James Fenimore Cooper's Frontier: The Pioneers as History

Chapter 30:

 [Natty Fights Back] Hiram Doolittle asks Judge Temple for a warrant to search 

Natty's cabin for the carcass of an illegally killed deer. The Judge reluctantly agrees, but 

privately assures Elizabeth that if Natty is found guilty she can pay his fine. Unable to find 

Sheriff Jones, who is away from the village, Hiram Doolittle deputizes a reluctant Billy Kirby as 

Constable to execute the search warrant, telling Kirby only that the suspect is a powerful 

wrestler. Accompanied by Jotham Riddel, they set forth. When Kirby realizes that they are 

heading for Natty's cabin, he rebels, but finally agrees to a peaceful talk with him. Natty, 

however, adamantly refuses to accept the search warrant, shoves Doolittle into the bushes, and 

aims his rifle at Billy Kirby to warn him off; Doolittle and Riddel promptly flee. Natty then 

drops his gun, and amicably turns over the remains of the deer to Kirby.