THE TRIAL. 95

there was a man to be tried for stealing, he
believed. They talked a little more about
it, and I wanted very much to go and hear
the trial; but I did not know whether they
would let me in.

‘After dinner, I saw the man who said
there was going to be a trial, standing at the
door, and I asked him if any body might go
and hear the trial. ‘O, yes,’ said he, ‘ you can
go if you wish to.’ I then asked him what
it was that the man stole. He laughed, and
said that he did not know that he stole any
thing, but he believed he was accused of
stealing some spoons.”’

‘‘ What did he laugh for?” said Rollo.

“Why, I suppose, because I spoke as if
the man was certainly guilty, when -he had
not been tried. I asked him how soon the
court would begin, and he said in about half
an hour.

‘‘T then went over to see how the black-
smith was getting along with my horse. I
found him ready, and led him back to the
stable. Just as I had seen him comfortably
fixed there, with his oats and his hay before
him, I heard a bell tolling in a very curious
manner.”