small
barrel like a churn. Some of the men were engaged in running bullets."

"What induced them to leave the island at that hour of the night?"

"Because they were informed that the Kenawha militia were coming down."

The cross-examination of this witness and some desultory firing by the
opposed counsel ended the day's proceedings. The court adjourned, and
the crowd streamed forth to the open air. Mocket, among the first to
leave the hail, waited for his chief beside the outer doors.
Townspeople, country neighbours, and strangers poured by, and he spoke
to this one or to that. A group of Federalists approached; among them
Ludwell Cary. They were talking, and as they passed Mocket heard the
words, "When I return to Albemarle next week--" They went on down the
steps; others streamed by, and presently Rand appeared. His lieutenant
joined him, and together they left the Capitol and struck down the
parched slopes to Governor Street.

"Things are all right at Williamsburgh," ventured Mocket, finding the
silence oppressive. "I got in too late to see you last night. Were you
at the Capitol yesterday also?"

"Yes."

"A man told me they had Adam on the stand. They got nothing from him?"

"Nothing."

"I've the papers all straight for the Winchester case. What do you want
me to do--"

"I want you to be silent."

The other glanced aslant, with a lift of his brows and a twist of his
lip. "That's a black rage," he thought; "Gideon and old Stephen and the
Lord knows who beside all speaking together!"

They left Governor Street and presently arrived in silence before Rand's
office. Mocket unlocked the door and they went in together. The senior
partner dragged a chair before the empty fireplace and, sitting down,
stared at the discoloured bricks as though he saw vistas through the
wail. Tom worked among the papers on his desk, moving his fingers
noiselessly, and now and then glancing over his shoulder. The clock on
the wall ticked loudly.

Rand spoke at last His voice had a curious suppressed tone, and upon his
forehead, between the eyes, was displayed the horseshoe frown of extreme
anger. Mocket had seen it earlier in the day, and it was now distinct as
a brand. "I am not going," he said, "to take the Winchester case. This
damned business here will soon be over. I shall wait to hear the
verdict, and then I'm going to Albemarle."

"What d'ye think the verdict will be?"

"They'll acquit him. Barring Wirt, he has all th