wrong, the reasons were almost certain to be incorrect, Justice Miller
contented himself with finding the prisoner guilty, and sentenced him
to a week's confinement in the town workhouse.

It was not without some surprise that the friends of Holden heard the
decision. Although contemplating its possibility, they had indulged a
hope that the Justice would be unwilling to subject one so harmless,
and whom they considered innocent of all intention to violate the law,
to any punishment; but with that reverence for law which characterizes
New England, and without which there can be no security for free
institutions, they submitted, although not without some murmurs. It
was in vain, they knew, to ask for any mitigation; Justice Miller
having once pronounced sentence, being as inexorable as the Supreme
Court. The room was soon nearly emptied of the spectators, none
remaining except the particular friends of the prisoner. Nothing
remained but to carry the sentence into execution. Holden's friends
also at last took a sorrowful leave, and the mittimus being made
out, it was handed to Basset, to remove the prisoner to the place of
destination.

For the sake of greater security, Basset now produced a pair of
handcuffs, which he put on the condemned man's hands, who offered no
objection, but calmly submitted to his fate.




CHAPTER XVIII.

_Armado_.--By my sweet soul, I mean setting thee at liberty,