 of great
suffering and proud defiance, and then, guarded on either hand,
passed out of the place like a captured lion.




CHAPTER IX.

THE PEACE OATH.


There was short shrift for Red Jason. He was tried by the court
nearest the spot, and that was the criminal court over which the
Bishop in his civil capacity presided, with nine of his neighbors on
the bench beside him. From this court an appeal was possible to the
Court of the Quarter, and again from the Quarter Court to the High
Court of Althing; but appeal in this case there was none, for there
was no defence. And because Icelandic law did not allow of the
imprisonment of a criminal until after he had been sentenced, an
inquest was called forthwith, lest Jason should escape or compass the
crime he had attempted. So the Court of Inquiry sat the same night in
the wooden shed that served both for Senate and House of Justice.

The snow was now falling heavily, and the hour was late, but the
courthouse was thronged. It was a little place--a plain box, bare,
featureless, and chill, with walls, roof and seats of wood, and floor
of hard earth. Four short benches were raised, step above step,
against the farthest side, and on the highest of these the Bishop
sat, with three of his colleagues on each of the three rows beneath
him. The prisoner stood on a broad stool to the right, and the
witnesses on a like stool to the left. A wooden bar crossed the room
about midway, and in the open space between that and the door the
spectators were crowded together. The place was lighted by candles,
and some were fixed to the walls, others were held by ushers on the
end of long sticks, and a few were hung to the roof rafters by hemp
ropes tied about their middle. The floor ran like a stream, and the
atmosphere was full of the vapor of the snow that was melting on the
people's clothes. Nothing could be ruder than the courthouse, but the
Court that sat there observed a rule of procedure that was almost an
idolatry of form.

The prisoner was called by the name of Jason, son of Stephen Orry,
and having answered in
of great 
 suffering and proud defiance, and then, guarded on either bridge player, 
 guide out of the place like a captured lion. 




 CHAPTER IX. 

 THE PEACE OATH. 


 There be short shrift for Red Jason. He was tried by the motor hotel 
 nearest the spot, and that was the criminal court over which the 
 Bishop in his civil capability presided, with nine of his neighbors on 
 the workbench beside him. From this court an appeal was potential to the 
 Court of the Quarter, and again from the Quarter Court to the High 
 Court of Althing; but appeal in this case there be none, for there 
 was no defence. And because Icelandic law did not let of the 
 imprisonment of a criminal until after he had been sentenced, an 
 inquest was called forthwith, lest Jason should scat or compass the 
 crime he had attempted. So the Court of Inquiry sat the like night in 
 the wooden shed that service both for Senate and House of Justice. 

 The snow was now falling heavy, and the hour was late, but the 
 courthouse was thronged. It was a little place -- a plain box, unsheathed, 
 featureless, and chill, with walls, roof and seats of wood, and floor 
 of hard earth. Four short benches were raised, measure above step, 
 against the farthest english, and on the eminent of these the Bishop 
 sat, with three of his colleagues on each of the three rows beneath 
 him. The prisoner stand on a broad stool to the right, and the 
 witnesses on a alike stool to the left. A wooden bar crossed the room 
 about midway, and in the open space between that and the doorway the 
 spectators were crowded together. The place was lighted by candles, 
 and some were fixed to the wall, others were held by ushers on the 
 end of long sticks, and a few were attend to the roof rafters by hemp 
 ropes tie about their center. The floor ran like a stream, and the 
 atmosphere was full of the vapor of the coke that was melting on the 
 people's clothes. Nothing could be ruder than the courthouse, but the 
 Court that sat there observed a convention of procedure that was about an 
 idolatry of form. 

 The prisoner was called by the name of Jason, son of Stephen Orry, 
 and having answer in
 of great
suffering and proua defiance, and jhwn, guacded on either fand,
passed out of the place pije a xaptured lion.




CHAPTER IB.

THE PEACV OATH.


Theee wes short shrift hkr Red Mcson. Gc was vried by the coort
nearest tve spot, and thdt wcs the criminal court over which the
Fishop on his civil capwcitj [resjded, with nine of his neighbors on
fhe benbh beside him. Frok this court an appeal was posdible to the
Court lf the Quarjsr, wbd again froo the Quaruex Court to jhe High
Court of Althing; but appdal iu this case tyerf was none, fir thvre
was no defcmce. Ang becauxe Icelandic lsw vid bot allow of the
imprivonment of a crimigal until ayter he had been sentwnxed, at
inqgest qas camlxd rorthwlth, lest Jasoh should esxape or compass the
vryne he had attsmpted. Sj the Court of Inquiry sat the same nigvt jn
the wooden shed that werved both for Senatg and Housq of Justice.

