"Duly elected," said Budlong, "because nobody else would have it. But, gentlemen of the jury, I shall read you Section 1166, which is as follows, 'If any person shall draw and present a pistol, loaded with lead or other substance, or shoot at and wound another with the intention to kill him, so that he does not die thereby, he shall be confined in the penetentiary not less than one, or more than five years. There's your law, gentlemen. Call the first witness!" "Bill Shonts!" called the marshall. Bill came to the chair. "What's your name?" "W'y, Jedge, you know my name." "Answer my question. What's your name?" "Bill Shonts." "Where do you live?" "Sho, Jedge, you've knowed me all my life!" "That ain't the question. You answer accordin' to the custom of the court." "I want you to state what you know about this case." "Directly, or indirectly, Jedge?" "Where was you when this difficulty started?" "Well, sir, I was not in any one certain spot, directly, but indirectly, I was jest beginnin' to--" "State where you was at!" thundered Budlong. "Well, sir, jest at the time of this difficulty, I was jest beginning to take a nap--" "Do you mean to say that you was asleep?" "Not directly, Jedge, but--" [Illustration: "W'y, Jedge, you know my name."] "Where was you when the damn lie passed?" "Jest beginning to move." "Did you see Doctor Hissong draw a pistol?" "No, sir, not directly." "Did you hear a shot?" "Yes, sir." "Where was you then?" "Ramblin' away, sir." "What do you mean by _ramblin' away_?" "Runnin', flyin', hittin' the dust." "Then you don't know who fired first?" "No, sir, not directly." "Call Jerry McManus," said Budlong. A red-faced, jovial-looking Irishman took the chair. "Where were you when this trouble started, Jerry?" "Under a sycamore tree, asleep." "Had you been drinkin'?" "Yis, sor, thot is to say, accordin' to the liberties av a mon injoyin' the soshabilities av good company." "Did you hear the _dam lie_ pass?" "No, sor, I heard no footsteps av iny sort." "Did you hear a shot from where you lay?" "There wor no shot from where I lay. If there wor iny shot from where I lay, thin I wor already half-shot." "Wasn't you in a state of intoxication?" "I wor in the state of Kintucky." "Stand aside," said Budlong, "Call the next witness." One by one the witnesses gave their testimony, varying according to the friendly feeling for the men on trial. At last, Budlong said, "Call Brad Jackson." Old Brad got in the witness chair and gazed listlessly at the ceiling. "Brad, was you present when this difficulty started?" "No, sah." "Where was you?" "In de grove, eatin' soup." "Where was you when the lie passed?" "On my way to Doctor Hissong." "State to the jury what you know about this case." "Yassir, genelmun, hit remine me uv de time when Kernel Poindexter an' Mistah Fontaine had a quarrel ovah a fox-chase down in Baton-Rouge--" "Confine yourself to the case," said Budlong.