262 OCEAN TO OCEAN ON HORSEBACK. 



the stout hearts of a hundred men, who were to act as 

 posse for the protection of the court. 



When the judges, sheriff and attendants met at 

 Miami to perfect their plans, on Sunday the sixth of 

 September, they were somewhat fearful of the issue, 

 and finally left the decision of the matter in the hands 

 of Colonel Vanfleet. This intrepid Leonidas imme- 

 diately assumed the championship of his State with 

 admirable skill, and, walking up and down, sword in 

 hand, in front of his hundred followers, for a moment's 

 meditation, turned at last to the judges with these im- 

 pressive words: 



" If you are women, go home ; if you are men, do 

 your duty as judges of the court. I will do mine. If 

 you leave this matter entirely with me, I will be re- 

 sponsible for your safety and insure the accomplishment 

 of our object; but if otherwise, I can give you no as- 

 surance ! " 



In the light of present knowledge, the reader of 

 these words, while he respects and admires the spirit 

 in which they w^ere uttered, and the man who s])oke 

 them, cannot avoid a mild sense of amusement. But 

 this is not to the point. Matters proceeded seriously 

 on that sixth of September, 1835. Vanfleet called for 

 twenty volunteers, and these having quickly responded 

 to the call, the Colonel then informed his proteges, 

 probably not to their surprise, that the seventh of Sep- 

 tember would begin immediately after midnight ; that 

 the law did not specify any time for the opening of 

 court, and that if they would rely upon his j)rotection, 

 they could accomplish their purpose in the face of the 

 toe. 



" Governor Lucas wants the court held," he arlded, 



