"What kind of boys were they?"
"Just the very kind that tie fire-crackers to poor dogs' tails, and kill pussy-cats with stones, and—swear."
This last word the witness uttered with some hesitation and in a low tone.
"Would you know any of those boys again if you should see them?"
"Yes, I'd know the two I see sitting over there," replied Annabel, at the same time pointing to a group of the Hatton muckers who had been retained in court as witnesses.
"How can you identify them?"
"Because the little one has such very red hair, and so many freckles, and the other is so big and ugly looking; besides, he is the one who knocked the Chinese boy down."
"How did he do that?"
"He butted him in the back with his head, while the little, speckled one was pulling at his pig-tail in front, and they all went down together."
"Now tell me, Miss Lorimer, what the Chinese boy did all this time? Was he very fierce, and did he strike at his assailants as if he were trying to kill them?"