With his hands on his knees he was now bending above the two men.
"What do you want to know, judge ?" cried Cavendish, panting from his exertions.

"I'll learn this parrot to talk up!" "Hicks," said the judge, "it is in your power to tell us a few things we are here to find out." Hicks looked up into the judge's face and closed his lips grimly.

"Mr.Cavendish, kindly let him have the point of that large knife where he'll feel it most!" ordered the judge.
"Talk quick!" said Cavendish with a ferocious scowl.

"Talk--or what's to hinder me slicing open your woozen ?" and he pressed the blade of his knife against the overseer's throat.
"I don't know anything about Miss Betty," said Hicks in a sullen whisper.
"Maybe you don't, but what do you know about the boy ?" Hicks was silent, but he was grateful for the judge's question.

From Tom Ware he had learned of Fentress' interest in the boy.