hash
added to a figure of great rotundity a square, red face, small hazel
eyes, a heavy, flat nose, a low, reclining forehead, and a head
covered with red, crispy hair, which he took great pains to part in
the centre. The only expression the Squire's face could lay claim to
was that of a pumpkin burned ripe in the sun. When in his favorite
dress of blue-grey homespun, which he judiciously arranged (for
Belhash was a Squire), no greater functionary lived on the island;
that is, in his well-developed opinion of himself! His principal law
business consisted in settling all disputes arising between the people
on shore and the Yankee fishermen who, against the law, infested the
coast, and for whom the Squire had a hatred he always made known in
his decisions. To Belhash the Americans were all of a flock, they
would steal, smuggle, take a Nova Scotiaman's eyeteeth out, and, what
he most hated, concoct some republican plot to overthrow his darling
government. 'Now,' said the Squire to me, one day, 'I have no bad
opinion of you individually, Smooth; for, by the righteous, you're a
sort of clever feller--an exception to Yankees in general--nor do I
think you'll steal!'

"I said, 'No, I didn't think I would!' And he continued: 'You must
see I am something of a man here on these shores; in fact, sir, some
call me very distinguished; but I hardly think I have arrived at that
yet, though the honorable attorney-general of the province, when this
way lectioneerin about a year ago, in referring to my position in
administering the law, said: 'That distinguished gentleman, Squire
Belhash, than whom none is loyaler, or more capable of administering
the law;' he did, sir, I assure you!'

"Of course I bowed to this, and declared the compliment as merited as
handsomely bestowed. And then he continued: 'You see now, sir--and
it's no small compliment to a man in this out of the way part of the
world!--I holds her Majesty's commission to alienate (some call it
demonstrate) the laws of the land.' Here the Squire's face broadened
and got redder, and the flashy handkerchief seemed too small for the
organic conformation of his big blue-veined neck.

"'Now and then, though, I gets a law case so confoundedly
cross-grained, that I'se forced to call in Lawyer Songster (he's a
cute un, ye know), afore I can get the point o'nt halucinated. Then,
Smooth, you see, I isn't one a them kind a folk what run after
bigified gentry; and that's how I'se got wh