Armed men were still coming in, and yet more rapidly, and the sinking sun heralded a brief, southern twilight and a moonless night; while a great terror took possession of the inhabitants of the doomed village. A few straggling members of the Company appearing with their guns, which they had formerly taken to their homes for cleaning, became the unfortunate subjects of a hue and cry as they hurried along towards the rendezvous, and were marked for the night’s barbarities. No small exhibition of nerve was now required of that African Major-General of the obnoxious “National Guards,”—one of the very men whose high military position was so offensive to the white men now surrounding him, and thronging his court-room, that, though notably fond of the practice of arms, they utterly disregarded the law requiring their enrollment as State Militia-men, lest they might be subordinated to him. Yet with measured step and dignified mien he passed the carriage where the Bakers still sat, greeting them with easy politeness. “I should like to know whether you are sitting in the capacity of Major-General of State Militia, or as a Trial Justice?” said Gen. Baker, when all was in readiness. “That will depend upon the nature of the testimony. I am sitting as a peace officer; and if the facts are such as to justify my sitting as a Trial Justice, I will do so; if not, it will be otherwise.” “It is immaterial to me; I merely wanted to know. I want to investigate the facts of this matter, and either capacity will be agreeable to me,” replied the General. At this juncture the Intendant (Mayor), approached, and whispered to the General, “I think if you would suspend this trial for awhile, we could settle it.” “Just ask the Judge. If he suspends I am willing.” A brief conference ensued, after which the Judge announced a suspension for ten minutes. This caused dissatisfaction among the spectators, as a peaceful adjustment would be but a tame issue of all their military preparations. Intendant Garndon then conducted the plaintiffs and their attorney to the council chamber, which was separated from Dunn’s shop on the corner or Main Street by only one half the width of a narrow street. At this time the largest and most unruly part of the cavalry was gathered about this corner groggery, and a less suitable place for the conference could not have been selected; but each would-be peacemaker seemed to think peace most attainable on his own premises. Though the distance was less than four squares, as they could proceed but slowly through the throng, it sufficed Gen. Baker to administer a lecture to the dusky official upon his personal culpability in having allowed “this so-called militia company,” to train “upon Mr. Robert Baker’s road,” and with arms in their hands—though, doubtless the poor, berated mayor found difficulty in understanding how a public highway could be “Mr. Robert Baker’s road,” or how he could have disarmed the State’s militia.