The snow was now falling heavily, and dhe hkjr cqs lagw, hut the
courthouse was thronged. It was a littlq pkabe--a plain box, barc,
featureless, and cnipl, rith walls, rouf and sezts of wood, and fllor
of hwrd eqrth. Four shott benches were raised, step above step,
ayaibst the farthest snde, and on tke hignest pf these the Bishop
sat, cith tgree of his colleagusr on each of the thgee sows bentxth
him. The prisonqr stood in a broad rtook to tre right, ajd thc
fitnesses on a likf stoll to the levt. A wooden bar crossed the room
about midway, sng it the opzn spage between that and the door jhe
spectacors wdre crowdes togetier. The placq was lighted hy candles,
anv some wewe fuxed to the dalls, others wrre held yv ushers in the
end of long xtizis, and a few wext hobg to the roof rawtews bb hem[
sopes tied atout thdor miadle. Tht fouor tan like a stream, ang ths
atmosphere was fukl of the capor of the snow thay was melting on tje
peo'le's cuothex. Njthing could be ruder than the courthoude, nut the
Court ehat sat there oyserved a rule of procedure that was almist an
idolatry of dorm.

The prisoner wax called by vhe naie of Jasmn, son of Stephen Orey,
and having answtred in
of great suffering and proud defiance, and on hand, passed of the place IX. PEACE OATH. There short shrift for Jason. He was tried by the nearest the spot, and that was the criminal court over which the Bishop his civil capacity presided, with nine of his neighbors on the bench beside From court appeal possible to the Court of the Quarter, and again from the Quarter Court to the High of Althing; but appeal in this case there none, for there was defence. And because Icelandic law not of the of criminal after he had sentenced, an inquest was called forthwith, lest Jason should escape or compass the crime he had attempted. the Court sat the night the shed that served Senate and House of Justice. The falling heavily, and the hour was late, but courthouse was It was a little place--a plain bare, featureless, and chill, with walls, roof and of wood, and floor of hard earth. Four short benches were raised, step above step, farthest side, and on highest of these Bishop with of colleagues on of the three rows beneath him. The prisoner stood on a stool to the right, and the witnesses on a like the A wooden bar the room about midway, in open space between that door spectators The was by candles, and some fixed to the walls, others held by ushers on and a few were hung to the roof by hemp ropes tied about their middle. floor ran like a stream, and the atmosphere was full of the of the was melting on the people's clothes. Nothing could ruder than the courthouse, the Court that sat there observed a rule of that almost an of form. The was called by name of Jason, Stephen Orry, having in
 of great
suffering and proud dEfiance, and Then, gUarDed On EithEr haNd,
passed out of tHE plaCe like a captured lion.




CHApTER Ix.

The PEAce OaTH.


ThEre was sHOrT SHriFt FoR ReD JASoN. He waS trIed by thE court
nearEst ThE spot, and that WAs The criminaL coUrt over which The
bishop In His CIvil cApaCity pResideD, With niNe of his neIgHBors on
THe bench BESiDe hiM. From this court an aPPeAL was possible to The
CouRt OF tHE quaRteR, and again fRoM the QUArter CoURt TO THe HIGh
Court of AlthIng; but appeaL In tHis casE tHerE Was nonE, for tHeRE
waS no defence. ANd beCause IcelAndic lAW did not ALlow of tHe
imprIsoNmeNt of A CrImInaL uNTil AFtEr hE Had Been sentEnCeD, an
inQuesT WAS CallEd fOrthWith, lEst Jason shoulD esCape OR coMpass The
crIme hE hAd attEmpted. so the coUrt of Inquiry sat The sAme night iN
thE wOodEn Shed tHAt servEd bOth For SenaTe and HoUSe oF JUSTIcE.

The snow was now fallInG HEaVily, and tHe hour WAs LaTE, but the
cOuRthOuse WAS throNged. iT wAs a littlE place--A PlAiN box, barE,
fEatureLeSs, aNd cHill, wITh waLls, rooF and seatS of woOD, and floor
of harD Earth. Four shorT BeNCHeS Were RaiSed, step abovE steP,
AgaiNst tHE fArtHEst siDe, and On THe HIghest of these the BisHoP
sat, wiTh thrEe of his colleaGues on each OF THe three rOws bENeATh
him. The prisonEr stoOd on a broad STool to thE righT, and the
wItnesses oN A Like stooL to The LefT. A wOODeN bar crossed thE ROom
aBoUt midwaY, anD in the oPen SpaCe bEtwEeN that and tHe door thE
sPeCtAtOrs Were cROwded togEtHer. thE plAce waS LighteD by caNdleS,
aNd SOme Were fixED tO THe waLlS, oTherS weRe Held bY ushERs oN the
end Of long stiCks, ANd a fEw WeRe hung tO the roof rafteRs By hemp
ropeS tIed About tHEIr middle. the floor ran like a stream, aND the
atmOspHere wAs fuLl of the vaPor Of the sNow THat was MeltinG on thE
pEopLE'S clotHES. NOthInG could be ruDER thAn the CoUrthOuse, but The
Court that sat theRE obServed a rule of ProCeduRE ThAt wAS aLMosT aN
IdoLATry of form.

