Without duly reflecting whether an accusation of the kind he preferred, at such a time, to such men, and against one of their own accomplices, would avail much, if anything, toward the punishment of the criminal--not to speak of his own risk, necessarily an almost certain consequence from such an implied determination not to be _particeps criminis_ with any of them, he approached, and boldly denounced Rivers as a murderous villain; and urgently called upon those around him to aid in his arrest.
But he was unheard--he had no auditors; nor did this fact result from any unwillingness on their part to hear and listen to the charge against one so detested as the accused.

They could see and hear but of one subject--they could comprehend no other.

The events of such fresh and recent occurrence were in all minds and before all eyes; and few, besides Forrester, either heard to understand, or listened for a moment to the recital.
Nor did the latter and now unhappy personage appear to give it much more consideration than the rest.

Hurried on by the force of associating circumstances, and by promptings not of himself or his, he had been an active performer in the terrible drama we have already witnessed, and the catastrophe of which he could now only, and in vain, deplore.
Leaning with vacant stare and lacklustre vision against the neighboring rock, he seemed indifferent to, and perhaps ignorant of, the occurrences taking place around him.

He had interfered when the youth and Rivers were in contact, but so soon after the event narrated, that time for reflection had not then been allowed.