"If that should happen the people would make quick work of the traitors," I said, thinking of the scene I had just witnessed.
"No one can say when or how a gathering like this is to be swerved from its purpose. Within four and twenty hours the situation may appear entirely different to those who now cry out against the king's minions."
"But the Regulators will hold steadfast," I said quickly. "Having announced themselves as true Sons of Liberty, they cannot give up the struggle while right is on their side."
"I know not what may be the result of to-morrow's trial," my father replied gravely, "and it is of little use to speculate, as I have already been led to do by certain questions your mother asked. We shall know the outcome in due season."
"But you have intimated to her that it may be several weeks before I return home, as if believing the result will be in favor of Tryon's party," I insisted.
"I have said that it might become necessary for the Regulation to remain in session some time and of course, since you are a member, it will be needful to remain in camp."
I understood that father had indulged in more forebodings while conversing privately with mother, than he cared to have made known to me, and was not surprised thereat. It had been in my mind for many hours that the governor could and would influence the decision of the court, if he believed it might be done with safety so far as he personally was concerned, and it would not have caused me astonishment had I been told that the case was already settled without regard to any evidence which might be submitted.
The judges upon the bench would be Chief Justice Martin Howard, with Maurice Moore and Richard Henderson as his associates.
It had been said more than once that to these gentlemen Tryon's desire was of more importance than the king's written law, and even General Hamilton was quoted as having declared that the words of the decisions in the cases which were to come up on the morrow would have been dictated by the man who made of justice a mockery.
However, when I looked around upon the vast assembly, and realized that the governor knew beyond a peradventure that all these people would cry out against any additional wrongs, even to the extent of resorting to arms, I could not believe he would dare trifle with them.