egular right down cruel murder it was (only men 'll
kill women and one another, too, for some causes, as long as the world
lasts); and he just leaned over the dock rails, as if he'd been going to
get three months, and said, cool and quiet, 'No, your Honour; not as I
know of.' He'd made up his mind to it from the first, you see, and that
makes all the difference. He knew he hadn't the ghost of a chance to
get out of it, and when his time came he faced it. I remember seeing his
worst enemy come into the court, and sit and look at him then just to
see how he took it, but he didn't make the least sign. That man couldn't
have told whether he seen him or not.

Starlight and I wasn't likely to break down--not much--whatever the jury
did or the judge said. All the same, after an hour had passed, and we
still waiting there, it began to be a sickening kind of feeling. The day
had been all taken up with the evidence and the rest of the trial; all
long, dragging hours of a hot summer's day. The sun had been blazing
away all day on the iron roof of the courthouse and the red dust of the
streets, that lay inches deep for a mile all round the town. The flies
buzzed all over the courthouse, and round and round, while the lawyers
talked and wrangled with each other; and still the trial went on.
Witness after witness was called, and cross-examined and bullied, and
confused and contradicted till he was afraid to say what he knew or what
he didn't know. I began to think it must be some kind of performance
that would go on for ever and never stop, and the day and it never could
end.

At last the sun came shining level with the lower window, and we knew
it was getting late. After a while the twilight began to get dimmer
and grayer. There isn't much out there when the sun goes down. Then the
judge ordered the lamps to be lighted.

Just at that time the bailiff came forward.

'Your Honour, the jury has agreed.' I felt my teeth shut hard; but I
made no move or sign. I looked over at Starlight. He yawned. He did, as
I'm alive.

'I wish to heaven they'd make more haste,' he said quietly; 'his Honour
and we are both being done out of our dinners.'

I said nothing. I was looking at the foreman's face. I thought I knew
the word he was going to say, and that word was 'Guilty.' Sure enough I
didn't hear anything more for a bit. I don't mind owning that. Most men
feel that way the first time. There was a sound like rushing waters in
my ears, and