Part 21 (2/2)
But I don't.”
”Yes, you do,” said the dark man. ”Let's see them.”
”Hear, hear! Bravo, judge! Right, right!” came in chorus.
”Very good, gentlemen,” said the Cornishman, turning calmly to Dallas.
”You show first.”
”It is nearly healed up now,” said Dallas.
”Hor, hor, hor!” laughed the man with the red beard, ”hear him!”
Dallas gave him a fierce glance, and as his captors set him free he hastily slipped off jacket and waistcoat, before tearing open his s.h.i.+rt and laying bare an ugly red scar where a bullet had ploughed his shoulder; and a murmur once more arose.
”That will do,” said the dark man. ”Now the other.”
”I have nothing to show,” said Abel. ”The bullet struck my cap, and just glanced along the side of my head.”
”Come close under the lamp,” said the dark man sternly.
”Better mind your eye,” said Redbeard warningly.
The dark man gave him a sharp look, and then bade Abel kneel down and bend his head sideways.
As he did so a whitish line a few inches long was visible where the hair had been taken off, and at the sight of this there was a fresh murmur.
”That's good proof in both cases, gentlemen,” said the dark man firmly.
”Now, sir,” he continued, ”what more have you to say in support of your evidence?”
”This here,” cried Redbeard. ”I want to know first whether this bully countryman here means what he said nasty, or whether he means it nice?”
”Hear, hear!” shouted a voice behind.
”Just which you please, my fine fellow,” said the Cornishman; ”you can take it hot with sugar, or cold with a red-hot cinder in it, if you like.”
”Then maybe I'll take it hot,” cried Redbeard, fiercely.
He spoke with one hand behind him, and quick as thought he brought it round with a swing, but a man near him struck it up.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN.
HANGING BY A THREAD.
”Stop that!” shouted the judge, springing to his feet. The Cornishman stood quite unmoved.
There was silence directly, and the dark man went on. ”Gentlemen,” he cried, ”we have made this a court of justice, and you chose me the other day, being an English barrister, to act as judge.”
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