“Killed?” exclaimed the judge. “You killed him? Who?”
“Ah! who? Why don’t you let me speak? You always interrupt me with your palaver,” growled Bob.
“You are getting saucy, Bob,” said the judge impatiently. “Go on, however. I reckon it’s only one of your usual tantrums.”
Bob shook his head. The judge looked keenly at him for a moment, and then resumed in a sort of confidential, encouraging tone.
“Under the Patriarch; and how did he come under the Patriarch?”
“I dragged him there, and buried him there,” replied Bob.
“Dragged him there! Why did you drag him there?”
“Because he couldn’t go himself, with more than half an ounce of lead in his body.”
“And you put the half ounce of lead into him, Bob? Well, if it was Johnny, you’ve done the country a service, and saved it a rope.”