THE SHERIFF. You are a merciful man, Elder; but you wont take the boys with you there. [To Blanco]. If it comes to hanging you, youd better for your own sake be hanged in a proper state of mind than in an improper one. But it wont make any difference to us: make no mistake about that. BLANCO. Lord keep me wicked till I die! Now Ive said my little prayer. I'm ready. Not that I'm guilty, mind you; but this is a rotten town, dead certain to do the wrong thing. THE SHERIFF. You wont be asked to live long in it, I guess. [To Strapper] Got the witness all right, Strapper? STRAPPER. Yes, got everything. BLANCO. Except the horse. THE SHERIFF. Whats that? Aint you got the horse? STRAPPER. No. He traded it before we overtook him, I guess. But Feemy saw him on it. FEEMY. She did. STRAPPER. Shall I call in the boys? BLANCO. Just a moment, Sheriff. A good appearance is everything in a low-class place like this. [He takes out a pocket comb and mirror, and retires towards the dais to arrange his hair]. ELDER DANIELS. Oh, think of your immortal soul, man, not of your foolish face. BLANCO. I cant change my soul, Elder: it changes me--sometimes. Feemy: I'm too pale. Let me rub my cheek against yours, darling. FEEMY. You lie: my color's my own, such as it is. And a pretty color youll be when youre hung white and shot red. BLANCO. Aint she spiteful, Sheriff? THE SHERIFF. Time's wasted on you. [To Strapper] Go and see if the boys are ready. Some of them were short of cartridges, and went down to the store to buy them. They may as well have their fun; and itll be shorter for him. STRAPPER. Young Jack has brought a boxful up. Theyre all ready. THE SHERIFF [going to the dais and addressing Blanco] Your place is at the bar there. Take it. [Blanco bows ironically and goes to the bar]. Miss Evans: youd best sit at the table. [She does so, at the corner nearest the bar. The Elder takes the opposite corner. The Sheriff takes his chair]. All ready, Strapper. STRAPPER [at the door] All in to begin. (The crowd comes in and fills the court. Babsy, Jessie, and Emma come to the Sheriff's right; Hannah and Lottie to his left.) THE SHERIFF. Silence there. The jury will take their places as usual. [They do so]. BLANCO. I challenge this jury, Sheriff. THE FOREMAN. Do you, by Gosh? THE SHERIFF. On what ground? BLANCO. On the general ground that it's a rotten jury. [Laughter]. THE SHERIFF. Thats not a lawful ground of challenge. THE FOREMAN. It's a lawful ground for me to shoot yonder skunk at sight, first time I meet him, if he survives this trial. BLANCO. I challenge the Foreman because he's prejudiced. THE FOREMAN. I say you lie. We mean to hang you, Blanco Posnet; but you will be hanged fair. THE JURY. Hear, hear! STRAPPER [to the Sheriff] George: this is rot. How can you get an unprejudiced jury if the prisoner starts by telling them theyre all rotten? If theres any prejudice against him he has himself to thank for it.