This man said his name was Mendoza and that he was the one who
had guided the Mexican police to the mine after Bluebeard Bill
had been killed. And at every word he said I could hear Bob down
below me muttering between his teeth,

"It's a lie! It's a lie! I'll chew his face. It's a lie!"

And both the Doctor and I had hard work keeping the dog under the
seat.

Then I noticed that our Mr. Jenkyns had disappeared from the
Doctor's side. But presently I saw him stand up at the long table
to speak to the judge.

"Your Honor," said he, "I wish to introduce a new witness for the
defense, Doctor John Dolittle, the naturalist. Will you please
step into the witness-stand, Doctor?"

There was a buzz of excitement as the Doctor made his way across
the crowded room; and I noticed the nasty lawyer with the long
nose lean down and whisper something to a friend, smiling in an
ugly way which made me want to pinch him.

Then Mr. Jenkyns asked the Doctor a whole lot of questions about
himself and made him answer in a loud voice so the whole court
could hear. He finished up by saying,

"And you are prepared to swear, Doctor Dolittle, that you
understand the language of dogs and can make them understand you.