The Rangers

f waters-a lo

t leaps from the

he earth, from th

echoed, We are f

d the whole village, were yet kept in entire ignorance of all that had transpired among the former during the night. Being consequently deceived by the false appearance which every thing within the reach of their observation had been made to wear, and feeling thus relieved of their last night's guilty fears of a popular outbreak, these cruel and dastardly minions of royalty now counted on their triumph as complete, and, soon giving way to noisy exultation, they began openly to boast of the

een to run his wary and watchful eye several times over the assembly, to ascertain whether there were any discoverable indications there pointing to any different state of things from the one so confide

morning, Judge Sabin?" he said to his colleague,

ring none but friendly faces, instead of the hostile ones, which a man would have

I had rather hoped, I should have construed it into a token of submission; or, had a committee been here to present a petition, or a remonstrance or two, I should have been prepared for that, and could have mana

to show me that the rebellion is crushed; for, as I presume, the honest but well-meaning part of the r

r," returned Chandler, with another dissenting shake of the head, a

ional expectant glance through the windows, he there read, with the instinctive sagacity sometimes seen in men of his cast of character, enough to convince him, with what he had previously observed, that a movement of a dangerous magnitude was somewhere in progress, and soon to be developed against the court party. And he instantly resolved to lose no time before trimming his sails and preparing to meet the coming storm. And the next moment, to the surprise of his colleague and the officers of the court, he was on his feet, requesting silence that he might address the assembly. He then

quoted. I can refer them to it as the public expr

e able to sustain themselves, he could as easily explain away his objectionable doings, and retain his standing among them. Having done this, he then turned his attention to the official duties of his place, and ordered the crier to give the usual notice, that the court was now open for business. This being formally done, the court docket was called over, a

es were exchanged among the tory lawyers and officers about the bar at the question, an

ch he has been so unjustly kept out by this vexatious proceeding. And, as the petitioner has not entered his appearance according to rule, whereby he tacitly admits

before rendering judgment," bluntly interposed Knights, a large, plain-looking practi

ch deprives a man of the opportunity of appearing at court, should render judgment against him in consequence of his non-appear

treason," said Stearns,

r not, Mr. Knights?" dem

thorized me. I only made a sug

suppressed warmth. "Traitors and rebels must look somewhere

nt scorn flashed over his manly and intelligent countenance; "and till such is the case, I take it the rights of

d Chandler, "you could hardly expect me to be guilty of so great a discourtesy

osts, and a writ of possession. I am not troubled with any doubts

cely-folded papers, handed them slyly to the other, who, receiving them in the same manner, immediately left the court-room and proceeded down stairs. As the exulting suitor pa

ut of the reach of observation, "have you done up your bus

have got your decision, papers made out, an

returned Peter

has not been in

rn, the case was disposed of in a hurry. And the clerk, with whom I had also arranged matters, had made out the papers before go

the necessity of servi

come here to stir up and lead on the disaffected, all legal proceedings might be stopped. I know most of our folks think, this morning, that the enemy are fairly under

is a very t

acious, and therefore an i

t are your orders a

w in for a tenant, rent free the first year, if you can do no better, provided he will defend the premises against Woodburn, if he escapes unhung. And with t

e enough of the fell

ck there to give fight and trouble us. So you fix all these matters about right for me, Fitch and

constable, with a significant wink, as he stuffed the documents into his ha

n, which was situated without the village, about a half mile north of the Court House, from which it would have been visible but for the pine thicket

or I was bound to your quar

ive you one, which I started to carry to y

hundred strong, in the first woods south

being a hundred better than you, all chafi

ering the village, as agreed, which we will expect you to answer, and then rush on, as fast as you please, to effect a j

tter went in, and, in the bustle, got a

t how are the

cept French, who

n be avenged," said Morris, as the two now separ

to curry as easily as the one wherein he had just so wickedly triumphed. But he was not permitted to reap any more of his despicable advantages; for he found that another, actuated by motives no less unworthy than his own, had already gained the attention of the court to a case of which he

on with his colleague, "as all the witnesses are here, we have concluded to take up the criminal cas

ime, reappeared with the prisoner, followed by two armed men, wh

enance, in which meekness and fire, kindness and austerity, were curiously blended. As he seated himself, he turned round and faced the court with a fearless and even scornful air, but promptly rose, at the bidd

