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Mendoza thought that Bill was away buying groceries。 But he wasn't： he
was in the bucket。 And when Mendoza saw Luke hauling and straining on
the rope he thought he was pulling up a bucket…ful of gold。 So he drew a
pistol from his pocket and came sneaking up behind Luke to shoot him。
〃I barked and barked to warn my master of the danger he was in； but
he was so busy hauling up Bill （who was a heavy fat man） that he took no
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notice of me。 I saw that if I didn't do something quick he would surely be
shot。 So I did a thing I've never done before： suddenly and savagely I bit
my master in the leg from behind。 Luke was so hurt and startled that he
did just what I wanted him to do： he let go the rope with both hands at
once and turned round。 And then； CRASH！ down went Bill in his bucket
to the bottom of the mine and he was killed。
〃While my master was busy scolding me Mendoza put his pistol in his
pocket； came up with a smile on his face and looked down the mine。
〃 'Why； Good Gracious'！〃 said he to Luke； 'You've killed Bluebeard
Bill。 I must go and tell the police'hoping； you see； to get the whole mine
to himself when Luke should be put in prison。 Then he jumped on his
horse and galloped away。〃
〃And soon my master grew afraid； for he saw that if Mendoza only
told enough lies to the police； it WOULD look as though he had killed Bill
on purpose。 So while Mendoza was gone he and I stole away together
secretly and came to England。 Here he shaved off his beard and became a
hermit。 And ever since； for fifteen years； we've remained in hiding。 This is
all I have to say。 And I swear it is the truth； every word。〃
When the Doctor finished reading Bob's long speech the excitement
among the twelve men of the jury was positively terrific。 One； a very old
man with white hair； began to weep in a loud voice at the thought of poor
Luke hiding on the fen for fifteen years for something he couldn't help。
And all the others set to whispering and nodding their heads to one
another。
In the middle of all this up got that horrible Prosecutor again； waving
his arms more wildly than ever。
〃Your Honor；〃 he cried； 〃I must object to this evidence as biased。 Of
course the dog would not tell the truth against his own master。 I object。 I
protest。〃
〃Very well；〃 said the judge； 〃you are at liberty to cross…examine。 It is
your duty as Prosecutor to prove his evidence untrue。 There is the dog：
question him； if you do not believe what he says。〃
I thought the long…nosed lawyer would have a fit。 He looked first at the
dog； then at the Doctor； then at the judge； then back at the dog scowling
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from the witness…box。 He opened his mouth to say something； but no
words came。 He waved his arms some more。 His face got redder and
redder。 At last； clutching his forehead； he sank weakly into his seat and
had to be helped out of the court…room by two friends。 As he was half
carried through the door he was still feebly murmuring； 〃I protestI
objectI protest！〃
THE EIGHTH CHAPTER
THREE CHEERS
NEXT the judge made a very long speech to the jury； and when it was
over all the twelve jurymen got up and went out into the next room。 And at
that point the Doctor came back； leading Bob； to the seat beside me。
〃What have the jurymen gone out for？〃 I asked。
〃They always do that at the end of a trialto make up their minds
whether the prisoner did it or not。〃
〃Couldn't you and Bob go in with them and help them make up their
minds the right way？〃 I asked。
〃No； that's not allowed。 They have to talk it over in secret。 Sometimes
it takesMy Gracious； look； they're coming back already！ They didn't
spend long over it。〃
Everybody kept quite still while the twelve men came tramping back
into their places in the pews。 Then one of them； the leadera little man
stood up and turned to the judge。 Every one was holding his breath；
especially the Doctor and myself； to see what he was going to say。 You
could have heard a pin drop while the whole court…room； the whole of
Puddleby in fact； waited with craning necks and straining cars to hear the
weighty words。
〃Your Honor；〃 said the little man； 〃the jury returns a verdict of NOT
GUILTY。〃
〃What's that mean？〃 I asked； turning to the Doctor。
But I found Doctor John Dolittle； the famous naturalist； standing on
top of a chair； dancing about on one leg like a schoolboy。
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〃It means he's free！〃 he cried； 〃Luke is free！〃
〃Then he'll be able to come on the voyage with us； won't he？〃
But I could not hear his answer； for the whole court…room seemed to
be jumping up on chairs like the Doctor。 The crowd had suddenly gone
crazy。 All the people were laughing and calling and waving to Luke to
show him how glad they were that he was free。 The noise was deafening。
Then it stopped。 All was quiet again； and the people stood up
respectfully while the judge left the Court。 For the trial of Luke the Hermit；
that famous trial which to this day they are still talking of in Puddleby；
was over。
In the hush while the judge was leaving； a sudden shriek rang out； and
there； in the doorway stood a woman； her arms out…stretched to the
Hermit。
〃Luke！〃 she cried； 〃I've found you at last！〃
〃It's his wife；〃 the fat woman in front of me whispered。 〃She ain't seen
'im in fifteen years； poor dear！ What a lovely re…union。 I'm glad I came。 I
wouldn't have missed this for anything！〃
As soon as the judge had gone the noise broke out again； and now the
folks gathered round Luke and his wife and shook them by the hand and
congratulated them and laughed over them and cried over them。
〃Come along； Stubbins；〃 said the Doctor； taking me by the arm； 〃let's
get out of this while we can。〃
〃But aren't you going to speak to Luke？〃 I said〃 to ask him if he'll
come on the voyage？〃
〃It wouldn't be a bit of use；〃 s