Lost in the Canon Part 32

"No, miners from Gold Cave Camp."

"How came you here?"

"Through the canon."

"And you want me to believe that?"

"I ask you to believe nothing; I tell the truth," said Ulna proudly and half-defiantly.

"Who ever went through the Great Canon and lived?" said the Apache in a calmer tone.

"We have," said Ulna.

"How many of you?"

"Four and a dog."

"And where are the others?"

"They are where they can defy a foe or welcome a friend," said Ulna with undaunted spirit.

CHAPTER XXVI.-THE TRIAL ENDS.

Mr. Willett, like every American of intelligence, not only knew a great deal about the laws of the country of which he was proud of being a citizen, but he also knew as well as most lawyers the methods by which trials were conducted in the regularly organized courts of justice.

In addition to this he saw that the men who had gathered to try him and Hank Tims, though anxious to follow the forms as they understood them, were very ignorant, and like all their cla.s.s, had a profound respect for those who knew more, or seemed to know more, than themselves.

The jury was composed of twelve rough, st.u.r.dy men, who looked as if they fully realized their duty.

Even the judge sat more erect and tried to look dignified at the risk of being ridiculous.

"Now we're all ready to begin, and I want order in the court. The gents as has thar hats on will take 'em off and hold 'em in thar hands," said the judge, again rapping with the heavy gla.s.s on the little pine table by his side.

The "gents" promptly took off their hats, and this was followed by the sc.r.a.ping of boots and a chorus of little coughs that told how nervous all were.

"Now," continued the judge when order was restored, "we'll have the witnesses in and go on with the trial."

"Before you call any witnesses," said Mr. Willett, "I want you or whoever is conducting this case to state the charge against me and my friend Hank Tims."

"We can't have everything har like if it was a reg'lar out-and-out court," said the judge angrily, and again picking up the tumbler as if he were going to hurl it at some one. "And as for the charges, I thought every one in and about Hurley's Gulch knowed that you two is charged with robbin' and murderin' poor Tom Edwards. Thar, I hope that statement of the case will suit the most partic'lar."

"I and my companion, being the most interested," said Mr. Willett, with wonderful calmness, "should be the most particular; but if that is the best statement of the case that can be made, I am willing that you shall go ahead, asking only that I be permitted to cross-question any and all witnesses that may be called."

"This court ain't got any objections as it knows on to yer axin'

questions, pervidin' you stick right down to the point," growled the judge.

Nodding to show that he was satisfied with this, Mr. Willett said, "I am ready," and the young man acting as clerk called out:

"Badger!"

Badger moved nearer to the judge and began to twirl his hat in his big, rough hands in a way that showed he was anything but calm.

"Now, Badger," said Judge Jacks, "tell this yar court and this yar jury all you know 'bout the case."

Badger looked into his hat as if he saw something there that might refresh his memory, and then, after coughing and casting his malignant eye up at the ceiling, he began:

"Wa'al, this is 'bout all I knows 'bout this case. You see, me and Tom Edwards had been ole pards, and so I knowed him as well as any man this side the Rockies. He wasn't a bad kind of a feller to them as knowed how to take him, and though he didn't have much book larnin'--"

Here Mr. Willett interrupted Badger to say:

"This evidence, your honor, is not to the point. We are not here to discuss the character of the dead man, but to find out if we can who murdered him."

"Reckon yer right," said the judge, and then he told Badger he must "stick to bottom facts."

Thus admonished Badger resumed:

"Me and Mr. Shirley got to Hurley's Gulch the night before Tom was did for so cruel bad, and we found he was on a spree, and complainin' to every one that Mr. Willett he was a-tryin' to euchre him out of fifteen hundred dollars, as he'd 'greed to pay for the claim over at Gold Cave Camp. Wa'al, the next mornin' 'bout an hour or so afore day me and Mr.

Shirley was sleepin' together when we heard two pistol shots and a man a-hollerin' "murder." We hurried out and found poor Tom all shot to pieces. We carried him into this yar hotel, and with his dyin' last breath he told us that it was Mr. Willett and Hank Tims as did for him.

Thar, that's all I knows 'bout the case."

My young readers will notice that there was no oath administered to Badger, nor would such a sacred proceeding have affected in any way the nature of his evidence.

"Now you've heard Badger's evidence," said the judge, with an angry glance at Mr. Willett and Hank. "Have you any questions to ax him?"

"I have a few," said Mr. Willett.

"Well, rattle 'em off quick."

"Badger," began Mr. Willett, "what is your business?"

"I'm a miner," was the answer.

"Where do you mine?"

"I ain't at work-jist now."

"How long have you been at Hurley's Gulch?"

"Off and on, 'bout a month."

"You came here broke?"

"Yes. I wasn't flush, I'll allow."