But," with a sudden return to the main point at issue, "that proves David wasn't the cat he saw, the one that stole his chicken." The Captain looked at her.

"By fire, it does, that's right," he muttered.

Abner Bacheldor roared in indignation.
"It don't prove nothin'," he cried.

"All it proves is that the kid's a liar.

She's lyin' so's to save that dummed thief of a cat.