"I was never engaged to marry the prisoner."

"Ah, then I have been misinformed. Were not the prisoner and the
deceased rivals for your hand?"

"I believed them to be so."

"Did you ever know them to quarrel?"

"I once saw the prisoner throw Isaac Zahn out of a house."

"What house?"

"I was passing along the street, when through the door of a public-house
I saw the prisoner throw or kick Isaac Zahn into the street, and he fell
on the pavement at my feet."

"Can you remember the name of the public-house?"

"It was The Lucky Digger."

The barrister sat down, and looked at the ceiling of the Court--he had
finished his examination--and the Judge motioned the fair Rachel to
stand down.

The next witness to be sworn was Amiria.

"Do you remember the 3rd of March last?" asked the Crown Prosecutor.

The brown eyes of the Maori girl flashed, and, drawing herself up with
dignity, she said, "Of course, I do. Why should I forget it?"

"What did you do on that day--where did you go?"

"I went for a ride, though I can't see how that can interest you?"

"Did you go alone?"

"No."

"Who accompanied you?"

"Mr. Scarlett."

"Indeed. Where did you ride to?"

"In the direction of Canvas Town."

"Well, well. This is most important. Did you accompany the prisoner all
the way?"

"No. We parted at the last ford before you come to the mountains, and I
returned alone to Timber Town."

"What time of day was that?"

"Between nine and ten in the morning."

"And which way did the prisoner take after leaving you?"

"He crossed over the ford, and went towards Canvas Town."

"Thank you." Then the counsel for the Crown turned to the Judge. "I have
finished with the witness, Your Honour," he said.

"But I have not finished," cried Amiria, lifting her voice so that it
rang through the Court. "There were others on the road that day."

"Ah!" said the Judge. "I understand you desire to make a statement?"

"I desire to say that at the ford were four horrible-looking men."

The Crown Prosecutor laughed. "Yes, yes," he said. "You would tell the
Court that there were others on the road besides yourself and the
prisoner. What were the names of the men to whom you refer?"

"I don't know. How should I know their names?"

Again the Crown Prosecutor laughed. But Scarlett's counsel was on his
feet in a moment.

"Would you recognise them, if you saw them again?" he asked.

"I think so," answered the Maori girl.

"What sh