when I recollected this
box, which you see is a fine one, though they have disfigured it, I
thought I should have time enough to take it with me, and anything that
might be lying about;" looking around the apartment as he spoke, and
gathering up a few fragments which had escaped the general notice.

"Begone, fool!" exclaimed the lawyer, impatiently. "They are upon
you--they come--fly for your life, you dog--I hear their voices."

"I'm off, lawyer"--and looking once behind him as he hurried off, the
pedler passed from the rear of the building as those who sought him
re-entered in front.

"The blood's in him--the Yankee will be Yankee still," was the muttered
speech of the lawyer, as he prepared to encounter the returning rioters.

CHAPTER VII.

THE YANKEE OUTWITS THE LAWYER.

It was at this moment that Forrester entered the tavern-hall; curious to
know the result of the trial, from which his attendance upon Ralph had
unavoidably detained him. The actors of the drama were in better humor
than before, and uproarious mirth had succeeded to ferocity. They were
all in the very excess of self-glorification; for, though somewhat
disappointed of their design, and defrauded of the catastrophe, they had
nevertheless done much, according to their own judgment, and enough,
perhaps, in that of the reader, for the purposes of justice. The work of
mischief had been fully consummated; and though, to their notion, still
somewhat incomplete from the escape of the pedler himself, they were in
great part satisfied--some few among them, indeed--and among these our
quondam friend Forrester may be included--were not sorry that Bunce had
escaped the application of the personal tests which had been
contemplated for his benefit; for, however willing, it was somewhat
doubtful whether they could have been altogether able to save him from
the hands of those having a less scrupulous regard to humanity.

The sudden appearance of Forrester revived the spirit of the
transaction, now beginning somewhat to decline, as several voices
undertook to give him an account of its progress. The lawyer was in his
happiest mood, as things, so far, had all turned out as he expected. His
voice was loudest, and his oratory more decidedly effective than ever.
The prospect before him was also of so seductive a character, that he
yielded more than was his wont to the influences of the bottle-god: who
stood little iron-hooped keg, perched upon a shelf conve