sed when asked why he hadn't told
of it before, but said that he was afraid to say much, bekase the folks
was a-talkin' about hanging the master, and he didn't want no lynchin'.

The prosecution here rested, Bronson maintaining that there was enough
evidence to justify Ralph's committal to await trial. But the court
thought that as the defendant had no counsel and offered no rebutting
testimony, it would be only fair to hear what the prisoner had to say
in his own defense.

All this while poor Ralph was looking about the room for Bud. Bud's
actions had of late been strangely contradictory. But had he turned
coward and deserted his friend? Why else did he avoid the session of the
court? After asking himself such questions as these, Ralph would wonder
at his own folly. What could Bud do if he were there? There was no human
power that could prevent the victim of so vile a conspiracy as this,
lodging in that worst of State prisons at Jeffersonville, a place too
bad for criminals. But when there is no human power to help, how
naturally does the human mind look for some divine intervention on the
side of Right! And Ralph's faith in Providence looked in the direction
of Bud. But since no Bud came, he shut down the valves and rose to his
feet, proudly, defiantly, fiercely calm.

"It's of no use for me to say anything. Peter Jones has sworn to a
deliberate falsehood, and he knows it. He has made his wife perjure her
poor soul that she dare not call her own." Here Pete's fists clenched,
but Ralph in his present humor did not care for mobs. The spirit of the
bulldog had complete possession of him. "It is of no use for me to tell
you that Henry Banta has sworn to a lie, partly to revenge himself on
me for punishments I have given him, and partly, perhaps, for money. The
real thieves are in this court-room. I could put my finger on them."

"_To_ be sure," responded the old basket-maker. Ralph looked at Pete
Jones, then at Small. The fiercely calm look attracted the attention of
the people. He knew that this look would probably cost him his life
before the next morning. But he did not care for life. "The testimony of
Miss Hannah Thomson is every word true, I believe that of Mr. Pearson to
be true. The rest is false. But I can not prove it. I know the men I
have to deal with. I shall not escape with State prison. They will not
spare my life. But the people of Clifty will one day find out who are
the thieves." Ralph then proceeded t