"You never can tell," he muttered, smiling queerly as he made sure the
weapon was not noticeable.

He was rolling another cigarette when the Captain parted the tent
flaps and came stooping in, followed by twelve men of the Committee
who were to be the jury, and as many spectators as could crowd after
them.

"Gentlemen, be seated," the Captain invited formally, and motioned the
jury to the crude bunks that lined one side of the large tent. Jack
and the boy he moved farther from the entrance, and took up his own
position where his sharp eyes commanded every inch of the interior and
where the gun which he drew from its holster and rested upon his knee
could speak its deadly rebuke to any man there if, in the upholding of
justice, the Captain deemed it necessary.

The jury shuffled to their places, perched in a row upon the edge of
the bunks and waited silently, their eyes fixed expectantly upon their
Captain. The crowd edged into the corners and along the sides, their
hat crowns scraping the canvas roof as they were forced closer to the
low wall.

The Captain waited until the silence was a palpable thing made alive
by the rhythmic breathing of the men who were to look upon this new
travesty of justice.

"Gentlemen," he said at last, his sonorous voice carrying his words
distinctly to the crowd without, "we are now ready to proceed with the
investigation. I wish to state, for the information of those present,