppo. It was a leisure moment with the court; some lowwhispering passed between the bench and the sheriff, who gave a signalto his officers, and in a very few minutes the silence that prevailedwas interrupted by a general movement in the outer crowd, whenpresently the Leather-Stocking made his appearance, ushered into thecriminals bar under the custody of two constables, The hum ceased,the people closed into the open space again, and the silence soonbecame so deep that the hard breathing of the prisoner was audible.

　　Natty was dressed in his buckskin garments, without his coat, in placeof which he wore only a shirt of coarse linen-cheek, fastened at histhroat by the sinew of a deer, leaving his red neck and weather-beatenface exposed and bare. It was the first time that he had ever crossedthe threshold of a court of justice, and curiosity seemed to bestrongly blended with his personal feelings. He raised his eyes tothe bench, thence to the jury-boxes, the bar, and the crowd without,meeting everywhere looks fastened on himself. After surveying his ownperson, as searching the cause of this unusual attraction, he oncemore turned his face around the assemblage, and opened his mouth inone of his silent and remarkable laughs.

　　"Prisoner, remove your cap," said Judge Temple.

　　The order was either unheard or unheeded.

　　"Nathaniel Bumppo, be uncovered," repeated the Judge.

　　Natty started at the sound of his name, and, raising his faceearnestly toward the bench, he said:

　　"Anan!"

　　Mr. Lippet arose from his seat at the table, and whispered in the earof the prisoner; when Natty gave him a nod of assent, and took thedeer-skin covering from his head.

　　"Mr. District Attorney," said the Judge, "the prisoner is ready; wewait for the indictment."

　　The duties of public prosecutor were discharged by Dirck Van derSchool, who adjusted his spectacles, cast a cautious look around himat his brethren of the bar, which he ended by throwing his head asideso as to catch one glance over the glasses, when he proceeded to readthe bill aloud. It was the usual charge for an assault and battery onthe person of Hiram Doolittle, and was couched in the ancient languageof such instruments, especial care having been taken by the scribe notto omit the name of a single offensive weapon known to the law. Whenhe had done, Mr. Van der School removed his spectacles, which heclosed and placed in his pocket, seemingly for the pleasure of againopening and replacing them on his nose, After this evolution wasrepeated once or twice, he handed the bill over to Mr. Lippet, with acavalier air, that said as much as "Pick a hole in that if you can."

　　Natty listened to the charge with great attention, leaning forwardtoward the reader with an earnestness that denoted his interest; and,when it was ended, he raised his tall body to the utmost, and drew along sigh. All eyes were turned to the prisoner, whose voice wasvainly expected to break the stillness of the room.

　　"You have heard the presentment that the grand jury have made,Nathaniel Bumppo," said the Judge; "what do you plead to the charge?"

　　The old man drooped his head for a moment in a reflecting attitude,and then, raising it, he laughed before he answered:

　　"That I handled the man a little rough or so, is not to be denied; butthat there was occasion to make use of all the things that thegentleman has spoken of is downright untrue. I am not much of awrestler, seeing that I'm getting old; but I was out among the Scotch-Irishers--let me see--it must have been as long ago as the first year ofthe old war--"

　　"Mr. Lippet, if you are retained for the prisoner," interrupted JudgeTemple, "instruct your client how to plead; if not, the court willassign him counsel."

　　Aroused from studying the indictment by this appeal, the attorney gotup, and after a short dialogue with the hunter in a low voice, heinformed the court that they were ready to proceed.

　　"Do you plead guilty or not guilty?" said the Judge.

　　"I may say not guilty, with a clean conscience," returned Natty; "fortheres no guilt in doing whats right; and Id rather died on thespot, than had him put foot in the hut at that moment."

　　Richard started at this declaration and bent his eyes significantly onHiram, who returned the look with a slight movement of his eyebrows.

　　"Proceed to open the cause, Mr. District Attorney,' continued theJudge. "Mr. Clerk, enter the plea of not guilty."

　　After a short opening address from Mr. Van der School, Hiram wassummoned to the bar to give his testimony. It was delivered to theletter, perhaps, but with all that moral coloring which can beconveyed under such expressions as, "thinking no harm," "feeling it mybounden duty as a magistrate," and "seeing that the constable wasbackard in the business." When he had done, and the district attorneydeclined putting any further interrogatories, Mr. Lippet arose, withan air of keen investigation, and asked the following questions:

　　"Are you a constable of this county, sir?"

