ensen, "my guards are protecting
Reykjavik, and because they might scour your island a hundred years
and never find what they looked for."

"Thank God!" muttered another voice from below.

"But you know it, every fell and fiord," cried Jorgen Jorgensen, "and
never a toad could skulk under a stone but you would root him out of
it. Chief Justice," he added, sweeping about, "I have a request to
make of you."

"What is it, your Excellency?" said the Judge.

"That you should adjourn this Althing so that every man here present
may go out in search of the traitor."

Then a loud involuntary murmur of dissent rose from the people, and
at the same moment the Judge said in bewilderment, "What can your
Excellency mean?"

"I mean," cried Jorgen Jorgensen, "that if you adjourn this Althing
for three days, the traitor will be taken. If not, he will be at
liberty as many years. Will you do it?"

"Your Excellency," said the Judge, "Althing has lived nigh upon a
thousand years, and every other year for that thousand years it has
met on this ancient ground, but never once since it began has the
thing you ask been done."

"Let it be done now," cried Jorgen Jorgensen. "Will you do it?"

"We will do our duty by your Excellency," said the Judge, "and we
will expect your Excellency to do your duty by us."

"But this man is a traitor," cried Jorgen Jorgensen, "and it is your
duty to help me to capture him. Will you do it?"

"And this day is ours by ancient right and custom," said the Judge,
"and it is your duty to stand aside."

"I am here for the King of Denmark," cried Jorgen Jorgensen, "and I
ask you to adjourn this Althing. Will you do it?"

"And we are here for the people of Iceland," said the Judge, "and we
ask you to step back and let us go on."

Then Jorgen Jorgensen's anger knew no bounds.

"You are subjects of the King of Denmark," he cried.

"Before ever Denmark was, we were," answered the Judge, proudly.

"And in his name I demand that you adjourn. Will you do it now?"
cried Jorgen Jorgensen, with a grin of triumph.

"No," cried the Judge, lifting an undaunted face to the face of
Jorgen Jorgensen.

The people held their breath through this clash of words, but at the
Judge's brave answer a murmur of approval passed over them. Jorgen
Jorgensen heard it, and flinched, but turned back to the Judge and
said,

"Take care. If you do not help me, you hinder me; if you are not with
me, you are against me. Is that m