"Our young friend yonder says that he's got something to say to you.

He's asked each of us to hang around and be a witness.

Are you ready ?" "Jud," burst out the sheriff, "you're an idiot! This overgrown booby needs a horsewhipping, and that's the sort of an answer I'd like to make to him." Having delivered this broadside he strode up and confronted Bull.

It was a very poor move.

In the first place, the sheriff had insulted one of the men who was about to act as his official judge.