She can give the necessary witness. Feemy
Evans: you've taken the oath. You saw the man that took the
horse.
FEEMY. I did. And he was a low-down rotten drunken lying hound
that would go further to hurt a woman any day than to help her.
And if he ever did a good action it was because he was too drunk
to know what he was doing. So it's no harm to hang him. She
said he cursed her and went away blaspheming and singing things
that were not fit for the child to hear.
BLANCO [troubled] I didn't mean them for the child to hear, you
venomous devil.
THE SHERIFF. All thats got nothing to do with us. The question
you have to answer is, was that man Blanco Posnet?
THE WOMAN. No. I say no. I swear it. Sheriff: don't hang that
man: oh don't. You may hang me instead if you like: Ive nothing
to live for now. You darent take her word against mine. She never
had a child: I can see it in her face.
FEEMY [stung to the quick] I can hang him in spite of you,
anyhow. Much good your child is to you now, lying there on Pug
Jackson's bench!
BLANCO [rushing at her with a shriek] I'll twist your heart out
of you for that. [They seize him before he can reach her].
FEEMY [mocking at him as he struggles to get at her] Ha, ha,
Blanco Posnet. You cant touch me; and I can hang you. Ha, ha! Oh,
I'll do for you. I'll twist your heart and I'll twist your neck.
[He is dragged back to the bar and leans on it, gasping and
exhausted.] Give me the oath again, Elder.
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