A murmur of admiration ran through the court-room as she concluded her narrative with, “Papa was asleep and I couldn’t speak just at first for want of breath; but when I put my arm round his neck and laid my face on the pillow beside his, he woke and I told him about the burglars and what I had done.”

The prisoners had listened with close attention and evident interest.

“So ’twas her—­that chit of a gal, that fastened us in—­caught us in a trap, as one may say,” muttered Davis, scowling at her and grinding his teeth with rage.  “Pity I didn’t hold on to that ere bridle and kerry her off afore we ventur’d in thar.”

A warning look from his counsel silenced him, and the latter addressed himself to Lulu.

“You say you had seen Davis three times before to-day.  Where and when did you see him the third time?”

“In the magistrate’s office, the next morning after he and Ajax had been in our house.”

“Did you then recognize them as the same men you had seen in the strong room of your home the night before at work at the lock of the safe?”

“Yes, sir; and Davis as the man who had seized my pony’s bridle in the wood.”

“But you had not seen Ajax Stone’s face; how then could you recognize him?”

“No, I had not seen his face, but I had the back of his head and how he was dressed, and I knew I had fastened him in there, and that he didn’t get out till the sheriff took him out; and then I heard his voice and knew it was Ajax’s voice.”

The cross-questioning went on.  It was what Lulu had dreaded, but it did not seem to embarrass or disturb her; nor could she be made to contradict herself.

Her father’s eyes shone; he looked a proud and happy man as he led her back to her seat, holding her hand in a tender, loving clasp.

She was surprised and pleased to find Grandma Elsie and Violet sitting with the other relatives and friends.  They had come in while she was on the witness stand.

“Dear child,” Violet said, making room for her by her side, “you went through your ordeal very successfully, and I am very glad for your sake, that it is over.”

“Yes, my dear, we are all proud of you,” added Grandma Elsie, smiling kindly upon the little girl.

But there was not time for anything more.

“Max Raymond,” some one called.

“Here, sir,” replied the lad, rising.

“Take the witness stand.”

“Go, my son, and let us see how well you can acquit yourself,” the captain said in an encouraging tone, and Max obeyed.

He conducted himself quite to his father’s satisfaction, behaving in a very manly way, and giving his testimony in the same clear, distinct tones and straightforward manner that had been admired in his sister.  But having much less to tell, he was not kept nearly so long upon the stand.

There were other witnesses for the prosecution, one of whom was Capt. 
Raymond himself.