Captain Eri was too much perturbed to talk, but the other two, although sympathetically sorry for the sufferer, were bursting with excitement and curiosity.
“Well, if THIS ain't been a night!” exclaimed Captain Jerry. “Seem's if everything happened at once. Fust that darky and then the fire and then this. Don't it beat all?
“Eri,” said Captain Perez anxiously, “was John layin' jest the same way when you found him as he was when we come?”
“Right in the same place,” was the answer.
“I didn't say in the same place. I asked if he was layin' the same way.”
“He hadn't moved a muscle. Laid jest as if he was dead.”
It will be noticed that Captain Eri was adhering strictly to the truth. Luckily, Perez seemed to be satisfied, for he asked no further questions, but observed, “It's a good thing we've got a crowd to swear how we found him. There's a heap of folks in this town would be sayin' he set that fire if 'twa'n't for that.”
“Some of 'em will be sayin' it anyhow,” remarked Jerry.
“Some folks 'll say anything but their prayers,” snapped Eri savagely. “They won't say it while I'm around. And look here! if you hear anybody sayin' it, you tell 'em it's a lie. If that don't keep 'em quiet, let me know.”
“Oh, all right. WE know he didn't set it. I was jest sayin'—”