sh, son by lawful wedlock of the presiding
justice, sundry herring, mackerel, and other fish--such as usually
come into such nets, and are found on these Her Majesty's shores. Here
the Squire interrupted by commencing an essay on the enormity of the
crime; and concluded with the following pungent remark:--'Now,
Hornblower, I knows, without ginning a look in the law-book, you're
guilty; there's always stealin done when you're about the shore.
Anyhow! what say ye for yourself? Remember, you're in a Magistrate's
Court--in the presence of a justice of the peace!'

"'So far as that is concerned, I'll knock under, Squire; but I just
wants to see yer prove a thing or two afore ye come possum over this
salt-water citizen!' returns Hornblower, spunkily, pulling from the
pocket of his pea-coat a fascinating wedge of tobacco, which so
tempted the Squire that he could not resist reaching out his hand and
supplying his spacious mouth. As nature, ever erring, should be
generous to nature, so also did I interrupt here by offering to plead
Hornblower's case; to which meritorious object I commenced taking off
my coat.

"'Don't want nobody to soft-soap the case--especially a Yankee--for
there's the law in that ar' book (here the high functionary turned
down the corner of the very page on which it stood forcible to his
mind), and I knows all about it--d----d if I don't!'

"'Swearin' ain't judiciary, Squire!' says I.

"'Tain't none a' your business,' he rejoined, letting his anger get
above his caution. 'Call Jacob--he'll swar t' what he see'd the
skipper do!' Here Jacob, a younger son of the Squire, was called.
Jacob had seen some seventeen summers; and in addition to what larnin'
the Squire had 'gin him,' was well up in the swearing business, for
the furtherance of which his abilities were frequently invoked.

"'There is not a man long shore what don't know and respect Jacob,'
continued the Squire, shutting up his law book, angrily. 'Jacob's a
son a' mine--Jacob 's got larnin, too--Jacob 's bin more nor two years
to Master Jacques's school at the corner; and he has taken Master
Jacques's place many a time when that larned gentleman had taken a
drop too much. Now, Jacob, tell all you know; and let it be just as
straight!'

"'Well, Dad,' ejaculated Jacob, who, one might seriously have
inferred, had been raised on a guano bag, and slipped very
unexpectedly into a suit of linsey-woolsey grey mixed; 'I see'd the
Virtue at anchor right