noon
Father , this is the sole hope and comfort left me now . Do n't take it from me . '' Lorimer turned away weeping ; yes , and praying , too , as men must pray when they stand powerless in the stress of terrible sorrows . At noon the twelve men summoned dropped in one by one , and the informal court was opened . David Lorimer admitted the murder , and explained the long irritation and the final taunt which had produced it . The testimony of the returned drovers supplemented the tragedy . If there was any excuse to be made , it lay in the disgraceful epithet applied to David and the scornful mention of his mother 's race .