had engaged rooms for us both. But she declined
staying in town any time, and expressed a wish to go to Havre-de-Grace.
So we only stopped at the Asterick long enough to pay my bill and gather
up my effects, and then we took the train for Havre-de-Grace, where we
arrived the same afternoon."

Here the witness suddenly became so much agitated that he could not go
on for some moments.

Mr. Denham brought him a glass of water.

He drank and seemed somewhat revived.

"Tell us what occurred at Havre-de-Grace."

"We took rooms at the Star, had tea there, and after tea she proposed to
take a walk down by the water-side, as the evening was so delightful.
When we had walked a while she proposed that we should hire a boat and
go rowing. I objected, being but an indifferent oarsman. But she
insisted, declaring that she had been brought up on the water-side and
could row like a squaw and swim like a fish. I was her slave, and I
obeyed her. We hired the boat of her choice--a mere shell of a boat--"

Here the judge, who had been growing a little impatient, inquired of the
counsel for the defense:

"Pray, Mr. Berners, what has all this about the boat to do with the case
on trial?"

"It has a great deal to do with it, your honor, as tending to prove that
this woman had a deep design upon the peace and honor of the gentleman
whom she claims as her husband, and that she did not hesitate at any
crime to carry out that design to a successful issue," respectfully
replied the counsel.

"Let the witness proceed then," said the judge.

"What happened next?" inquired Mr. Denham.

"Murder happened next--at least, an attempt at murder. We got into the
little shell of a boat, and I took the oars and rowed out into the river
and down with the tide. We rowed about for more than two hours. It grew
very dark and I then wished to come in; but she objected, and asked me
to row around a certain point that I saw dimly down the river. I rowed
to the point and around it, when suddenly she made an exclamation that
her hat had fallen into the water, and she begged me to get it for her.
It floated about three feet from the side of the boat. I drew in my oars
and secured them, and then leaned over the side of the boat and reached
out my hand to get the hat, which was floating further off. I had to
lean so far over, and stretch my hand so far out, that it was as much as
ever I could do to keep my balance. But just as I touched the hat she
gave me a