n's
hand and signed it hurriedly. "Here," he said, "see that the man is
set free immediately."

The Lagmann looked at both of them out of his nearsighted eyes,
coughed slightly, and left the room without a word more.

CHAPTER XII.

THE PRESIDENT OR THE MAN.

I.

When the Fairbrothers left Government House after their dirty work
was done, Jacob was well content with himself, but his brothers were
still grumbling.

"He didn't seem any ways keen to believe it," Thurstan muttered.

"Leave him alone for that," said Jacob. "Did ye see when I gave him
the letter?"

"Shoo! I wouldn't trust but she will persuade him she never writ it,"
said Thurstan.

"He's got it anyways, and we have nothing to show for it," said
Stean.

"And noways powerful grateful either. And where's the fortune that
was coming straight to our hand?" said Ross.

"Chut, man, there's nothing for us in his mighty schame," said
Thurstan.

"I always said so," said Asher; "and five and thirty pounds of good
money thrown into the sea."

"Go on," said Jacob, with a lofty smile, "go on, don't save your
breath for your porridge," and he trudged along ahead of his
brethren. Presently he stopped, faced about to them, and said, "Boys,
you're mighty sure that nothing is coming of this mighty schame,"
with a look of high disdain at Thurstan.

"Sure as death and the taxman," sneered Thurstan.

"Then there's a boat sailing for Dublin at high water, and I'll give
five and thirty pounds apiece to every man of you that likes to go
home with her."

At that there was an uneasy scraping of five pairs of feet, and much
hum-ing and ha-ing and snuffling.

"Quick, which of you is it to be? Speak out, and don't all speak at
once," said Jacob.

Then Asher, with a look of outraged reason, said, "What! and all our
time go for nothing, and the land lying fallow for months, and the
winter cabbage not down, and the men's wages going on?"

"You won't take it?" said Jacob.

"A paltry five and thirty, why, no," said Asher.

"Then let's have no more of your badgering," said Jacob.

"But, Jacob, tell us where's our account in all this jeel with the
girl and the Governor," said Gentleman John.

"Find it out," said Jacob, with a flip of finger and thumb, as he
strode on again before his brothers.

"Aw, lave him alone," said Stean. "He's got his schame."

II.

Next morning, before the light was yet good, and while the warm vapor
was still rising into