"You can think of nothing else that will aid us in getting at the facts in this case?"
"No, sir. I have told you all I know about it."
"Very good; that will be all."
Black, who was believed to be the leader in the escape, was called up and given permission to relate his side of the story. He assured the court that neither he nor White had had the least intention of deserting. They had been on board for a long time. They said they had a friend not far from where the ship was lying, and they thought they could get away to go to see him and be back before morning.
Asked the name of the friend, they gave it without the least hesitation.
White also told a straightforward story.
"If you were not deserting, why did you make such a murderous assault on Seaman Davis?" demanded the judge advocate sharply.
"We get excited," answered White. "We want to get away then."
"And had you gotten away, at that time, you would not have returned to the ship, eh?"
"No, no; we come back," insisted the Hawaiian.