---"

"I don't believe you could scare up a dollar among the whole of us, and
as for bonds--who would sign them?"

"But you can't expect me to let you go free after robbing a man's
orchard, an' bein' sentenced in a regular court?"

"Certainly not, and for that reason we have settled down to the belief
that we shall be your guests a very long while."

"If I should let you out long enough to give a show, would you come
back here?" the squire asked after a long pause.

"Who would get the money taken at the door?"

"It would go toward payin' your fines."

"That's a matter we shall have to discuss, for it isn't a pleasant
lookout to give a performance for the benefit of your court when we
need money so badly ourselves."

"I'll come back in an hour an' get your answer," the squire replied
with considerable show of dignity, as he left the building.

Jet was distressed at the thought that it might be possible the fines
would be paid in a short time, for then he could make no excuse for
loitering about the town, and even if he should do so there was every
reason to believe the constable he was eager to have arrested would
recognize him.

CHAPTER XIX

THE DINNER

Dinner, consisting of soup, with a liberal supply of meat and bread,
was served to the prisoners at twelve o'clock, and, half an hour later,
the manager arrived to talk with his company regarding the proposition
to reduce the fines so far as was possible by giving a performance.

The "funny" man of the party acted as spokesman for his companions, and
Jet listened with deepest interest to the following conversation:

"There is no question about persuadin' that idiotic squire to give all
hands a few hours' liberty, if you agree to return here as soon as the
performance is ended," the manager began.

"And in what way shall we be benefited?"

"At least a portion of the fines will be paid, and it may then be
possible to get his consent to our moving on to the next town."

"How will you get there, if he insists on taking all the receipts?"

"There must be some kind of a bargain made whereby we can take
car-fares and expenses out of the show."

Although the majority of the prisoners were responsible for the deed
which committed them to prison, not one seemed willing to give an
evening's work, in order to pay a portion of the amount exacted.

The fines were so large in the aggregate, considering the value of the
property taken, that all felt as if