“Come! Quit your nonsense, boy!”
“But she was, sir!”
“What do you expect to make out of this, young fellow?”
“But she was, sir!”
Apparently the chief's method was to doubt every statement that Samuel made, and repeat his incredulity three times, each time in a louder tone of voice and with a more ferocious expression of countenance. Then, if the boy stuck it out, he concluded that he was telling the truth. By this exhausting method the examination reached its end, and Samuel was led back to his cell.
“Did you stick to your story?” asked his cellmate.
“Of course,” said he.
“Well, if it is true,” remarked the other, “there'll be something doing soon.”
And there was. About an hour later the sergeant came again and entered. He drew the two men into a corner.
“See here, young fellow,” he said to Samuel in a low voice. “Have you got anything against young Lockman?”