While he was thus engaged, a number of men, most of them his townsmen,
who being, like himself, on their way to court, had stopped at the
inn, or store, near by, where the noise of the fray had aroused them,
now came hastening to the spot.

"What is all this, Harry?" exclaimed the foremost, as he came up and
threw a glance of surprise and concern on the ruins before him.

"You can see for yourselves," was his moody reply, as others now
arrived, and, with inquiring looks, gathered around him.

"Yes, yes; but how was it done?"

"John Peters, who just drove up to the tavern, yonder, with a load of
court gentry, run over me--that's all," he answered, with an air that
showed his feelings to be still too much irritated to be
communicative.

But the company, among whom he seemed to be a favorite were not to be
repulsed by a humor for which they appeared to understand how to make
allowance, but continued to press him with inquiries and soothing
words, till their manifestations of sympathy and offers of assistance
had gradually won him into a more cheerful mood; when, throwing off
his reserve, he thanked them kindly, and frankly related what he knew
of the affair, the particulars of which obviously produced a deep
sensation among the listeners. All present, after hearing the recital
of the facts, and on coupling them with the well-known disposition of
Peters, and his previous injuries to Woodburn, at once declared their
belief that the aggression was intentional, and warmly espoused this
cause of their outraged friend and townsman. A sort of council of war