I was early with Noah on the following morning. The poor fellow, when it is remembered that he was about to be tried for a capital offence, in a foreign country, under novel institutions, and before a jury of a different species, manifested a surprising degree of fortitude. Still, the love of life was strong within him, as was apparent by the way in which he opened the discourse.
“Did you observe how the wind was this morning, Sir John, as you came in?” the straightforward sealer inquired, with a peculiar interest.
“It is a pleasant gale from the southward.”
“Right off shore! If one knew where all them blackguards of rear admirals and post captains were to be found, I don’t think, Sir, John, that you would care much about paying those fifty thousand promises?”
“My recognizances?—Not in the least, my dear friend, were it not for our honor. It would scarcely be creditable for the Walrus to sail, however, leaving an unsettled account of her captain’s behind us. What would they say at Stunin’tun—what would your own consort think of an act so unmanly?”
“Why, at Stunin’tun, we think him the smartest who gets the easiest out of any difficulty; and I don’t well see why Miss Poke should know it—or, if she did, why she should think the worse of her husband, for saving his life.”
“Away with these unworthy thoughts, and brace yourself to meet the trial. We shall, at least, get some insight into the Leaphigh jurisprudence. Come, I see you are already dressed for the occasion; let us be as prompt as duellists.”
Noah made up his mind to submit with dignity; although he lingered in the great square, in order to study the clouds, in a way to show he might have settled the whole affair with the fore-topsail, had he known where to find his crew. Fortunately for the reputations of all concerned, however, he did not; and, discarding everything like apprehension from his countenance, the sturdy mariner entered the Old Bailey with the tread of a man and the firmness of innocence. I ought to have said sooner, that we had received notice early in the morning, that the proceedings had been taken from before the pages, on appeal, and that a new venue had been laid in the High Criminal Court of Leaphigh.
Brigadier Downright met us at the door; where also a dozen grave, greasy-looking counsellors gathered about us, in a way to show that they were ready to volunteer in behalf of the stranger, on receiving no more than the customary fee. But I had determined to defend Noah myself (the court consenting) for I had forebodings that our safety would depend more on an appeal to the rights of hospitality, than on any legal defence it was in our power to offer. As the brigadier kindly volunteered to aid me for nothing, I thought proper not to refuse his services, however.
I pass over the appearance of the court, the empanelling of the jury, and the arraignment; for, in matters of mere legal forms, there is no great difference between civilized countries, all of them wearing the same semblance of justice. The first indictment, for unhappily there were two, charged Noah with having committed an assault, with malice prepense, on the king’s dignity, with “sticks, daggers, muskets, blunderbusses, air-guns, and other unlawful weapons, more especially with the tongue, in that he had accused his majesty, face to face, with having a memory, etc., etc.” The other indictment, repeating the formula of the first, charged the honest sealer with feloniously accusing her majesty the queen, “in defiance of the law, to the injury of good morals and the peace of society, with having no memory, etc., etc.” To both these charges the plea of “not guilty,” was entered as fast as possible, in behalf of our client.