l, no matter; it's no harm, anyhow."

Eric had made all the requisite arrangements in the music-saloon; but
by Sonnenkamp's order, the chairs, the side-board set out with eatables
and drinkables, and every thing else needful, were removed to
Sonnenkamp's room. He placed his chair with a table before it near the
door leading into the seed-room, to which he then withdrew.

CHAPTER VIII.

THE NEW CAIN.

After the men had assembled, Eric knocked at the door, according to a
pre-concerted arrangement; and, as it opened, Sonnenkamp came forward.
A bluish pallor rested on his countenance, as he stepped up to the
little table where two sticks for whittling and a pocket-knife were
placed. Resting one hand upon the table, he began,--

"Gentlemen of honor and worth!"--here pausing a moment, he continued,
"I use the words worth and honor, because they are not always, and, in
fact, are very seldom, united together,--you fulfil a human duty in
coming here at my call, and bestowing upon me a portion of your life,
these hours, your feelings, and your thoughts. I acknowledge this
favor. On the Western prairies, in the lonely log-house, in order to
form an opinion of a man from whom wrong has been suffered, and in
order to pronounce a verdict thereupon, and to execute it, we call in
the neighbors living on the solitary farms for miles around; and I have
done this now, and you have come here in obedience to the call. You are
to pass a judgment, you are to decide upon what penalty shall be
inflicted in reference to acts that cannot be weighed in the balances
of legal statutes. I shall lay open to you, without reserve, my past
life. I can do this the more easily, as you know already the worst in
my case. You are to see how I have grown up from childhood, and then to
decide and to judge. I have never felt pity myself, and I ask no pity
from you: I ask for justice."

Sonnenkamp had begun in a depressed tone, and with downcast eyes; but
he soon grew more animated, his countenance became more intent, and his
eye lighted up.

"I make the declaration, therefore, that I accept your finding, and
submit myself to whatever expiation you may determine upon. I have only
one request. Let each one of you, within a week, write out his opinion,
and render in his verdict; then let the paper be given into the hands
of Herr Captain Doctor Eric Dournay, who will break the seal in the
pres