"Covering her eyes with shame, I belave, as well she might be." "Then you did not see her face?" "I belave I did, though." "Believe! Believe! Did you or did you not--yes or no?" "I belave I did, Sir." "Mr. Skillicorne," said the Deemster, "you attach importance to your belief, I see." The old man drew himself up, and answered in his preaching tone, "It's the rock of my salvation, Sir." "Your wife told us that your errand into Andreas was to see the Ballawhaine about your sick cow. Is that the well-known witch-doctor?" "I .... I .... I belave it is, Sir." "And what did he give you?" "A .... a wisp of straw and a few good words, Sir." "Then you believe in that too--that a wisp of straw and a few good words...." But the Deemster could not finish--a ripple of laughter that had been running through the Court having risen to a roar which he did not attempt to repress. "He has made up his mind about this case," said someone. The Attorney-General, who was looking hot and embarrassed, called the last of his witnesses. This was the house-doctor at the hospital, the young man with the thin hair and pugnacious mouth. Asked if he remembered the prisoner being brought into hospital he said "Perfectly." Had he formed any opinion of her condition? He had. What was it? That she had been confined less than five days before. What made him think so? First her unwillingness to be examined and then.... "She refused?" "She did, your Honour, and threatened violence, but she became unconscious soon afterwards and then...." "Stop!" said the Deemster, and looking down at the Attorney he asked if the High Bailiff, in committing the prisoner, had ordered that she should be examined. The Attorney-General shook his head helplessly, whereupon the Deemster, with a severe face, turned back to the witness. "You are a qualified medical practitioner?" "I am," said the witness, straightening himself. "Then of course you know that for a doctor to examine a woman against her will and without a magistrate's order is to commit an offence for which he may be severely punished?" The pugnacious mouth opened like a dying oyster. "Y-es, your Honour." "Therefore you did not examine her?" "N-o, your Honour." "And you know nothing of her condition?" "No----" "Stand down, Sir." There was a commotion in the court-house. The prisoner's face was still calm, but Fenella's was aglow and Gell's was ablaze. "Mr. Attorney," said the Deemster quietly, "have you any further evidence?" The Attorney, who had been whispering hotly to Hudgeon, said, "No, there was a nurse who might have given conclusive evidence, but, thinking the doctor's would be sufficient, my colleague has allowed her to leave the island. No, that is my case, your Honour." Stowell, secretly glad at the turn things had taken, was about to put an end to the trial, when Gell, intoxicated by his success, leapt up and said,