part of the country people,
this surprise was supplemented by an intense indignation. The twelfth
man was Jacob Brice. As he was a "mounting boy," one would imagine
that, if victory should crown his efforts, the rural faction ought to
feel the elation of success, but the prevailing sentiment toward him
was that which every well-conducted mind must entertain concerning the
individual who runs against the nominee. Notwithstanding the fact that
Brice was a notable rider, too, and well calculated to try the mettle
of the town's champion, there arose from the excited countrymen a
keen, bitter, and outraged cry of "Take him out!" So strongly does the
partisan heart pulsate to the interests of the nominee! This frantic
petition had no effect on the interloper. A man who has inherited half
a dozen violent quarrels, any one of which may at any moment burst
into a vendetta,--inheriting little else,--is not easily dismayed by
the disapprobation of either friend or foe. His statuesque features,
shaded by the drooping brim of his old black hat were as calm as ever,
and his slow blue eyes did not, for one moment, rest upon the excited
scene about him, so unspeakably new to his scanty experience. His
fine figure showed to great advantage on horseback, despite his
uncouth, coarse garb; he was mounted upon a sturdy, brown mare of
obscure origin, but good-looking, clean-built, sure-footed, and with
the blended charm of spirit and docility; she represented his whole
estate, except his gun and his lean, old hound, that had accompanied
him to the fair, and was even now improving the shining hour by
quarreling over a bone outside the grounds with other people's
handsomer dogs.

The judges were exacting. The riders were ordered to gallop to the
right--and around they went. To the left--and there was again the
spectacle of the swiftly circling equestrian figures. They were
required to draw up in a line, and to dismount; then to mount, and
again to alight. Those whom these manoeuvres proved inferior were
dismissed at once, and the circle was reduced to eight. An exchange of
horses was commanded; and once more the riding, fast and slow, left
and right, the mounting and dismounting were repeated. The proficiency
of the remaining candidates rendered them worthy of more difficult
ordeals. They were required to snatch a hat from the ground while
riding at full gallop. Pistols loaded with blank cartridges were fired
behind the horses, and subsequen