　　"No, sir," said Hiram, "Im only a justice-peace."

　　"I ask you, Mr. Doolittle, in the face of this court, put ting it toyour conscience and your knowledge of the law, whether you had anyright to enter that mans dwelling?"

　　"Hem!" said Hiram, undergoing a violent struggle between his desirefor vengeance, and his love of legal fame: "I do suppose--that in--thatis--strict law--that supposing--maybe I hadnt a real--lawful right; butas the case was--and Billy was so backard--I thought I might comeforard in the business."

　　"I ask you again, sir," continued the lawyer, following up hissuccess, "whether this old, this friendless old man, did or did notrepeatedly forbid your entrance?"

　　"Why, I must say," said Hiram, "that he was considerable cross-grained; not what I call clever, seeing that it was only one neighborwanting to go into the house of another."

　　"Oh! then you own it was only meant for a neighborly visit on yourpart, and without the sanction of law. Remember, gentlemen, the wordsof the witness, one neighbor wanting to enter the house of another.Now, sir, I ask you if Nathaniel Bumppo did not again and again orderyou not to enter?"

　　"There was some words passed between us," said Hiram, "but I read thewarrant to him aloud."

　　"I repeat my question; did he tell you not to enter his habitation?"

　　"There was a good deal passed betwixt us--but Ive the warrant in mypocket; maybe the court would wish to see it?"

　　"Witness," said Judge Temple, "answer the question directly; did ordid not the prisoner forbid your entering his hut?"

　　"Why, I some think--"

　　"Answer without equivocation," continued the Judge sternly.

　　"He did."

　　"And did you attempt to enter after his order?"

　　"I did; but the warrant was in my hand."

　　"Proceed, Mr. Lippet, with your examination."

　　But the attorney saw that the impression was in favor of his client,and waving his hand with a supercilious manner, as if unwilling toinsult the understanding of the jury with any further defence, hereplied:

　　"No, sir; I leave it for your honor to charge; I rest my case here."

　　"Mr. District Attorney," said the Judge, "have you anything to say?"Mr. Van der School removed his spectacles, folded them and, replacingthem once more on his nose, eyed the other bill which he held in hishand, and then said, looking at the bar over the top of his glasses;I shall rest the prosecution here, if the court please."

　　Judge Temple arose and began the charge.

　　"Gentlemen of the jury," he said, "you have heard the testimony, and Ishall detain you but a moment. If an officer meet with resistance inthe execution of a process, he has an undoubted right to call anycitizen to his assistance; and the acts of such assistant come withinthe protection of the law. I shall leave you to judge, gentlemen,from the testimony, how far the witness in this prosecution can be soconsidered, feeling less reluctance to submit the case thus informallyto your decision, because there is yet another indictment to be tried,which involves heavier charges against the unfortunate prisoner."

　　The tone of Marmaduke was mild and insinuating, and, as his sentimentswere given with such apparent impartiality, they did not fail ofcarrying due weight with the jury. The grave-looking yeomen whocomposed this tribunal laid their heads together for a few minutes,without leaving the box, when the foreman arose, and, after the formsof the court were duly observed, he pronounced the prisoner to be "Notguilty."

　　"You are acquitted of this charge, Nathaniel Bumppo," said the Judge.

　　"Anan!" said Natty.

　　"You are found not guilty of striking and assaulting Mr. Doolittle."

　　"No, no, Ill not deny but that I took him a little roughly by theshoulders," said Natty, looking about him with great simplicity, "andthat I--"

　　"You are acquitted," interrupted the Judge, "and there is nothingfurther to be said or done in the matter."

　　A look of joy lighted up the features of the old man, who nowcomprehended the case, and, placing his cap eagerly on his head again,he threw up the bar of his little prison, and said, feelingly:

　　"I must say this for you, Judge Temple, that the law has not been sohard on me as I dreaded. I hope God will bless you for the kindthings youve done to me this day."

　　But the staff of the constable was opposed to his egress, and Mr.Lippet whispered a few words in his ear, when the aged hunter sankback into his place, and, removing his cap, stroked down the remnantsof his gray and sandy locks, with an air of mortification mingled withsubmission.

　　"Mr. District Attorney," said Judge Temple, affecting to busy himselfwith his minutes, "proceed with the second indictment."

