one or two of the more
juvenile part of the multitude had a desperate trial of speed, to see who should
be the happy man to communicate the critical situation of the magistrate to his
wife.
    Benjamin worked away with great industry and a good deal of skill, at his
occupation, using one hand to raise up his antagonist, while he knocked him over
with the other; for he would have been disgraced in his own estimation, had he
struck a blow on a fallen adversary. By this considerate arrangement he had
found means to hammer the visage of Hiram out of all shape, by the time Richard
succeeded in forcing his way through the throng to the point of combat. The
Sheriff afterwards declared that, independently of his mortification, as
preserver of the peace of the county at this interruption to its harmony, he was
never so grieved in his life, as when he saw this breach of unity between his
favourites. Hiram had in some degree become necessary to his vanity, and
Benjamin, strange as it may appear, he really loved. This attachment was
exhibited in the first words that he uttered.
    »Squire Doolittle! Squire Doolittle! I am ashamed to see a man of your
character and office forget himself so much as to disturb the peace, insult the
court, and beat poor Benjamin in this manner!«
    At the sound of Mr. Jones's voice the steward ceased his employment, and
Hiram had an opportunity of raising his discomfited visage towards the mediator.
Emboldened by the sight of the Sheriff, Mr. Doolittle again had recourse to his
lungs.
    »I'll have the law on you for this,« he cried, desperately; »I'll have the
law on you for this. I call on you, Mr. Sheriff, to seize this man, and I demand
that you take his body into custody.«
    By this time Richard was master of the true state of the case, and, turning
to the steward, he said, reproachfully -
    »Benjamin, how came you in the stocks! I always thought you were mild and
docile as a lamb. It was for your docility that I most esteemed you. Benjamin!
Benjamin! you have not only disgraced yourself, but your friends, by this
shameless conduct. Bless me! bless me! Mr. Doolittle, he seems to have knocked
your face all of one side.«
    Hiram by this time had got on his feet again, and without the reach of the
steward, when he broke forth in violent appeals for vengeance. The offence was
too apparent to be passed over