Away he trudged in a gnashing rage, muttering back his threats and reproaches, and Fabens turned into the house and enjoyed his early tea. By the time Bogle was home, however, he had altered his mind, and went and consulted his witnesses, and ascertained more definitely what was surmised, and what could be proved. Passing Troffater's on his way, that incarnate mischief came out, and hailed him, saying, "Here, ho! Bogle--hello there! How d'ye dew? come back, come back, and see a feller! Don't be scornful!" "I aint scornful. I'm in a hurry," grumbled Bogle. "Wal, come back a minute--a man broke his neck in a hurry. What you goin' to dew with Sculpin, eh? He hooked your log-chain, I heern," said Troffater. "I'm goin' to see Square Fabens agin to-morrow, and try and fetch the feller to justice. Sculpin _may_ be sorry for this. I know what I ken prove," said Bogle. "I don't b'lieve the Square will try 'im. I never could git a hearin' of 'im. He's stiff as steelyards, and short as pie-crust since he got in office. But mebby he'll knuckle a little to you. If he will, put Sculpin through a course of sprouts, and larn 'im better'n to hook log-chains. But I'm sorry I know anything about it; _I_ don't want to go to court," said Troffater, with a mysterious elongation of his little monkey face, and significant rollings and crossings of his black and blue eyes. "But what do you know, Troffater?" asked Bogie, with new light animating his anxious eye and cheek. "What do you know? There's somethin' to help me on a bit, I guess." "O, I'm sorry I spoke," said Troffater, and spit through his teeth. "I don't know nothin' about it. I don't want to go afore Fabens, and be obleeged to look 'im in the face. I wish I'd never seen Sculpin, nor his little thievin' capers." "Don't bother me, now," said Bogle. "If ye know anything--and I bleeve ye dew--out with it, and be my witness. I'm afraid it'll give me a sweat to beat 'im arter all. Out with it, Tilly." "O, go long! go long!" said Troffater. "I hope you'll lick the rascal. He's guilty's a dog. But don't ax _me_, now, what _I_ know! I wouldn't go afore Fabens for a fat turkey, I wouldn't. And then agin, why should I want to hurt Sculpin, or lay a straw in his way? Mebby he'll dew better, sense the trap liked to ketch 'im; and I'm sure I don't want to expose him." "But tell me what you know, if you stay away from court," said Bogle. "Tell me, and relieve my mind." "Go long, I say, and don't ax me agin, for I don't know nothin'--that I'd like to tell in court." "I shall suppeeny you!" cried Bogle, departing in a huff. "Don't ye dew it, Bogle! O, don't ye dew it for all the world, Bogle! I shall hev a caniption fit if ye dew!" shouted Troffater after him. The next day Bogle came before the justice with evidence against Sculpin, which Fabens regretted to believe was but too well founded; and he issued a warrant, and a week from that day the action was brought to trial.