There were several eyes had tears in them, and the judge said, "Swear him--you may swear him."
"I won't be sworn!" said Tim, stoutly.
"Why not, boy?" demanded the judge.
"Because I won't say anything that may hurt him," rejoined the boy, pointing to the dock.
There was again a silence, and Tim stood resolutely in the witness-box with his hands in his pockets, and his eyes fixed upon Chandos Winslow.
"My dear boy," said the prisoner; "nothing you can say will hurt me if you tell 'the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth,' as they will put the oath to you. But if you are silent, they will think you know something against me."
"Oh! that I don't," cried the boy, clasping his hands.
"Then take the oath, and tell the whole truth," said Chandos; "by so doing you will do me more good than by any other course."
The boy gazed in his face for an instant, and then said, "Well, I will, then; for you always tell the truth; and I am sure you would not cheat me."
"Not for the world," said the prisoner; and the oath was administered.