His arms are bound with a rope with a long end, which Squinty holds. They release him when he enters; and he stretches himself and lounges across the courthouse in front of the women. Strapper and the men remain between him and the door.] BABSY [spitting at him as he passes her] Horse-thief! horse-thief! OTHERS. You will hang for it; do you hear? And serve you right. Serve you right. That will teach you. I wouldn't wait to try you. Lynch him straight off, the varmint. Yes, yes. Tell the boys. Lynch him. BLANCO [mocking] "Angels ever bright and fair--" BABSY. You call me an angel, and I'll smack your dirty face for you. BLANCO. "Take, oh take me to your care." EMMA. There wont be any angels where youre going to. OTHERS. Aha! Devils, more likely. And too good company for a horse-thief. ALL. Horse-thief! Horse-thief! Horse-thief! BLANCO. Do women make the law here, or men? Drive these heifers out. THE WOMEN. Oh! [They rush at him, vituperating, screaming passionately, tearing at him. Lottie puts her fingers in her ears and runs out. Hannah follows, shaking her head. Blanco is thrown down]. Oh, did you hear what he called us? You foul-mouthed brute! You liar! How dare you put such a name to a decent woman? Let me get at him. You coward! Oh, he struck me: did you see that? Lynch him! Pete, will you stand by and hear me called names by a skunk like that? Burn him: burn him! Thats what I'd do with him. Aye, burn him! THE MEN [pulling the women away from Blanco, and getting them out partly by violence and partly by coaxing] Here! come out of this. Let him alone. Clear the courthouse. Come on now. Out with you. Now, Sally: out you go. Let go my hair, or I'll twist your arm out. Ah, would you? Now, then: get along. You know you must go. Whats the use of scratching like that? Now, ladies, ladies, ladies. How would you like it if you were going to be hanged? [At last the women are pushed out, leaving Elder Daniels, the Sheriff's brother Strapper Kemp, and a few others with Blanco. Strapper is a lad just turning into a man: strong, selfish, sulky, and determined.] BLANCO [sitting up and tidying himself]-- Oh woman, in our hours of ease. Uncertain, coy, and hard to please-- Is my face scratched? I can feel their damned claws all over me still. Am I bleeding? [He sits on the nearest bench]. ELDER DANIELS. Nothing to hurt. Theyve drawn a drop or two under your left eye. STRAPPER. Lucky for you to have an eye left in your head. BLANCO [wiping the blood off]-- When pain and anguish wring the brow, A ministering angel thou. Go out to them, Strapper Kemp; and tell them about your big brother's little horse that some wicked man stole. Go and cry in your mammy's lap. STRAPPER [furious] You jounce me any more about that horse, Blanco Posnet; and I'll--I'll-- BLANCO. Youll scratch my face, wont you? Yah! Your brother's the Sheriff, aint he? STRAPPER. Yes, he is. He hangs horse-thieves.