ocked up a pistol, pointed at my breast by a robbe

guilty?" sternly i

d have reserved for the more appropriate time of making his defence, or left to his counsel. "Ay, not guilty; and that gentleman," he rapidly continued, pointing to Brush, "that gentleman, who

s soon as he could recover from the surprise and confusion

ied Stearns, who, in his anxiety to shield his frien

n, may it please the court," said Knights, rising, with a

he prisoner, sir?" sha

is not the only truth to be developed. But before the case proceeds any further, I offer a plea to the jurisdiction of this court, and at once submit, whe

l all the rest you can raise in favor of the miserable wretch you have stooped to

gnified feeling, after glancing at the order which had been

their already blackened characters: for, at this moment, a deep and piercing groan, issuing from one of the prison-rooms beneath, resounded through the building so fearfully distinct, as to cause every individual of the assembly to start, and even to bring the judges and officers of the court to a dead pause in their proceedings.

ing voices at once, as nearly the whole assembly started to their feet, and s

its officers, and leading partisans around the bar. "Don't your consciences tell you what it was? Then I will! It was the death-screech of the poor

ed Sabin, boiling with wrath, and p

abbing miscreant!"

when that name is mentioned,"

utting intimations of their guilty conduct, the judges and officers seemed perfectly at a loss how to act, or give vent to th

tterson!" exclaimed

be ironed and gagged on the spot!" shouted Gale, bringin

see if we can hang him on that, should he es

dler, who was growing every mo

and see the king's authority insulted, and his court treated with such contempt and tr

d victim has cried up to God for vengeance. The cry has been heard! the unseen hand has already traced your doom on the wall! and this day, ay, within this hour," he continued, glancing through the window to a dark mass of men, who might now be partially discerned drawn up behind the point of woods at the nort

hole band of these tory dignitaries. The dark and angry scowls of mediated revenge, and the more fiery expressions of undisguised wrath, which were bent on the dauntless old man during the first part of his denunciations, had, by the time he made his closing announcement, all given way to looks of surprise and apprehension. No one offered to lay hands on him; for, as the truth of what he said was every moment more strongly confirmed by the

eir power. Let every man look to his own safety! I shall to mine," he added, rushing back down to the front door, where, instead of attempting to escape t

stinctly understood," he repeated, raising his voice in his anxiety to be heard-"yes, le

ean by that?" muttered Ga

hat pitiful poltroon of a Redding, go where they please. We will see to matters ourselves. I don't believe it is any thing more than a mere mob, who will s

e door, in the universal panic which had seized them, the boastful sheriff, attended by his assistants and the t

arms! Stand to your guns there below, guards, a

in on the right and left, and extending the wings round the whole building. And as the discomfited loyalist ran his eye along the line of the broad-breasted and fierce-looking fellows before him, and recognized among them the Huntingtons, the Knights, the Stevenses, the Baileys, the Brighams, the Curtises, and other stanch and leading patriots

pany of tory guards who had been stationed in the yard, but who now, sharing in the general panic, had thrown down their arms, and stood huddled t

ng from another part of the ranks, "suppose you ditter read another king's

sive laughter; and his place was the next moment occupied by Chandler, who bustled forward to the ste

back among the troops and other appearances, to be chief in command-"short speeches, if any. We have

g, in the morning, as he did with astonishment and horror, of the unauthorized proceedings of last night, he had denounced the out

e, which have lately become so painful to me, I feel myself again one of the people,

ven with this equivocal testimony of public feeling towards him, this despicable functionary felt gratified. "I am safe," said he to himself, with a long-drawn breath, as he desce

ion, what you'd

on is, sirs, wi

and the prisoner, Herriot, appeared

ave been brought here from my dungeon to answer to the charge of a foul crime; and both my accusers and triers, fleeing even before any one appeared to pursue, have left their p

r; "if thy accusers and judges have left thee uncondemned, thou shalt not be condemned by u

it is said, they depended to convict father Herriot; and I would not hang a dog on their

nd "Ay!" the next instant rose in one loud

lty of much, which has cost me many bitter tears of repentance; but there is no blood on my hands, and I will now return to my hermit hut, from which they dragged me, there to pray for the s

n to act upon it without delay; and accordingly a score of resolute fellows were detached to proceed to th