　　Mr. Van der School took great care that no part of the presentment,which he now read, should be lost on his auditors. It accused theprisoner of resisting the execution of a search-warrant, by force ofarms, and particularized in the vague language of the law, among avariety of other weapons, the use of the rifle. This was indeed amore serious charge than an ordinary assault and battery, and acorresponding degree of interest was manifested by the spectators inits result. The prisoner was duly arraigned, and his plea againdemanded. Mr. Lippet had anticipated the answers of Natty, and in awhisper advised him how to plead. But the feelings of the old hunterwere awakened by some of the expressions in the indictment, and,forgetful of his caution, he exclaimed:

　　"Tis a wicked untruth; I crave no mans blood. Them thieves, theIroquois, wont say it to any face that I ever thirsted after mansblood, I have fout as soldier that feared his Maker and his officer,but I never pulled trigger on any but a warrior that was up and awake.No man can say that I ever struck even a Mingo in his blanket. Ibelieve theres some who thinks theres no God in a wilder ness!"

　　"Attend to your plea, Bumppo," said the Judge; "you hear that you areaccused of using your rifle against an officer of justice? Are youguilty or not guilty?"

　　By this time the irritated feelings of Natty had found vent: and herested on the bar for a moment, in a musing posture, when he liftedhis face, with his silent laugh, and, pointing to where the wood-chopper stood, he said:

　　"Would Billy Kirby be standing there, dye think, if I had used therifle?"

　　"Then you deny it," said Mr. Lippet; "you plead not guilty?"

　　"Sartain," said Natty; "Billy knows that I never fired at all. Billy,do you remember the turkey last winter? Ah me! that was better thancommon firing; but I cant shoot as I used to could."

　　"Enter the plea of not guilty," said Judge Temple, strongly affectedby the simplicity of the prisoner.

　　Hiram was again sworn, and his testimony given on the second charge.He had discovered his former error, and proceeded more cautiously thanbefore. He related very distinctly and, for the man, with amazingterseness, the suspicion against the hunter, the complaint, theissuing of the warrant, and the swearing in of Kirby; all of which, heaffirmed, were done in due form of law. He then added the manner inwhich the constable had been received; and stated, distinctly, thatNatty had pointed the rifle at Kirby, and threatened his life if heattempted to execute his duty. All this was confirmed by Jotham, whowas observed to adhere closely to the story of the magistrate. Mr.Lippet conducted an artful cross-examination of these two witnesses,but, after consuming much time, was compelled to relinquish theattempt to obtain any advantage, in despair.

　　At length the District Attorney called the wood-chopper to the bar,Billy gave an extremely confused account of the whole affair, althoughhe evidently aimed at the truth, until Mr. Van der School aided him,by asking some direct questions:

　　"It appears from examining the papers, that you demanded admissioninto the hut legally; so you were put in bodily fear by his rifle andthreats?"

　　"I didnt mind them that, man," said Billy, snapping his fingers; "Ishould be a poor stick to mind old Leather-Stocking."

　　"But I understood you to say (referring to your previous words [asdelivered here in court] in the commencement of your testimony) thatyou thought he meant to shoot you?"

　　"To be sure I did; and so would you, too, squire, if you had seen achap dropping a muzzle that never misses, and cocking an eye that hasa natural squint by long practice I thought there would be a dustont, and my back was up at once; but Leather-Stocking gin up theskin, and so the matter ended."

　　"Ah! Billy," said Natty, shaking his head, "twas a lucky thought inme to throw out the hide, or there might have been blood spilt; andIm sure, if it had been yourn, I should have mourned it sorely thelittle while I have to stay."

　　"Well, Leather-Stocking," returned Billy, facing the prisoner with afreedom and familiarity that utterly disregarded the presence of thecourt, "as you are on the subject it may be that youve no--"

　　"Go on with your examination, Mr. District Attorney."

　　That gentleman eyed the familiarity between his witness and theprisoner with manifest disgust, and indicated to the court that he wasdone.

　　"Then you didnt feel frightened, Mr. Kirby?" said the counsel for theprisoner.

　　"Me! no," said Billy, casting his eyes oven his own huge frame withevident self-satisfaction; "Im not to be skeared so easy."

　　"You look like a hardy man; where were you born, sir?"

　　"Varmount State; tis a mountaynious place, but theres a stiff soil,and its pretty much wooded with beech and maple."

　　"I have always heard so," said Mr. Lippet soothingly. "You have beenused to the rifle yourself in that country."

　　"I pull the second best trigger in this county. I knock under toNatty Bumppo, there, sin he shot the pigeon."

