"No; the girl saw nothing, at least, only what was circumstantial. She couldn't swear to the deed; nor he neither, as far as that goes, though he makes pretence that he can. Suppose he does swear, what then? There are six of us--six oaths to one. I needn't ask whether you are all willing?" "No, you needn't," was the unanimous rejoinder. "Good, so far. I think you all know that Jerry Rook's oath wouldn't go far about these parts, and if we stick together and deny the thing _in toto_, I'd like to know how a jury could give against us. We've been fools not to try it. I'd have proposed it long ago, only that, like some of the rest, I've been thin-skinned about it, and didn't like to stir up stinking waters." "Yes," cried Buck; "you've been thin-skinned 'bout it--no mistake o' that. Your damned thin-skinnedness, as you call it, has cost me five hundred silver dollars." "Me the same," said Slaughter. "Well, for that matter, we all had to pay alike; and now let us all agree to share alike in any law expenses, in case it should come to that; for my part, I don't think it will." "And why won't it?" asked Randall, whose law experience, himself being a practitioner, guided him to a different conclusion. "You don't suppose that the old Shylock will yield without a trial? Trust me, fellows, he'll fight hard to stick to that six hundred dollars _per annum_ he's been so long pulling out of us." "Damn him! let him fight! What can he do? Let him tell his story, and what evidence can he bring to support it? As I've said, his oath won't count for anything against all six of ours." "But, Alf; you forget the _body_?" This reminiscence called up by Randall, caused all the others to start; for all had forgotten it--Brandon alone excepted. "No, I don't," replied the latter, with an air of triumph at his own astuteness. "Well, he'd bring that up, wouldn't he?" "No doubt he would, if we're fools enough to let him." "Ah! I see what you're driving at." "So do we all." "We know where _it_ lies; we've had good reason to. We've been soft to let it lie there so long, and we'd be softer still to let it lie there any longer." "Darn it, there's something in what he says." "What do you propose, Alf?" "That we go in for a good bit of quiet exhumation, and transfer that body, or bones, or whatever relics be left of it, to a safer place. After that's done let Jerry Rook do his worst." "A good idea!" "Jest the thing, by God!" "Let's carry it out, then!" "When?" "To-morrow night; we're not prepared now, or it might be to-night. Let us provide the tools for to-morrow night, and meet about midnight. We can come together in the glade, and go from there. You must all of you come, and all have a hand in it." "Agreed! We'll do the grave-digging!" "Enough, boys! Let's fill up and drink to our success!"