red beard. But
even more extraordinary than the man's beard was his casual, almost
insolent, bearing. He glanced at the Judge contemptuously, he looked
pityingly at the jury, he regarded the barristers with dislike, and then
he settled himself resignedly against the front of the witness-box, and
fixed his eyes superciliously upon the Sergeant of Police.

"Are you the owner of a claim on Bush Robin Creek?"

"I am, and it's a good claim too." The witness evidently considered
himself on familiar terms with the counsel for the Crown.

"Did you sell gold to Isaac Zahn?"

"I did, an' he give me L3 15s. an ounce. The result of a month's work,
yer Honour."

"How much did you sell?"

"Forty-six ounces fifteen pennyweights; but, bless yer, I'd on'y begun
to scratch the top of the claim."

The idea of the witness blessing the Crown Prosecutor convulsed the bar
with merriment; but, looking straight at the witness, the Judge said, "I
beg you to remember, sir, that you are in a Court of Law, and not in the
bar of a public-house." To which admonition the digger was understood,
by those nearest to him, to murmur, "I on'y wish I were."

"Was there anything unusual in the appearance of the gold that you sold
to Zahn?"

"It was very 'eavy gold," replied the witness, "an' there was one nugget
that 'e give me extry for, as a curio."

"Indeed," said the counsel, as though this fact was quite new to him.
"What was it like?"

"It weighed close on two ounces, an' was shaped like a kaka's head."

"What is a _kaka_, my man, and what shape is it's head?"

"I thought you'd ha' known--it's a parrot, mister."

"Would you know the nugget, if you saw it again?"

"'Course, I would," replied the witness with infinite contempt. "I got
eyes, ain't I, an' a mem'ry?"

"Is that it?" The barrister handed a bit of gold to the witness.

"That's the identical nugget," replied the witness: "you may make your
mind easy on that. I sold it to Zahn soon after he come to the field."

"Thank you," said the Crown Prosecutor, and, turning to the jury, he
added, "That nugget, gentlemen, is an exhibit in the case, and is one of
the effects found on the prisoner at the bar, when he was searched after
his arrest."

The witness left the box amid a murmur of excitement, and from the
gestures of the jurymen it was clear that his evidence had impressed
them. The case against Scarlett wore a serious aspect, and the Crown
Prosecutor, smiling, as though well