ighted the crowd immensely, and caused Burke to look
disconcerted for a few seconds; he rallied, however, and returned to the
charge.

"Postmarks! wot do I care for postmarks? Can't a man forge a postmark as
easy as any other mark?"

"Ah! that's true," from a voice in the crowd.

"No, not so easily as _any_ other mark," retorted Dan; "for it's made
with a kind of ink that's not sold in shops. Everything goes to prove
that the letter is no forgery. But, Mr. Burke, will you answer me this.
If it _was_ a forgery, got up for the purpose of saving this man's life,
_at what time was it forged?_ for Bumpus could not know that he would
ever need such a letter until yesterday afternoon, and between that time
and this there was but little time to forge a letter from San Francisco,
postmark and all, and make it soiled and worn at the edges like an old
letter. ['Hear!' and sensation.] More than that," cried Dan, waxing
eager and earnest, "if it was a forgery, got up for the purpose, _why
was it not produced at the trial?_ ['Hear! hear!' and cheers] And, last
of all why, if this forgery was so important to him, did John Bumpus
forget all about it until he stood on this table; aye, _until the rope
was round his neck?_"

A perfect storm of cheers and applause followed this last sentence, in
the midst of which there were cries of "You're floored, Burke! Hurrah
for Bumpus! Cut the ropes!"

But although John's life was now safe, his indignation at Susan's letter
having been laughed at was not altogether allayed.

"I'll tell ye wot it is," said he, the instant there was a lull in the
uproar of voices. "If you think that I'll stand here and see my Susan's
letter insulted before my eyes, you're very far out o' your reckoning.
Just cut them ropes, an' put any two o' yer biggest men, black or white,
before me, an' if I don't show them a lot o' new stars as hasn't been
seed in no sky wotiver since Adam was a little boy, my name's--"

Up to this point Jo was heard; but the conclusion of his defiance was
drowned in roars of laughter.

"Cut the ropes!" shouted the crowd.

Dan drew a clasp-knife from his pocket, and with one stroke set Bumpus
free.

"Shoulder high!" yelled a voice; "Hurrah!"

A wild rush was made at the table. Jo's executioners were overturned and
trampled under foot, and the table, with himself and his young advocate
sprawling on it, was raised on the shoulders of the crowd and borne off
in triumph.

Half an hour