rnished
yellow sunshine had a suggestion of joyous exuberance in its wide
suffusions. Even the recurrent fluctuations of shadow but gave its
pervasive sheen the effect of motion and added embellishment. The
wind, hilarious, loud, piping gayly a tuneful stave, shepherded the
clouds in the fair fields of the high sky, driving the flocculent
white masses here and there as listed a changing will. The trees were
red and yellow, the leaves firm, full-fleshed, as if the ebbing sap of
summer still ran high in every fibre; their tint seemed no hectic
dying taint, but some inherent chromatic richness. Fine avenues the
eye might open amongst the rough brown boles that stood in dense
ranks, preternaturally dark and distinct, washed by the recent rains,
and thrown into prominence by the masses of yellow and red leaves
carpeting the ground, and the red and yellow boughs hanging low above.
They dispensed to the light, clarified air an aromatic richness that
the lungs rejoiced to breathe, and all their flare of color might have
seemed adequate illumination of their demesne without serving writs of
mandamus on the sun; and indeed, the Quarterly County Court was fain
to concern itself with far lesser matters, and wield slighter weapons.
The jury of view, in a close squad, ambling along at an easy gait,
mounted on nags as diverse in appearance, age, and manner as the
riders, sufficiently expressed its authority and their own diligence
in its behests, and their spirits had risen to the propitious aspect
of the weather and the occasion. Their advent into this secluded
region of the district--for to secure a strict impartiality they were
not of the immediate neighborhood, and had no interest which could be
affected by their report--was not hailed with universal satisfaction.

"Jes' look at 'em, now," said old man Binney, as he stood in his door,
leaning on his stick, to watch them pass,--"a jury o' view. An' who
ever viewed a jury a-horseback afore? An' thar ain't but seben on
'em!"--laboriously counting, "five, six, seben. Thar's _twelve_ men on
a sure enough jury! I counted the panel ez hung Ezekiel Tilbuts fur
a-murderin' of his wife. I war thar in town whenst they fetched in
thar verdic'. I dunno what the kentry be a-comin' ter! Shucks! I ain't
a-goin' ter abide by the say-so o' no sech skimpy jury ez this hyar.
I'll go ter town an' see old Lawyer Gryce 'bout it, fust."

And with this extremest threat of vengeance he brought his stick d