"Yes, sir."
"Rather gained some?"
"Yes, sir."
"Mr. Hickory, will you now state whether you put forth your full speed to-day in going from Mrs. Clemmens' house to the Quarry Station?"
"I did not."
"What?"
"I did not put forth any thing like my full speed, sir," the witness repeated, with a twinkle in the direction of Byrd that fell just short of being a decided wink.
"And why, may I ask? What restrained you from running as fast as you could? Sympathy for the defence?"
The ironical suggestion conveyed in this last question gave Hickory an excuse for indulging in his peculiar humor.
"No, sir; sympathy for the prosecution. I feared the loss of one of its most humble but valuable assistants. In other words, I was afraid I should break my neck."