east of the mountains, you know, had brought, it seems, several suits
for the possession of lands, mostly in this same Guilford; and among
the rest, one for a right of land in possession of a sturdy young
log-roller, whom they called Harry Woodburn, who appeared in court in
his striped woollen frock, and insisted on defending his own case, as
he proceeded to do with a great deal of confidence. But when he came
to produce his deed for the land he contended was his own, it was
found, to his utter astonishment, to bear a later date than the one
produced by Peters. This seemed to settle the case against him. But he
appeared to have no notion of giving up so; and, by favor of court,
the further hearing of the case was deferred a day or two, to enable
him to procure the town records, which, he contended, would show the
priority of his deed. So he posted back to Guilford for the purpose;
but, on arriving there, found, to his dismay, that the records were
nowhere to be found. One of the belligerent parties of that town, it
seems, had broken into the clerk's office, stolen the records, and
buried them somewhere in the ground. The fellow, therefore, had to
return, and submit to a judgment against him. Still, however, he clung
to his case, and obtained a review of it, in expectation that the
records would be found before the next court. But the poor fellow
seemed doomed to disappointment. At the next court, no records were
forthcoming; and though he defended his case with great zeal, he was
thrown in his suit again; when he concluded, I suppose, to yield to
his fate without further ado."

"Not by any means," said Peters, in a tone of raillery. "He has
petitioned for a new trial; and the question is to come on at this
court."

"Indeed!" exclaimed Jones, laughing. "Well, I must confess I have