Now, as the time between the striking of the fatal blow and the hour at which the prisoner arrived at the Quarry Station was only ninety minutes, a general murmur of satisfaction followed this announcement. It was only momentary, however, for Mr. Ferris, rising to cross-examine the witness, curiosity prevailed over all lesser emotions, and an immediate silence followed without the intervention of the Court. "Did you make these three runs from Mrs. Clemmens' house to Monteith Quarry Station entirely on foot?" "I did, sir." "Was that necessary?" "Yes, sir; as far as the highway, at least. The path through the woods is not wide enough for a horse, unless it be for that short distance where the Foresters' Road intervenes." "And you ran there?" "Yes, sir, twice at full speed; the third time I had the experience I have told you of." "And how long do you think it took you to go over that especial portion of ground?" "Five minutes, maybe." "And, supposing you had had a horse?" "Well, sir, _if_ I had had a horse, and _if_ he had been waiting there, all ready for me to jump on his back, and _if_ he had been a good runner and used to the road, I think I could have gone over it in two minutes, if I had not first broken my neck on some of the jagged stones that roughen the road." "In other words, you could have saved three minutes if you had been furnished with a horse at that particular spot?" "Yes, _if_." Mr. Orcutt, whose eye had been fixed upon the door at this particular juncture, now looked back at the witness and hurriedly rose to his feet. "Has my esteemed friend any testimony on hand to prove that the prisoner had a horse at this place? if he has not, I object to these questions." "What testimony I have to produce will come in at its proper time," retorted Mr. Ferris. "Meanwhile, I think I have a right to put this or any other kind of similar question to the witness." The Judge acquiescing with a nod, Mr. Orcutt sat down. Mr. Ferris went on. "Did you meet any one on the road during any of these three runs which you made?" "No, sir. That is, I met no one in the woods. There were one or two persons on the highway the last time I ran over it." "Were they riding or walking?" "Walking." Here Mr. Orcutt interposed. "Did you say that in passing over the highway you ran?" "Yes, sir." "Why did you do this? Had you not been told that the prisoner was seen to be walking when he came down the road to the station?" "Yes, sir. But I was in for time, you see." "And you did not make it even with that advantage?" "No, sir." The second expert had the same story to tell, with a few variations. He had made one of his runs in five minutes less than the other had done, but it was by a great exertion that left him completely exhausted when he arrived at the station. It was during his cross-examination that Hickory at last came in.