The Court of Justice. 63 



"'Squire,' said I, 'I'm a peaceable man, and never 

 had a quarrel with a human critter but twice be- 

 fore, and then I couldn't help it. I never struck a 

 man but once before, and I've been sorry ever since, 

 I was forced to do it. I'm a stranger to the ways of 

 the city, and ma}^ be I don't act as genteel as I ought 

 to. I'm a man of the back settlements, and the woods. 

 I'm an honest man^ and came down on an honest 

 caUin', from the Shatagee country. I meddled with 

 nobody, and have been as civil as I know how to be. 

 That lyin' cuss, was for imposin' on, and abusin' me. 

 He has told a cussed pack of lies, from one eend to 

 the other, exceptin' a single fact, which I own up to, 

 because it's true. I did strike him, and I was sorrj^ 

 that the blow was so hard, but since I've hearn him 

 swear, I've a notion I sarved him right.' Then I told 

 him the real truth, in a plain, straight forard way. 



" ' Tucker,' said he, for I told him my name, ' I 

 don't doubt your story myself, for you look and talk 

 like an honest man, but I can't take your statement 

 agin' the oa,th of the witness.' 



" ' Squire,' said an honest lookin', blue eyed boy, 

 of about twelve year old, that had followed us into 

 the office, ' that man's story is every word true, for I 



