Once Burr tried to escape. They were riding through a small town in
South Carolina where he knew that he had many friends. So suddenly
he leapt from his horse crying out, "I am Aron Burr, a prisoner.
I claim your protection."
But as quick as lightning Perkins was off his horse too, and with
a pistol in either hand he stood before Burr.
"Mount," he said; "get up."
The two men glared at each other.
"I will not," replied Burr defiantly, heedless of the pistols.
Perkins had no wish to shed blood. Burr was not a very big man.
For an instant Perkins measured him with his eye. Then throwing
his pistols down, without a word he seized his prisoner, and lifted
him into his saddle, as if he had been a child. And almost before
the townspeople had realised what had happened the company was well
on its way again.
The trial was long and exciting. Most people believed Burr guilty
of treason, but it was difficult to prove. So in the end he was
set free.
The American people, however, would have nothing more to do with
him. The law might say he was innocent, but nevertheless they
felt he was a traitor. So he was hunted and hounded from place to
place, and at length changing his name he slipped on board a ship
and sailed for Europe.
But even there he found no peace. He was turned out of England,
and looked upon with suspicion in France.
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