　　Leather-Stocking raised his head, and laughed again, when he abruptlythrust out a wrinkled hand, and said:

　　"Youre young yet, Billy, and havent seen the matches that I have;but heres my hand; I bear no malice to you, I dont."

　　Mr. Lippet allowed this conciliatory offering to be accepted, andjudiciously paused, while the spirit of peace was exercising itsinfluence over the two; but the Judge interposed his authority.

　　"This is an improper place for such dialogues," he said; "proceed withyour examination of this witness, Mr. Lippet, or I shall order thenext."

　　The attorney started, as if unconscious of any impropriety, andcontinued:

　　"So you settled the matter with Natty amicably on the spot, did you?"

　　"He gin me the skin, and I didnt want to quarrel with an old man;for my part, I see no such mighty matter in shooting a buck!"

　　"And you parted friends? and you would never have thought of bringingthe business up before a court, hadnt you been subpoenaed?"

　　"I dont think I should; he gin the skin, and I didnt feel a hardthought, though Squire Doolittle got some affronted."

　　"I have done, sir," said Mr. Lippet, probably relying on the charge ofthe Judge, as he again seated himself, with the air of a main who feltthat his success was certain.

　　When Mr. Van der School arose to address the jury, he commenced bysaying:

　　"Gentlemen of the jury, I should have interrupted the leadingquestions put by the prisoners counsel (by leading questions I meantelling him what to say), did I not feel confident that the law of theland was superior to any ad vantages (I mean legal advantages) whichhe might obtain by his art. The counsel for the prisoner, gentlemen,has endeavored to persuade you, in opposition to your own good sense,to believe that pointing a rifle at a constable (elected or deputed)is a very innocent affair; and that society (I mean the commonwealth,gentlemen) shall not be endangered thereby. But let me claim yourattention, while we look over the particulars of this heinousoffence." Here Mr. Vain der School favored the jury with an abridgmentof the testimony, recounted in such a manner as utterly to confuse thefaculties of his worthy listeners. After this exhibition he closed asfollows: "And now, gentlemen, having thus made plain to your sensesthe crime of which this unfortunate man has been guilty (unfortunateboth on account of his ignorance and his guilt), I shall leave you toyour own consciences; not in the least doubting that you will see theimportance (notwithstanding the prisoners counsel [doubtless relyingon your former verdict] wishes to appear so confident of success) ofpunishing the offender, and asserting the dignity of the laws."

　　It was now the duty of the Judge to deliver his charge. It consistedof a short, comprehensive summary of the testimony, laying bare theartifice of the prisoners counsel, and placing the facts in soobvious a light that they could not well be misunderstood. "Living aswe do, gentlemen," he concluded, "on the skirts of society, it becomesdoubly necessary to protect the ministers of the law. If you believethe witnesses, in their construction of the acts of the prisoner, itis your duty to convict him; but if you believe that the old man, whothis day appears before you, meant not to harm the constable, but wasacting more under the influence of habit than by the instigations ofmalice, it will be your duty to judge him, but to do it with lenity"

　　As before, the jury did not leave their box; but, after a consultationof some little time, their foreman arose, and pronounced the prisonerGuilty.

　　There was but little surprise manifested in the courtroom at thisverdict, as the testimony, the greater part of which we have omitted,was too clear and direct to be passed over. The judges seemed to haveanticipated this sentiment, for a consultation was passing among themalso, during the deliberation of the jury, and the preparatorymovements of the "bench" announced the coming sentence.

　　"Nathaniel Bumppo," commenced the Judge, making the customary pause.

　　The old hunter, who had been musing again, with his head on the bar,raised himself, and cried, with a prompt, military tone:

　　"Here."

　　The Judge waved his hand for silence, and proceeded:

　　"In forming their sentence, the court have been governed as much bythe consideration of your ignorance of the laws as by a strict senseof the importance of punishing such outrages as this of which you havebeen found guilty. They have therefore passed over the obviouspunishment of whipping on the bare back, in mercy to your years; but,as the dignity of the law requires an open exhibition of theconsequences of your crime, it is ordered that you be conveyed fromthis room to the public stocks, where you are to be confined for onehour; that you pay a fine to the State of one hundred dollars; andthat you be imprisoned in the jail of this county for one calendarmonth, and, furthermore, that your imprisonment do not cease until thesaid fine shall be paid. I feel it my duty, Nathaniel Bumppo--"

　　"And where should I get the money?" interrupted the Leather-Stockingeagerly; " where should I get the money? youll take away the bountyon the painters, because I cut the throat of a deer; and how is an oldman to find so much gold or silver in the woods? No, no, Judge; thinkbetter of it, and dont talk of shutting me up in a jail for thelittle time I have to stay."

