An exclamation is heard, followed by the words, “O God, it is he!” A tall man staggers forward, and stands by the side of the Headless Horseman. It is his father!
A cry proceeds from a more distant point—a scream suddenly suppressed, as if uttered by a woman before swooning. It is his sister!
After a time, Woodley Poindexter is led away—unresisting,—apparently unconscious of what is going on around him.
He is conducted to a carriage drawn up at a distance, and placed upon a seat beside its only occupant—his daughter.
But the carriage keeps its place. She who commands the check-string intends to stay there, till the Court has declared its sentence—ay, till the hour of execution, if that is to be the end!
Zeb Stump is officially directed to take his place in the “witness-box.”
By order of the judge, the examination proceeds—under direction of the counsel for the accused.
Many formalities are dispensed with. The old hunter, who has been already sworn, is simply called to tell what he knows of the affair; and left to take his own way in the telling it; which he does in curt phrases—as if under the belief that such is required by the technicalities of the law!
After the following fashion does Zeb proceed:—
“Fust heerd o’ this ugly bizness on the second day arter young Peint war missin’. Heerd on it as I war reeturnin’ from a huntin’ spell down the river. Heerd thar wur a suspeeshun ’beout the mowstanger hevin’ kermitted the murder. Knowd he wan’t the man to do sech; but, to be saterfied, rud out to his shanty to see him. He wan’t at home, though his man Pheelum war; so skeeart ’beout one thing an the tother he ked gie no clur account o’ anythin’.