On cross-examination he was a little confused when asked why he hadn't told of it before, but said that he was afraid to say much, bekase the folks was a-talkin' about hanging the master, and he didn't want no lynchin'.
The prosecution here rested, Bronson maintaining that there was enough evidence to justify Ralph's committal to await trial.

But the court thought that as the defendant had no counsel and offered no rebutting testimony, it would be only fair to hear what the prisoner had to say in his own defense.
All this while poor Ralph was looking about the room for Bud.

Bud's actions had of late been strangely contradictory.

But had he turned coward and deserted his friend?
Why else did he avoid the session of the court?
After asking himself such questions as these, Ralph would wonder at his own folly.

What could Bud do if he were there?
There was no human power that could prevent the victim of so vile a conspiracy as this, lodging in that worst of State prisons at Jeffersonville, a place too bad for criminals.