The Sheriff.  All thats got nothing to do with us.  The question you have to answer is, was that man Blanco Posnet?

The woman.  No.  I say no.  I swear it.  Sheriff:  don’t hang that man:  oh don’t.  You may hang me instead if you like:  Ive nothing to live for now.  You darent take her word against mine.  She never had a child:  I can see it in her face.

Feemy [stung to the quick] I can hang him in spite of you, anyhow.  Much good your child is to you now, lying there on Pug Jackson’s bench!

Blanco [rushing at her with a shriek] I’ll twist your heart out of you for that. [They seize him before he can reach her].

Feemy [mocking at him as he struggles to get at her] Ha, ha, Blanco Posnet.  You cant touch me; and I can hang you.  Ha, ha!  Oh, I’ll do for you.  I’ll twist your heart and I’ll twist your neck. [He is dragged back to the bar and leans on it, gasping and exhausted.] Give me the oath again, Elder.  I’ll settle him.  And do you [to the woman] take your sickly face away from in front of me.

Strapper.  Just turn your back on her there, will you?

The woman.  God knows I don’t want to see her commit murder. [She folds her shawl over her head].

The Sheriff.  Now, Miss Evans:  cut it short.  Was the prisoner the man you saw this morning or was he not?  Yes or no?

Feemy [a little hysterically] I’ll tell you fast enough.  Dont think I’m a softy.

The Sheriff [losing patience] Here:  weve had enough of this.  You tell the truth, Feemy Evans; and let us have no more of your lip.  Was the prisoner the man or was he not?  On your oath?

Feemy.  On my oath and as I’m a living woman—­[flinching] Oh God! he felt the little child’s hands on his neck—­I cant [bursting into a flood of tears and scolding at the other woman] It’s you with your snivelling face that has put me off it. [Desperately] No:  it wasn’t him.  I only said it out of spite because he insulted me.  May I be struck dead if I ever saw him with the horse!

[Everybody draws a long breath.  Dead silence.]

Blanco [whispering at her] Softy!  Cry-baby!  Landed like me!  Doing what you never intended! [Taking up his hat and speaking in his ordinary tone] I presume I may go now, Sheriff.

Strapper.  Here, hold hard.

The foreman.  Not if we know it, you don’t.

The boys [barring the way to the door] You stay where you are.  Stop a bit, stop a bit.  Dont you be in such a hurry.  Dont let him go.  Not much.

[Blanco stands motionless, his eye fixed, thinking hard, and apparently deaf to what is going on.]