When the contemplation of this singularly impressive scene was beginning to weary from the irksomeness of my position, I thought of retiring:  but soon discovered how impossible was such a step.  The crowd had blocked up so completely all the avenues of approach, that even had I succeeded in getting from the market-place, it would be only to remain firmly impacted among the mob in the street.

It now also occurred to me, that although I had been assured by Larkins no call could possibly be made upon my services or those of my party, till after the trial, yet, were that to conclude at any moment, I should be perfectly unable to regain the place where I had stationed them, and the most serious consequences might ensue from the absence of their officer, if the men were required to act.

From the time this thought took possession of me, I became excessively uncomfortable.  Every expression of the people that denoted the progress of the trial, only alarmed me for the conclusion, which I supposed, might not be distant, and I began, with all my ingenuity, to attempt my retreat, which, after half an hour’s severe struggle, I completely abandoned, finding myself scarcely ten yards from where I started.

At length, the counsel for the crown, who had been speaking to evidence, ceased; and an indistinct murmur was heard through the court-house, which was soon repressed by the voice of the crier calling “silence.”  All now seemed still and silent as the grave—­yet, on listening attentively, for some time, you could catch the low tones of a voice speaking, as it appeared, with great deliberation and slowness.  This was the judge addressing the jury.  In a short time this also ceased; and, for about half an hour, the silence was perfectly unbroken, and both within and without there reigned one intense and aching sense of anxiety that absorbed every feeling, and imparted to every face an expression of almost agonizing uncertainty.  It was, indeed, a space well calculated to excite such emotions.  The jury had retired to deliberate upon their verdict.  At length a door was heard to open, and the footsteps of the jury, as they resumed their places, sounded through the court, and were heard by those without.  How heavily upon many a stout heart those footsteps fell!  They had taken their seats—­then came another pause —­after which the monotonous tones of the clerk of the court were heard, addressing the jury for their verdict.  As the foreman rises every ear is bent—­every eye strained—­every heart-string vibrates:  his lips move, but he is not heard; he is desired by the judge to speak louder; the colour mounts to his before bloodless face; he appears to labour for a few seconds with a mighty effort, and, at last, pronounces the words, “Guilty, my Lord—­all guilty!”