"He is not guilty," said Trove, rising quickly.
"I command ye, boy, be silent," said Darrel, sternly.
"Have ye ever seen that hand," he added, approaching the clerk, and
pointing at a red mark as large as a dime on the back of his left
hand.
"Yes," the clerk answered with surprise, looking from hand to
handkerchief. Then, turning to the lawyer, he added, "This is the
man."
"Now," Darrel continued, rolling up his sleeve, "I'll show where
thy bullet struck me in the left arm. See, there it seared the
flesh!"
They saw a star, quite an inch long, midway from hand to elbow,
"Do you mean to say that you are guilty of this crime?" the
attorney asked.
"I am guilty and ready for punishment," Darrel answered. "Now,
discharge the boy."
"To-morrow," said the attorney. "That is for the court to do."
Darrel went to Trove, who now sat weeping, his face upon his hands.
"Oh the great river o' tears!" said Darrel, touching the boy's
head. "Beyond it are the green shores of happiness, an' I have
crossed, an' soon shalt thou. Stop, boy, it ill becomes thee.
There is a dear, dear child whose heart is breaking. Go an'
comfort her."
Trove sat as if he had not heard.
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