“I was passin’ by,” he began, by way of apology, “and I thought I’d just step in and see how things was gittin’ on with Tennessee thar,—­my pardner.  It’s a hot night.  I disremember any sich weather before on the Bar.”

He paused a moment, but nobody volunteering any other meteorological recollection, he again had recourse to his pocket-handkerchief, and for some moments mopped his face diligently.

“Have you anything to say on behalf of the prisoner?” said the Judge finally.

“Thet’s it,” said Tennessee’s Partner, in a tone of relief.  “I come yar as Tennessee’s pardner,—­knowing him nigh on four year, off and on, wet and dry, in luck and, out o’ luck.  His ways ain’t aller my ways, but thar ain’t any p’ints in that young man, thar ain’t any liveliness as he’s been up to, as I don’t know.  And you sez to me, sez you,—­confidential-like, and between man and man,—­sez you, ’Do you know anything in his behalf?’ and I sez to you, sez I,—­confidential-like, as between man and man,—­’What should a man know of his pardner?’”

“Is this all you have to say?” asked the Judge impatiently, feeling, perhaps, that a dangerous sympathy of humor was beginning to humanize the court.

“Thet’s so,” continued Tennessee’s Partner.  “It ain’t for me to say anything agin’ him.  And now, what’s the case?  Here’s Tennessee wants money, wants it bad, and doesn’t like to ask it of his old pardner.  Well, what does Tennessee do?  He lays for a stranger, and he fetches that stranger; and you lays for him, and you fetches him; and the honors is easy.  And I put it to you, bein’ a fa’r-minded man, and to you, gentlemen all, as fa’r-minded men, ef this isn’t so.”

“Prisoner,” said the Judge, interrupting, “have you any questions to ask this man?”

“No! no!” continued Tennessee’s Partner hastily.  “I play this yer hand alone.  To come down to the bed-rock, it’s just this:  Tennessee, thar, has played it pretty rough and expensive-like on a stranger, and on this yer camp.  And now, what’s the fair thing?  Some would say more, some would say less.  Here’s seventeen hundred dollars in coarse gold and a watch,—­it’s about all my pile,—­and call it square!” And before a hand could be raised to prevent him, he had emptied the contents of the carpetbag upon the table.

For a moment his life was in jeopardy.  One or two men sprang to their feet, several hands groped for hidden weapons, and a suggestion to “throw him from the window” was only overridden by a gesture from the Judge.  Tennessee laughed.  And apparently oblivious of the excitement, Tennessee’s Partner improved the opportunity to mop his face again with his handkerchief.