ree walked
briskly towards the Red Tape Office. Here, with difficulty and much
climbing up and down stairs and traversing of corridors, they found the
room of the District Judge, who was, in his minor capacity, likewise the
Resident Magistrate.

He was a man of benign countenance, who, after the customary greetings
and explanations had been made, politely asked them to be seated. This
invitation the Pilot neglected to comply with, but, advancing to the
table behind which the Judge sat, he said,

"I believe you have locked up a young man of the name of Scarlett."

"That's so," said the Judge.

"Well, he's a friend o' mine," said the Pilot, "a partic'lar friend."

"Indeed," said the Judge, smiling kindly. "I'm glad that Mr. Scarlett is
not without friends."

"I've a great respect for the Law," continued the Pilot. "I always had,
but that don't make me feel less anxious to help a friend o' mine that's
got into its clutches."

The Judge continued to smile at the Pilot from behind his gold-rimmed
spectacles. "I can quite believe it," he said.

"Cap'n Sartoris," said the Pilot, in his gruffest manner. "Stand up,
sir!"

Sartoris stood.

"Scarlett was your shipmate, Cap'n?" continued the Pilot.

"Certainly he was," answered Sartoris.

"And he was my very good friend, sir," added Summerhayes, turning to the
Judge.

"So you have said," said the Judge.

"Well, we've come to bail him out," said the Pilot; "that's what has
brought us here. How much will it take, Judge?"

"A--really--this is very sudden," replied the Judge. "Er--this
is--ah--most unusual. In fact, I might say that this is quite an
unparalleled case."

"We're plain, sea-faring men," said Sartoris, who felt he was bound to
back up the Pilot, and to say something; "law isn't our strong point."

"Would you consider a matter o' five thousand pound might do it?" asked
the Pilot.

The old Judge leaned over his table, and took up a book.

"Bail?" he said. "Page 249. Listen to this. 'On charges of murder, it
is the uniform practice of Justices not to admit the person charged to
bail; although in point of law, they may have power to do so.' That is
from The Justice of the Peace--it seems perfectly plain."

"You _may_ give bail, but you make a practice of refusing it," commented
the Pilot. "Might I suggest that you set an example to the other
Justices, an' come out strong in the matter o' bail? If you've got power
to make the lot of a well-known citiz