ative, was not very important. And the prisoner was
remanded, and the court adjourned until ten o'clock the next morning.

"Life will be saved, but position and usefulness in this neighborhood
gone forever, Paul," said Thurston, as they went out.

"Evidence very strong--very conclusive to our minds, yet not sufficient
to convict him," said one gentleman to another.

"I am of honest Dr. Brightwell's opinion--that the establishment of a
murder needs as a starting point the finding of the body; and, moreover,
that the conviction of a murderer requires an eye-witness to the deed.
The evidence, so far as we have heard it, is strong enough to ruin the
man, but not strong enough to hang him," said a third.

"Ay! but we have not heard all, or the most important part of the
testimony. The State's Attorney has not fired his great gun yet," said a
fourth, as the crowd elbowed, pushed, and struggled out of the
court-room.

Those from distant parts of the county remained in the village all
night--those nearer returned home to come back in the morning.

The second day of the trial, the village was more crowded than before.
At ten o'clock the court opened, the prisoner was shortly afterward
brought in, and the prosecution renewed its examination of witnesses.
The next witness that took the stand was a most important one. John
Miles, captain of the schooner _Plover_. He deposed that in the month of
April, 182-, he was mate in the schooner _Blanch_, of which his father
was the captain. That in said month the prisoner at the bar had hired
his father's vessel to carry off a lady whom the prisoner declared to be
his own wife; that they were to take her to the Bermudas. That to effect
their object, his father and himself had landed near Pine Bluff; the
night was dark, yet he soon discerned the lady walking alone upon the
beach. They were bound to wait for the arrival of the prisoner, and a
signal from him before approaching the lady. They waited some time,
watching from their cover the lady as she paced impatiently up and down
the sands. At length they saw the prisoner approaching. He was closely
wrapped up in his cloak, and his hat was pulled over his eyes, but they
recognized him well by his air and gait. They drew nearer still, keeping
in the shadow, waiting for the signal. The lady and the prisoner met--a
few words passed between them--of which he, the deponent, only heard
"Thurston?" "Yes, Thurston!" and then the prisoner raised h