"That is all," said Mr. Balfour.

Mr. Cavendish rose. "You helped Mr. Benedict to escape, did you, Jim?"

"I said so," replied Jim.

"Did you steal the key when you were there first?"

"No; I borrered it, an' brung it back an left it in the door."

"Did you undo the fastenings of the outside door?"

"Yis, an' I did 'em up agin."

"Did you break down the grated door?"

"I remember about somethin' squeakin' an' givin' 'way," replied Jim,
with a smile. "It was purty dark, an' I couldn't see 'xactly what was a
goin' on."

"Oh you couldn't! We have your confession, then, that you are a thief
and a burglar, and that you couldn't see the man you took out."

"Well, now, Squar, that won't help ye any. Benedict is the man as got
away, an' I saved the town the board of two paupers an' the cost of two
pine coffins, an' sent old Buffum where he belonged, an' nobody cried
but his pertickler friend as sets next to ye."

"I beg the Court's protection for my client, against the insults of
this witness," said Mr. Cavendish.

"When a man calls Jim Fenton a thief an' a buggler, he must take what
comes on't," said Jim. "Ye may thank yer everlastin' stars that ye
didn't say that to me in the street, for I should 'a licked ye. I should
'a fastened that slippery old scalp o' yourn tighter nor a drum-head."

"Witness," said the Judge, peremptorily, "you forget where you are, sir.
You must stop these remarks."

"Jedge look 'ere! When a man is insulted by a lawyer in court, what can
he do? I'm a reasomble man, but I can't take anybody's sarse. It does
seem to me as if a lawyer as snubs a witness an calls 'im names, wants
dressin' down too. Give Jim Fenton a fair shake, an' he's all right."

Jim's genial nature and his irrepressible tongue were too much for the
court and the lawyers together. Mr. Cavendish writhed in his seat. He
could do nothing with Jim. He could neither scare nor control him, and
saw that the witness was only anxious for another encounter. It was too
evident that the sympathy of the jury and the increasing throng of
spectators was with the witness, and that they took delight in the
discomfiture of the defendant's counsel.

"May it please the Court," said Mr. Cavendish, "after the disgraceful
confessions of the witness, and the revelation of his criminal
character, it will not comport with my own self-respect to question him
further."

"Paddlin' off, eh?" said Jim, with a comical smile.

"Witness," said th