"'That's all ye knows, ain't it, Jacob? That's more en enough; my own mind was made up afore I read the law, and heard the testimony,' rejoined the Squire, looking suddenly wise. 'Yes, dad!' emphatically returned Jacob, 'but I know'd they were the very same herrin, by the taste on 'em: they tasted as if they wor stolen!' And Jacob having delivered himself of this tart and somewhat strange rejoinder, gave his shoulder a significant shrug, as he watched dad's eyes, without faltering. "'That's plump testimony--there's no coming yer Yankee twist over that! Ye see, Hornblower, I knows the hang of the law, slap up. The public should know these outrages; the Parliament should be apprised of such breaches of law and moral honesty; the Home Government should know what cussed pests the Yankees are! We don't want you here at all, Hornblower; you've turned pedler, and upset all our trade--there now!' Here the Squire worked himself up into a perfect fever of excitement, pressing his law-book firmly on the table while addressing his legal observations to his auditory. 'I shall pronounce you guilty, Hornblower, and judge you to pay a fine of twenty pounds currency, according to the sovereign law of this Her Most Gracious Britannic Majesty's province.' "I interrupted by telling him to go-ahead. 'Squire, if you warn't so fast, I'd try to get a word in edgewise for Hornblower,' said I. But, before the Squire had time to retort, Hornblower himself took up the weapon. 'Great Jehu----e! Squire,' he ejaculated, 'you know no more about the law than Dobbin Dobson's donkey--ye hain't worth two cents!' Hornblower's face blazed with red rage, and the Squire got himself all on his pins. "'Keep your clapper shut, Hornblower,' returned the Squire, telling Hornblower, how, if he doubted his capacity for the law business, he would read him Haliburton's opinions, and convince him that they precisely conformed with his. 'Remember you're in the presence of a Justice of the Peace!' he added, as Hornblower replied by informing him that so long as he was before him nothing more was necessary to remind him of the fact. Then he begged the Squire to keep cool, and not get into a fuzzle: and after he had bestowed some sharp retorts, in not very fashionable language, which he hoped the Squire would not take as personal, he made an explanation of the whole thing. 'Go on,' rejoined the Squire, getting warmer and warmer. "'Well,' returned Hornblower; 'first I motion to adjourn the Court and go drink all round, at your store; after which I further motion that Jacob and me go down into the cellar of your house--' "'Into my cellar!' interrupted the Squire, suddenly: 'not a step!--I'se settled the case, and there's no moving judgment.' "Here Hornblower charged the Squire with having a suspicious quantity of fresh herring in his own cellar. 'I don't say how they got there this morning afore daylight, Squire,' said he, 'but there's a citizen not far off what will.'