t, and bring in the cart of Jared Bunce,
wheels and all, if so be that the body won't come off easily. We'll see
for ourselves."

It was now the pedler's turn for speech; and, forgetting the precise
predicament in which he personally stood, and only solicitous to save
his chattels from the fate which he plainly saw awaited them, his
expostulations and entreaties were rapid and energetic.

"Now, colonel--gentlemen--my good friends--to-morrow or the next day you
shall see them all--I'll go with you to your plantation--"

"No, thank ye. I want none of your company--and, look ye, if you know
when you're well off, don't undertake to call me your friend. I say, Mr.
Chairman, if it's in order--I don't want to do anything disorderly--I
move that Bunce's cart be moved here into this very room, that we may
see for ourselves the sort of substance he brings here to put off upon
us."

The chairman had long since seemingly given up all hope of exercising,
in their true spirit, the duties of the station which he held. For a
while, it is true, he battled with no little energy for the integrity of
his dignity, with good lungs and a stout spirit; but, though fully a
match in these respects for any one, or perhaps any two of his
competitors, he found the task of contending with the dozen rather less
easy, and, in a little while, his speeches, into which he had lugged
many a choice _ad captandum_ of undisputed effect on any other occasion,
having been completely merged and mingled with those of the mass, he
wisely forbore any further waste of matter, in the stump-oratory of the
South usually so precious; and, drawing himself up proudly and
profoundly in his high place, he remained dignifiedly sullen, until the
special reference thus made by Colonel Blundell again opened the
fountains of the oracle and set them flowing.

The lawyer, thus appealed to, in a long tirade, and in his happiest
manner, delivered his opinion in the premises, and in favor of the
measure. How, indeed, could he do otherwise, and continue that tenacious
pursuit of his own interests which had always been the primary aim and
object, as well of the profession as the person. He at once sagaciously
beheld the embryo lawsuit and contingent controversy about to result
from the proposition; and, in his mind, with a far and free vision,
began to compute the costs and canvass the various terms and prolonged
trials of county court litigation. He saw fee after fee thrust into