The ranger wore a loose and sagging belt; his gun swung low on his thigh, just at the reach of his extended arm. As he came abreast of the destined box Scarboro's arm flashed down and up. So did Twilight. A pistol shot, a long blue streak, and a squeal of anguish ascended together, hopelessly mingled and indiscriminate, spurning the spinning earth. It launched toward outer space in a complex of motion upward, sidewise, forward and inside out, shaming the orbit of the moon, nodes, perturbations, apsides, syzygies and other symptoms too luminous to mention; but perhaps apogee and acceleration were the most prominent. A clatter, a pitch, an agonized bawl, a sailing hat, a dust cloud, a desperate face above it, with streaming hair; the marvel fell away down the hill and left a stunned silence behind. And presently a gun came down. "Do you want to cross-examine the witness?" inquired Johnny. Wade threw up his hands. "Well!" he said. "Well!" His jaw dropped. He drew Johnny aside and whispered, "See here, damn you--did you kill that man?" "No, I didn't," whispered Johnny. "But you keep it dark. It's a dead secret." The roaring crowd came in with laughter and shouts. As they found seats and the tumult quieted Johnny addressed the judge. "Shall I take the stand now, Your Honor, or wait till after dinner? It's late, I know--but you'd believe me better right now--" "Wait a minute, Andy!" A man rose in the crowd--a tall old man with a melancholy face--the same who had summoned Hobby Lull to the door. "Why, hello, Pete! I didn't see you come!" said the judge. "That's funny, too. I have been here half an hour. You're getting old, Andy--getting old!" "Oh, you go to thunder! Say, can you straighten up this mess?" "I can help, at least--or so I believe. I was with the search party." "Well, who calls this witness--the defense or the prosecution?" inquired the court. "Oh, let me call myself--as the friend of the court, _amicus curiæ_, just as they used to do in England--do yet, for all I know. I've not heard your evidence--though I saw some just now, outside. But I've got a few facts which you may be able to fit in somewhere. I don't know the defendant, and am not for or against the prosecutor or for anybody or anything except justice. So I'll take it kindly if you'd let me tell my story in my own way--as the friend of justice. I'll get over the ground quicker and tell it straighter. If anyone is not satisfied they can cross-examine me afterwards, just as if I had been called by one side or the other." Judge Hinkle turned to Wade. "Any objections?" "No," said Wade. "I guess justice is what we all want--results, as you said yourself." He was a subdued man. His three witnesses stirred uneasily, with sidelong glances. Spinal Maginnis kept a corner of his eye on those witnesses. "Suits me," said Johnny. "I got to get me a drink," whispered Caney, and rose, tiptoeing. But Maginnis rose with him.