Five minutes later Sam was called upon to plead, and he answered firmly:
"Not guilty."
Then the cashier was summoned to the stand, and told his story correctly, except as to the latter portion, when he said that Fred appeared very nervous during the time his friend was absent. He also declared that the two boys made mysterious signs to each other, and in a variety of ways appeared guilty.
The teller of the bank, Mr. Wright, the constable who made the arrest, and one or two others gave evidence, and when the prosecution closed matters looked very black for the prisoner.
Then Sam himself was called to the stand, and for half an hour underwent a most searching examination. He described very minutely the journey to Blacktown; related every particular connected with his receiving the money, and explained why he chose to walk home, when, by waiting a short time, it would have been possible to ride on the cars.
That he had the money two or three moments before reaching the newly-discovered vein he was very positive. He had not intended to go to sleep when he laid down to rest. On awakening it was several moments before the loss was discovered, and then he searched in every direction.
Over and over again he told what is already known, and when the testimony was finished, it could be seen from the faces of those around, that the story was not generally believed.
Then Fred was called upon to tell of the chase and capture, after which Joe took the stand.
Had Skip been there the prisoner's case would have been strengthened just so much; but he yet remained absent, and even Mr. Hunter looked disheartened.
The miner was kept on the stand as long as possible, in the hope the missing one might come, and then the defense had been exhausted.