"You received orders to arrest the prisoner, and take a strongly-armed party with you?"
"I did" (with a salute).
"State to the court what occurred on that occasion."
(Saluting) "Well, sir, you see, being a corporal of the Rile Marine division at Woolwich, I knowed that where the prisoner wor a hiding wor a werry bad place, so I went prepared."
"The prisoner showed a determined resistance, I understand? In fact nearly killed you."
(Saluting) "That he did, sir, and the other willings with him."
"There were women in the house?"
(Saluting) "Yes, sir, a regler bad lot—speshilly one on them—his gal, who used awful langevage. I were expostulatin' with her about it in a werry perlite manner, ven the prisoner sudden seized me by the stock, my back being turned to him, and would have killed me but for my men."
(President) "How many men had you?"
(Saluting) "Twenty."