"But we cannot condemn Jasper Pennington without evidence," said Admiral Trefry.
"At the same time I submit," said the magistrate's clerk, after Richard Tresidder had spoken to him, "that the fact of his carrying a false light goes to prove that he is associated with some gang of wreckers."
"But there is no proof," remarked the Admiral.
On this there was a stir in the room, and I heard a voice with which I was familiar claiming to give evidence.
A minute later Israel Barnicoat was sworn.
"Do you know this man?" asked the Admiral of the Preventive men.
"Very well," was the reply, "a most respectable, well-behaved fisherman."
Then Israel gave his evidence. He said that he had seen me in company with two men at Kynance who were well-known free-traders. These two men went by the name of "Brandy Bill" and "Fire the Poker." They had on several occasions been punished, but were still a terror to honest fishermen who wanted to get a living in a lawful way.
After this a great many questions were asked and answered, and I saw that my case looked blacker than ever. I could see that Cap'n Jack had used this means of getting rid of me, and that Israel Barnicoat had volunteered, for reasons that were apparent, to try and get me hanged.