way. Suddenly he called out, "Take away that empty chair! Who the
devil is going to sit there? Take it away! Away with it!" He jumped up
and overturned it with such force that all the four legs were broken.

"You oughtn't to do that father. Be quiet!" whispered Peter, sternly,
and roughly grasped his father's arm.

"Let go! I'm all right," said Landolin, quieting down. "Come, Tobias,
come with me! Indeed I have not drunk too much to-day, but I have gone
through so much that its almost upset me. Here, Tobias, let me lean a
little on you. Good night to you all. I hope you will get home all
right. I shall soon follow you."

He went up to his room with Tobias, and as soon as he got there he
caught tight hold of Tobias' arms and cried:

"Be still! I won't hurt you. Not you! You haven't deserved it. Do you
know what I long for? Do you know what I wish?"

"How can I know it?"

"I'd like to have one of 'em between my thumb and finger, like this,
so--Hutadi! I'd like to snap and crack his arms and legs. I'd like
best to get at Titus--or all of the six--they ought to have been
unanimous--the cursed--"

"Let me go, master," begged Tobias, for the grip of his hand was far
from gentle; "and I advise you to keep quieter. You can say anything
you like to me. What we two have got through together, can't be
undone."

The situation dawned upon Landolin. He, the farmer, was reproved by his
own servant.

"All right, all right," he muttered and soon fell sound asleep.

CHAPTER XXXVII.

It was almost noon when Landolin awoke. He prepared for his journey
home, and paid his bill. It was very evident that the landlord had
cheated him. He was greatly vexed at being taken in by this plausible
fellow, but he did not want an open quarrel. The thought that, for some
time to come, he must allow himself to be cheated without daring to say
anything, worried him more than the loss of his money. He now wished to
return home immediately, and enter the village in triumph; but Peter
put off going until near evening; for he did not want his father to
reach home until after dark; and when Landolin swore at the unnecessary
delays, Peter said, coolly and meaningly:

"Father, you will have to give up fussing and spluttering so. I should
think you would have learned, by this time, to keep quiet and be
patient. Yes, you may well stare at me. I am no longer the simple
Peter, over whose head you looked, as though he