ding
specific commands, found themselves unable to get beyond the outer
corridor. Here they hung around for some time in the vain hope of
hearing something. The heavy breathing and jostling of the crowd about
them was their only reward. Finally they gave it up and wandered out
into the grounds.

It was by now nearly December of a remarkably open year. Although Indian
summer had long since gone, and although the low black clouds and heavy
gales of late autumn had given repeated warnings, winter had somehow
failed to arrive. There was as yet no snow; and the sun, turned silver
in place of the harvest gold, sometimes, as now, dispersed considerable
warmth. In consequence of the mildness without and the crowd within, the
windows of the court-room had been lowered at the top. The boys could
almost catch the words of whoever was speaking.

"Come on, let's shin up that tree," suggested Johnny.

Immediately they acted on the inspiration. The highest limbs capable of
bearing weight were still some three feet below the window-sills. Still,
the boys could hear plainly what was going on, and could see into the
room on an upward slant.

Evidently the legal processes had been fulfilled, and the first witness
was giving his testimony.

"I was working in my field, throwing out manure, when I saw the prisoner
come out of the popple thicket on Pritchard's place."

"How far were you from the thicket?"

"My field is right across the county road."

"At what point did the prisoner emerge from the thicket as respects the
spot where the body was found?"

"He came out right opposite, a good quarter-mile, I should say."

"Anything unusual in the prisoner's appearance or actions?"

"He didn't have no hat. I noticed that."

After a few more questions the witness was excused. In an instant he
appeared in the boys' line of vision and sat down.

Another witness was sworn, and deposed that he had been driving along
the county road, and had also seen Mr. Kincaid emerge from the thicket
without a hat. This witness likewise, on being excused, crossed the room
and took his seat near the window.

This point established, the prosecution called upon the man who had
found the body. He stated that he was in the employ of the deceased; had
gone out afoot to look up a strayed cow, had come across the body late
in the afternoon. Pritchard had been killed by a knife thrust in the
throat. He lay on his back. He had carried a 22-calibre rifle with w