I'll hang you, Blanco Posnet. I will. I wouldn't for fifty
dollars hadnt seen you this morning. I'll teach you to be civil
to me next time, for all I'm not good enough to kiss the Book.
BLANCO. Lord keep me wicked till I die! I'm game for anything
while youre spitting dirt at me, Feemy.
RENEWED TUMULT AT THE DOOR. Here, whats this? Fire them out. Not
me. Who are you that I should get out of your way? Oh, stow it.
Well, she cant come in. What woman? What horse? Whats the good of
shoving like that? Who says? No! you don't say!
THE SHERIFF. Gentlemen of the Vigilance Committee: clear that
doorway. Out with them in the name of the law.
STRAPPER [without] Hold hard, George. [At the door] Theyve got
the horse. [He comes in, followed by Waggoner Jo, an elderly
carter, who crosses the court to the jury side. Strapper pushes
his way to the Sheriff and speaks privately to him].
THE BOYS. What! No! Got the horse! Sheriff's horse? Who took it,
then? Where? Get out. Yes it is, sure. I tell you it is. It's the
horse all right enough. Rot. Go and look. By Gum!
THE SHERIFF [to Strapper] You don't say!
STRAPPER. It's here, I tell you.
WAGGONER JO. It's here all right enough, Sheriff.
STRAPPER. And theyve got the thief too.
ELDER DANIELS. Then it aint Blanco.
STRAPPER. No: it's a woman. [Blanco yells and covers his eyes
with his hands].
THE WHOLE CROWD. A woman!
THE SHERIFF. Well, fetch her in. [Strapper goes out.
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