“Your name is Ithuel Bolt?” observed the Judge Advocate, holding his pen in readiness to record the answer.

“So they say aboard here,” answered the witness, coolly—­“though, for my part, I’ve no answer to give to such a question.”

“Do you deny your name, sir?”

“I deny nothing—­want to say nothing, or to have anything to do with this trial or this ship.”

Raoul breathed easier; for, to own the truth, he had not much confidence in Ithuel’s constancy or disinterestedness; and he apprehended that he had been purchased with the promise of a pardon for himself.

“You will remember that you are under oath, and may be punished for contumacy on refusing to answer.”

“I’ve some gineral idees of law,” answered Ithuel, passing his hand over his queue to make sure it was right, “for we all do a little at that in Ameriky.  I practised some myself, when a young man, though it was only afore a justice-peace. We used to hold that a witness needn’t answer ag’in himself.”

“Is it, then, on account of criminating yourself that you answer thus vaguely?”

“I decline answering that question,” answered Ithuel, with an air of dignity.

“Witness, have you any personal knowledge of the prisoner?”

“I decline answering that question, too.”

“Do you know anything of such a person as Raoul Yvard?”

“What if I do?—­I’m a native American, and have a right to form acquaintances in foreign lands if I see it’s to my interest, or it’s agreeable to my feelin’s.”

“Have you never served on board His Majesty’s ships?”

“What majesty?—­There’s no majesty in Ameriky, as I know, but the majesty of heaven.”

“Remember that your answers are all recorded, and may tell against you on some other occasion.”

“Not lawfully; a witness can’t be made to give answers that tell ag’in himself.”

“Certainly not made to do it; still he may do it of his own accord.”

“Then it’s the duty of the court to put him on his guard.  I’ve heerd that ag’in and ag’in in Ameriky.”

“Did you ever see a vessel called le Feu-Follet?”

“How in natur’ is a mariner to tell all the vessels he may happen to see on the wide ocean!”

“Did you ever serve under the French flag?”

“I decline entering at all into my private affairs.  Being free, I’m free to sarve where I please.”

“It is useless to ask this witness any further questions,” Cuffe quietly observed.  “The man is well known in this ship, and his own trial will most probably take place as soon as this is ended.”