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.

The boys.  Thats so.  Of course he has.  Insulting the court! 
Challenge be jiggered!  Gag him.

Nestor [a juryman with a long white beard, drunk, the oldest man present] Besides, Sheriff, I go so far as to say that the man that is not prejudiced against a horse-thief is not fit to sit on a jury in this town.

The boys.  Right.  Bully for you, Nestor!  Thats the straight truth. 
Of course he aint.  Hear, hear!

The Sheriff.  That is no doubt true, old man.  Still, you must get as unprejudiced as you can.  The critter has a right to his chance, such as he is.  So now go right ahead.  If the prisoner don’t like this jury, he should have stole a horse in another town; for this is all the jury he’ll get here.

The foreman.  Thats so, Blanco Posnet.