86 GOING Tu COURT.

very often happens that there are other towns
in the county larger than the one which has
the court-house in it.”

“What do they do in a court-house ?”’
said Rollo.

“QO, they try criminals, and they settle
disputes about land and money, and debts,
and all other disputes; and they keep a reg-
ular account of various things, such as all
the land that is sold, and all the wills, and
attend to making roads through the county,
and all such things. They have a jail near
to keep the prisoners safe in.”

Just then they came pretty near to the
court-house, and they saw a small stone
building behind it, with grated windows.
At one of the windows Rollo thought he
saw something moving, behind the grating.
It was rather dark in there, and they could
not see very well at first ; but, on looking
more attentively, they saw it was the face
of a man. He looked haggard and fierce,
with bushy hair and rough beard; after
looking out a minute or two, he disappeared.

‘Perhaps he is a murderer,” said Rollo,
looking alarmed.

“No,” said Jonas, “J don’t. think there