“I did. I found one man with a cartridge in his pocket, and I took it away, and scolded him about it.”
Gaston replied, “Yes, I saw that.”
“Well then, are yo’ certain that these men loaded their guns?”
“I saw them moving them, and I thought they were loading them.”
“And so yo’ came here to swear that we wanted to kill yo’? That’s about as much as a colored man can get for his care not to give offense. A man is a fool to go out of his way for any of yo’ white folks anyway. Yo’ had no right to aim to drive through our Company as yo’ did; but when I gave in and got out of yo’r way, and let you go ‘long—gave yo’ the road that b’longed to us—yo’ just come heah with such a lie as that against us.”
“Captain, I don’t want you to treat my court with contempt,” said Rives, severely. “If you can’t address the gentleman more politely you must sit down.”
“Judge, I don’t mean no contempt,” said Doc, in a conciliatory tone, “not if I know myself. I never expect to treat no lawful court with any contempt. I was only asking questions, but if the questions is not legal, then I don’t want to ask him. I won’t ask no mo’, but leave it to yo’r discretion,” and he sat down.
“Well, sir, to sit down without permission is contempt of court.”
With such an air of drollery as only a negro can assume, Doc sprung to his feet again, saying—