rs, who would not otherwise have adventured,
now gladly took advantage of the great excitement, and the presence of
so many, to examine a section of country of which they had heard so
much. There came the planter, of rather more wealth than his neighbors,
solicitous for some excitement and novelty to keep himself from utter
stagnation. There came the farmer, discontented with his present
abiding-place, and in search of a new spot of more promise, in which to
drive stakes and do better. The lawyer, from a neighboring county, in
search of a cause; the creditor in search of his runaway debtor--the
judge and the jury also adding something, not less to the number than
the respectability of the throng.

The grand-jury had found several bills, and most of them for the more
aggravated offences in the estimation of the law. Rivers, Munro,
Blundell, Forrester, were all severally and collectively included in
their inquiries; but as none of the parties were to be found for the
present at least, as one of them had been removed to another and higher
jurisdiction, the case of most importance left for trial was that which
charged Colleton with Forrester's murder.

There was no occasion for delay; and, in gloomy and half-desponding
mood, though still erect and unshrinking to the eye of the beholder,
Ralph refused the privilege of a traverse, and instructed Pippin to go
on with the case. The lawyer himself had not the slightest objection to
this procedure, for, not to be harsh in our estimate of his humanities,
there is no reason to believe that he regarded for a single instant the
value of his client's life, but as its preservation was to confer credit
upon his capacity as his legal friend and adviser. The issue was
consequently made up without delay--the indictment was read--the
prisoner put himself upon God and the country, according to the usual
forms, and the case proceeded.

The general impression of the spectators was decidedly in favor of the
accused. His youth--the noble bearing--the ease, the unobtrusive
confidence--the gentle expression, pliant and, though sad, yet entirely
free from anything like desponding weakness--all told in his favor. He
was a fine specimen of the southern gentleman--the true nobleman of that
region, whose pride of character is never ostentatiously displayed and
is only to be felt in the influence which it invariably exercises over
all with whom it may have contact or connection. Though firm in every