No answer.

“McLaughlan,” cried several voices, “where are ye?  Don’t you hear Judge Lynch speak to you?”

“Come, McLaughlan, come over; you are a respectable man.”

Mr. McLaughlan intimated briefly in his native dialect that he was, and intended to remain so; by way of comment on which he made a bolt from the judgment-hall, but was rudely seized and dragged before the judge.

“For Heaven’s sake, don’t be a fool, McLaughlan.  No man must refuse to be a juryman in a trial by lynch.  I saw a Quaker stoned to death for it in California.”

“I guess I was thyar,” said a voice behind the judge, who shifted uneasily.

McLaughlan went into the jury-box with a meaning look at Robinson, but without another audible word.

“Mercy! mercy!” cried Walker.

“You must not interrupt the proceedings,” said Judge Lynch.

“Haud your whist, ye gowk.  Ye are no fand guilty yet,” remonstrated a juror.

The jury being formed, the judge called the plaintiff.

“The man sold me a claim for thirty pound.  I gave him the blunt because I saw the stuff was glittery.  Well, I worked it, and I found it work rather easy, that is a fact.”

“Haw! haw! haw!” roared the crowd, but with a horrible laughter, no placability in it.

“Well, I found lots of dust, and I took it to the merchant, and he says it is none of it gold.  That is my tale.”

“Have you any witnesses?”

“I don’t know.  Yes, the nigger; he saw it.  Here, Jacky, come and tell them.”

Jacky was thrust forward, but was interrupted by McLaughlan as soon as he opened his mouth.  The Scottish juror declined to receive evidence but upon oath.  The judge allowed the objection.

“Swear him in, then,” cried a hundred voices.

“Swear?” inquired Jacky, innocently.

Another brutal roar of laughter followed.

Jacky was offended.

“What for you laugh, you stupid fellows?  I not a common black fellow.  I been to Sydney and learn all the white man knows.  Jacky will swear,” added he.

“Left your hond,” cried McLaughlan.  “It is no swearing if you dinna left your hond.”

“Dat so stupid,” said Jacky, lifting his hand peevishly.  This done, he delivered his evidence thus:  “Damme I saw dis fellow sell dirt to dis fellow, and damme I saw dis fellow find a good deal gold, and damme I heard him say dis is a dam good job, and den damme he put down his spade and go to sell, and directly he come back and say damme I am done!”

“Aweel,” said McLaughlan; “we jaast refuse yon lad’s evidence, the deevelich heathen.”

A threatening murmur.

“Silence!  Hear the defendant.”

Walker, trembling like an aspen, owned to having sold the claim, but denied that the dust was false.  “This is what I dug out of it,” said he; and he produced a small pinch of dust.