. They often stopped before the door
of a house and called for the belated master, who rushed out in great
haste, pulling on his coat as he walked along the road. Jokes and
witticisms were passed about, but died away whenever the speaker's eye
fell upon Buchmaier, who walked on silently with contracted brows. Not
a drop had been tasted before going to court. Business first, pleasure
afterward, was the motto of the farmers.

The judge was lounging at the window in his dressing-gown, with his
long pipe in his mouth. On seeing the approach of the armed force, he
closed the window in all haste, and ran to ring the bell; but, as his
boots were always spurred, he stumbled over the window-curtain and fell
at full length upon the floor. His long pipe lay beside him like a
weapon of offence. He rose quickly, however, rang for the tipstaff,
sent him to the commandant and to the captain of the gens-d'armes, and
ordered them all to come up with arms heavily loaded. Unfortunately,
there happened to be but four men in the town. He now ordered them to
remain in the porter's room and hold themselves in readiness to act at
a moment's warning. He then gave directions that but one farmer should
be admitted at a time, and the door always closed upon him.

Buchmaier, being first called in, said, holding the door in his hand,
"Good-morning, your honor;" and then, turning to the others, "Come in,
men: we have a common grievance I'm not going to speak for myself
alone."

[Illustration: Write down word for word what I say.]

Before the judge could interfere, the room was filled with farmers,
each carrying an axe on his left arm. Buchmaier stepped up to the
clerk, and said, stretching out his hand, "Write down word for word
what I say; I want them to read it at the Provincial Government." Then,
after passing his hand twice through his shirt-collar, he rested his
hand upon the green baize of the table, and continued:--

"All respect and honor to you, judge: the king has sent you, and we
must obey you, as the law requires. The king is a good and a true man,
and we know it isn't his will to have the farmers knocked about like
dumb cattle or boxed on the ears like children. But the little lords
and gentlemen that hang by one another from the top to the bottom are
mighty fond of commanding and giving orders: one of these days they
will set it down in notes how the hens must cackle over their eggs. I'm
going to lift the lid off the pan and just g