"Did he fight hard?"
"Fight? You should have seed 'im. I never seen anything like it. He was a match fer 'em all, but it was no use. They got turned agin 'im, an' 'ud listen to nothin'."
"What did he have to say about the gold being found in his cabin?" asked Mr. Radhurst.
"He couldn't explain, sir. Nor could you nor me, if we'd had sich a cowardly trick played upon us. He jist stated the matter in words that rung with truth, any ninny could see that. But every wan on that committee got so excited that they jist threw questions at 'im."
"'Whar is the key,' says Pritchen.
"'Why did ye git so scart when we axed ye to open the chist?' speaks up Perdue. An' afore he could answer, some one else slung another at 'im. It wasn't a trial, miss, it was jist a bunch of sarpents hissin' all the time."
"And did Mr. Steadman seem frightened when they wanted to open the chest?" queried Constance, in surprise.
"I heerd so."
"But why?"
"On account of the picter."