to knuckles on his back-bone. But who is the chap?"
"Why," said Jotham, " It's"———
"It's ag'in law to tell," interrupted Hiram, "unless you'll qualify to sarve. You'd be the very man to take him, Bill: and I'll make out a spicial deputation in a minute, when you will get the fees."
"What's the fees?" said Kirby, laying his large hand on the leaves of a statute-book, that Hiram had opened in order to give dignity to his office, which he turned over, in his rough manner, as if he were reflecting on a subject, about which he had, in truth, already decided; "will they pay a man for a broken head?"
"They'll be something handsome," said Hiram.
"Damn the fees," said Billy, again laughing—"doos the fellow think he's the best wrestler in the county, though? what's his inches?"
"He's taller than you be," said Jotham, "and one of the biggest"-
Talkers, he was about to add, but the impatience of Kirby interrupted him. The wood-chopper had nothing fierce, or even brutal in his appearance; the character of his expression was that of good-natured vanity. It was evident he prided himself on the powers of the physical man, like all who have nothing better to boast of; and, stretching out his broad hand, with the palm downward, he said, keeping his eyes fastened on his own bones and sinews—
"Come, give us a touch of the book. I'll swear, and you'll see that I'm a man to keep my oath."
Hiram did not give the wood-chopper time to change his mind, but the oath was administered without any unnecessary delay. So soon
