ON THE FRINGE 315 



well, and appeared to be on fairly friendly terms with 

 his gaolers and with the court. 



The proceedings at the trial, so far as outward 

 show and ceremony were concerned, proved to be of 

 the simplest and most informal character. 



The judge, the respective counsel for the prosecu- 

 tion and the defence, the officials, and most of the 

 spectators, smoked freely, whittled sticks, in some 

 cases rested their feet on the table, and generally 

 comported themselves in a manner befitting the free 

 and independent citizens of a great Republic. 



There was, in fact, a combination of studied freedom 

 and general independence of all form and ceremony, 

 alongside of a desire to scrupulously observe all the 

 technicalities of legal procedure that is eminently 

 characteristic of the transatlantic, cosmopolitan, new 

 Anglo-Saxon race. Big-nosed George, sitting appa- 

 rently unconcerned, and almost as one of the 

 spectators, was verbally and in effect arraigned at the 

 bar, and called upon to answer the charge preferred 

 against him. At first he pleaded guilty, and then, at 

 the instance of his learned legal advocate, withdrew 

 this plea for one of 'Not guilty,' on the ground, 

 subsequently advanced, that there was a flaw in the 

 indictment. 



Then a legal controversy raged between the 

 opposing counsel until the ' court,' in the person of 

 the judge, was at first visibly impressed, and then 

 eventually bored. The trial w r as finally adjourned for 

 the day without any definite decision being arrived at. 



In the general discussion that took place on the 

 subject that evening in the numerous saloons of 

 Rawlins, some diversity of public opinion became 

 apparent. A minority were lost in admiration at the 



