rprise and joy among the settlers that morning when the
fine ship in which they had traversed the ocean sailed grandly over the
lagoon, and let go her anchor in Silver Bay. Some viewed her as a means
of continuing the voyage, and escaping from a secluded life, of which
they were beginning to tire. Others thought of her as a means of
reopening intercourse with home, while not a few thought only of the
convenience of having her and her useful cargo so near to them.

But great was their surprise when Malines, Morris, Jabez, and the rest
of them were landed with their hands bound behind their backs; and still
greater was that surprise when, in open court, that is, in the midst of
the entire colony in the open air, these men were charged with their
crime.

A regular criminal court was instituted on the spot, as regular, at
least, as was possible, considering the almost total ignorance of all
concerned in regard to matters of law. Queen Pauline appointed Dr
Marsh to be judge, he being supposed to be the best acquainted with, or
least ignorant of, legal matters and forms. A jury of twelve men were
selected by lot, and little Buxley was appointed public prosecutor. In
justice to the prisoners it was thought that they ought to have an
advocate to defend them, but as no one would undertake the duty, that
also was settled by lot, and the lot fell upon Redding, who, being a
gentle and meek man, was perhaps best suited for it.

We may not go into the details of this celebrated trial, which lasted
the greater part of the day, and was watched with intense eagerness by
the entire population, including some of the older children, who had
become impressed with the delightfully-horrible idea that a hanging or
shooting, if not flaying and roasting, of some of the criminals would be
the certain result. Suffice it to say that there was grievous
irregularity in the proceedings: the public prosecutor not only proved
the guilt of the men, but in the fervour of his indignation suggested
the nature of their punishment; the jury not only listened to the facts
of the case, but commented on them freely throughout, and, usurping the
judge's office, pronounced sentence on the criminals three or four times
over; while the judge himself had the greatest possible difficulty in
keeping anything like order all round.

The only man who performed his duty calmly was Redding, who, in a speech
that quite surprised and transfixed the hearers, sought to