Having failed in this, he was next asked what, when they died, became
of people who told lies.

"If he knows that, it's a good deal more than I do," said Maule.

"Attend to me," said the Crown counsel. "Do you know that it's wicked
to tell lies?"

"Yes, sir," the boy answered.

"I don't think," said the counsel for the prosecution, "it would be
safe to swear him, my lord; he does not seem to know anything about
religion at all.--You can stand down."

"Stop a minute, my boy," says Maule; "let me ask you a question or
two. You have been asked about a future state--at least I presume that
was at the bottom of the gentleman's question. I should like to know
what you have been taught to believe. What will become of _you_, my
little boy, when you die, if you are so wicked as to tell a lie?"

"_Hell fire_," answered the boy with great promptitude and boldness.

"Right," said Maule. "Now let us go a little further. Do you mean to
say, boy, that you would go to hell fire for telling _any_ lie?"

"_Hell fire_, sir," said the boy emphatically, as though it were
something to look forward to rather than shun.

"Take time, my boy," said Maule; "don't answer hurriedly; think it