“Fire away,” said the judge, “that’s nothing to do with the prisoner.”
“Oh, hasn’t it!—You see, Clapperton wanted me to take a letter to Yorke. It must have been a screamer, for Yorke yelled when he read it. I wanted him to let me finish our mill first, but—”
“Who, Yorke?”
“No, Clapperton. If there’d been time for another round—”
“Now, then, don’t let’s have any more of that mill,” said the judge.
“That’s just what they felt at the time, wasn’t it, Lick?” ejaculated Cottle.
“Did we?—wait till you see, my beauty,” said the witness. “I wish you wouldn’t interrupt. Oh, so I had to go, and this kid came and caught me a jolly crack in the stomach.”
“Which side of your belt?” inquired Lickford.
“The side you’ll get it hot, my boy, next time I catch you,” retorted Percy.
“That’ll be under, you bet,” said Lickford.