Seth and Dan, who had never before attended the trial of a prisoner, expected there would be considerable ceremony, in which policemen would play a prominent part; therefore the case was begun and gone on with to some extent before they were aware of the fact.
It is true they saw Jip Collins standing up while the clerk read from a paper a quantity of words which had no meaning to them, and after a time, the prisoner was allowed to sit down again.
Then the "little man with the big nose" talked to the judge as if confiding in him some secret, after which the clerk called loudly:
"Daniel Roberts! Daniel Roberts!"
Seth's partner gazed about him curiously, never once thinking the clerk referred to him, until 'Lish Davis, coming swiftly down from his station near the door, leaned over and pinched Dan's ear as he asked:
"Why don't you answer to your name?"
"Is it me they mean?" Dan asked, and at that instant the clerk repeated the call.
Dan looked about him in perplexity, uncertain as to what he should do, until 'Lish reached over to seize him by the collar, when he cried in a shrill voice:
"Here I be, Mister!"
"Come forward to the witness-stand," the official said sharply, while the spectators laughed heartily.