　　"If you have anything to urge against the passing of the sentence, thecourt will yet hear you," said the Judge, mildly.

　　"I have enough to say agin it," cried Natty, grasping the bar onwhich his fingers were working with a convulsed motion. "Where am Ito get the money? Let me out into the woods and hills, where Ive beenused to breathe the clear air, and though Im threescore and ten, ifyouve left game enough in the country, Ill travel night and day butIll make you up the sum afore the season is over. Yes, yes--you seethe reason of the thing, and the wicked ness of shutting up an old manthat has spent his days, as one may say, where he could always lookinto the windows of heaven."

　　"I must be governed by the law--"

　　"Talk not to me of law, Marmaduke Temple," interrupted the hunter."Did the beast of the forest mind your laws, when it was thirsty andhungering for the blood of your own child? She was kneeling to her Godfor a greater favor than I ask, and he heard her; and if you now sayno to my prayers, do you think he will be deaf?"

　　"My private feelings must not enter into--"

　　"Hear me, Marmaduke Temple," interrupted the old man, with melancholyearnestness, "and hear reason. Ive travelled these mountains whenyou was no judge, but an infant in your mothers arms; and I feel asif I had a right and a privilege to travel them agin afore I die.Have you forgot the time that you come on to the lake shore, whenthere wasnt even a jail to lodge in: and didnt I give you my ownbear-skin to sleep on, and the fat of a noble buck to satisfy thecravings of your hunger? Yes, yes--you thought it no sin then to kill adeer! And this I did, though I had no reason to love you, for you hadnever done anything but harm to them that loved and sheltered me. Andnow, will you shut me up in your dungeons to pay me for my kindness? Ahundred dollars! Where should I get the money? No, no--theres themthat says hard things of you, Marmaduke Temple, but you aint so badas to wish to see an old man die in a prison, because he stood up forthe right. Come, friend, let me pass; its long sin Ive been usedto such crowds, and I crave to be in the woods agin. Dont fear me,Judge-- I bid you not to fear me; for if theres beaver enough left onthe streams, or the buckskins will sell for a shilling apiece, youshall have the last penny of the fine. Where are ye, pups? come away,dogs, come away! we have a grievous toil to do for our years, but itshall be done--yes, yes, Ive promised it, and it shall be done!"

　　It is unnecessary to say that the movement of the Leather-Stocking wasagain intercepted by the constable; but, before he had time to speak,a bustling in the crowd, and a loud hem, drew all eyes to another partof the room.

　　Benjamin had succeeded in edging his way through the people, and wasnow seen balancing his short body, with one foot in a window and theother on a railing of the jury-box. To the amazement of the wholecourt, the steward was evidently preparing to speak. After a gooddeal of difficulty, he succeeded in drawing from his pocket a smallbag, and then found utterance.

　　"If-so-be," he said, "that your honor is agreeable to trust the poorfellow out on another cruise among the beasts, heres a small matterthat will help to bring down the risk, seeing that theres justthirty-five of your Spaniards in it; and I wish, from the bottom of myheart, that they was raal British guineas, for the sake of the oldboy. But tis as it is; and if Squire Dickens will just be so good asto overhaul this small bit of an account, and take enough from the bagto settle the same, hes welcome to hold on upon the rest, till suchtime as the Leather-Stocking can grapple with them said beaver, or,for that matter, forever, and no thanks asked,"

　　As Benjamin concluded, he thrust out the wooden register of hisarrears to the " Bold Dragoon" with one hand, while he offered his bagof dollars with the other. Astonishment at this singular interruptionproduced a profound stillness in the room, which was only interruptedby the sheriff, who struck his sword on the table, and cried:"Silence!"

　　"There must be an end to this," said the Judge, struggling to overcomehis feelings. "Constable, lead the prisoner to the stocks. Mr.Clerk, what stands next on the calendar?"

　　Natty seemed to yield to his destiny, for he sank his head on hischest, and followed the officer from the court room in silence. Thecrowd moved back for the passage of the prisoner, and when his tallform was seen descending from the outer door, a rush of the people tothe scene of his disgrace followed.