court of
justice, and curiosity seemed to be strongly blended with his personal feelings.
He raised his eyes to the bench, thence to the jury-boxes, the bar, and the
crowd without, meeting every where looks fastened on himself. After surveying
his own person, as if searching for the cause of this unusual attraction, he
once more turned his face around the assemblage, and opened his mouth in one of
his silent and remarkable laughs.
    »Prisoner, remove your cap,« said Judge Temple.
    The order was either unheard or unheeded.
    »Nathaniel Bumppo, be uncovered,« repeated the Judge.
    Natty started at the sound of his name, and, raising his face earnestly
towards the bench, he said -
    »Anan!«
    Mr. Lippet arose from his seat at the table, and whispered in the ear of the
prisoner, when Natty gave him a nod of assent, and took the deer-skin covering
from his head.
    »Mr. District Attorney,« said the Judge, »the prisoner is ready; we wait for
the indictment.«
    The duties of public prosecutor were discharged by Dirck Van der School, who
adjusted his spectacles, cast a cautious look around him at his brethren of the
bar, which he ended by throwing his head aside so as to catch one glance over
the glasses, when he proceeded to read the bill aloud. It was the usual charge
for an assault and battery, on the person of Hiram Doolittle, and was couched in
the ancient language of such instruments, especial care having been taken by the
scribe, not to omit the name of a single offensive weapon known to the law. When
he had done, Mr. Van der School removed his spectacles, which he closed and
placed in his pocket, seemingly for the pleasure of again opening and replacing
them on his nose. After this evolution was repeated once or twice, he handed the
bill over to Mr. Lippet, with a cavalier air, that said as much as »pick a hole
in that if you can.«
    Natty listened to the charge with great attention, leaning forward towards
the reader with an earnestness that denoted his interest; and when it was ended
he raised his tall body to the utmost, and drew a long sigh. All eyes were
turned to the prisoner, whose voice was vainly expected to break the stillness
of the room.
    »You have heard the presentment that the grand jury have made, Nathaniel
Bumppo,« said the Judge; »what do you plead to the charge?«
    The old man dropped his head for a moment