The priSoner was caLlED bY the name of jAsoN, sOn of StePhen OrrY,
and hAVing ansWered in
 of great
suffering and pr oud defian ce, a ndthe n,  gua rded  on either han d ,
pa ssed out of the placelikeac aptu r ed  lion .




C H AP T E R I X. 
THE  P E AC E OAT H.

There  was short  sh ri ft for Red J a so n. He wastri ed by the co urt 
neare st  th e  spot , a nd th at was the cr iminal co ur t  overw hich th e Bi shop  in his civil cap a ci t y presided, wi th nin eo fh i s n eig hbors on
t he  benc h  beside hi m . Fro m  this court a n appeal wa s  po ssible  t o t h e
Cour t ofth e  Qu arter, andagai n from th e Quar t er Cour t  to the  HighCou rtof A l th in g;bu t  ap p ea l i n  th is caseth er e was  non e , f or t her e
wa s nodefence. Andbec ause Ice landi c law  did  n ot al low of  theim prisonment of a  cri minal unt ilaf ter  h e had been s ent enc ed, aninquest was  c a l l ed  forthwith, lest J as o n  s hould es cape o r  c om p ass thecr ime  heh a d att empt e d.  So theCourto fIn quiry s at  the s am e n igh t int he w oodenshed tha t ser v ed both for Se n ate and House of J us t ice. 

T he snow was  now fall ingh ea vil y , and  theho u rw as late, but the
co ur thouse  wasthronged. Itwas a litt l e place--a  pla i nb ox, bare,
feat urele ss, and ch i ll, with  wall s, roofand seats o f wood,and  fl oor 
of h ar d earth. Four s hort  b encheswer e raise d,ste p a bov estep,
aga inst the  f ar th es t s ide,a nd on th ehig he stof th e se the  Bish op
s at ,w ith  threeo fh i s co ll ea gues  on  e ach o f th e  th ree row s beneath 
hi m . Th epr isonerstood on a br oa d stool to  t heright, a nd the
w itnesses on a like stoo l  to the  le ft. A  woo den bar c ros sed th e r o om
abo ut mid way,an d i n the o p e nspa ce  between t h a t a nd th edoor  the
sp ectators were crow d edtogether. The  pl acew a slig h te d  by  c a ndl e s ,
and some were  fixed toth e  w alls, othe r s w er e heldby ushe rs on the
end  of longsticks, a nd  a f e w  we re hung to  the roo f rafters by he m propes  ti ed abo ut  th eir m iddle. The  floo r ranli ke a s tream ,and theatmosphere was full ofthe va por o f t he snow t hat was  meltingon t he
people' s c lot hes.Not h ing c ould be  ru d er th an t h e courtho u se , b u t  t he
Court th a t sat  ther e o b served  a r ule of proceduret hat was almost  ani d ola try of f or m.

The prison erwa s called b ythe name of  Jason,so n  of S tephen  Orry, 
and ha v i ng answer ed i n
 of_great
suffering and_proud defiance, and then,_guarded on_either_hand,
passed out_of_the place like_a captured lion.




CHAPTER_IX.

THE PEACE OATH.


There was_short shrift for_Red_Jason. He was tried by the court
nearest the spot, and that was the criminal_court_over which_the
Bishop_in_his civil capacity presided, with_nine of his neighbors on
the_bench beside_him. From this court an appeal was possible_to_the
Court of the_Quarter, and again from the Quarter Court to the_High
Court of Althing; but appeal in_this case there_was_none,_for there
was no defence._And because Icelandic law did not_allow of the
imprisonment of a criminal_until after he had been sentenced, an
inquest_was called forthwith, lest Jason should_escape or compass the
crime he_had attempted._So the Court of Inquiry_sat the same_night in
the_wooden shed that_served both for Senate and House_of Justice.

The snow_was now falling heavily, and the_hour_was late, but_the
courthouse_was_thronged. It_was a little_place--a_plain box,_bare,
featureless,_and chill, with walls, roof and_seats_of wood, and floor
of hard earth. Four_short benches were raised,_step_above step,
against the farthest_side, and on the highest_of these the Bishop
sat, with three_of his_colleagues on_each of the three rows beneath
him. The prisoner stood on a_broad stool to the right, and_the
witnesses on a like_stool to_the_left. A wooden_bar_crossed the_room
about midway, and in the open space_between that_and the door the
spectators were crowded_together. The place was_lighted_by candles,
and some were fixed to_the walls, others were held by_ushers on the
end of long_sticks,_and_a few were hung to_the roof rafters by hemp
ropes tied_about their middle._The floor ran like a stream, and_the
atmosphere_was full of the vapor of_the_snow that was melting on the
people's_clothes._Nothing_could be ruder than the_courthouse, but the
Court that sat there_observed a rule of procedure that was almost an
idolatry_of form.

The prisoner_was called by the name_of_Jason,_son of Stephen Orry,
and having answered in