The roar in the Plaza was increasing. He sprang to his
feet, and puffed, and he says:
"The military is scattered! It is a mob! I must go! Attend me, my
wife!"
But Flannagan enclosed his collar. "Respict for me own intherests,"
he says, "is me proudest virtue. Would ye have me missin' the sight
of a rivolution from a private box, an' the shpectacle of explodin'
liberty? An' ye'll be havin' me blood to-morry by the tomb of your
mother? Ah, now!"
"Let me go!" he says, shrieking and struggling. "I accept your
apology! Say no more!"
Flannagan looked at Madame Bill. The crowd was shouting more in
unison now. They says, "Vivo Alvarez!" and "Bill al fuego!" which the
latter means, as you or I might say, "To hell with Bill!" The
Minister shivered and struggled, but more moderate.
"The military will be confused, will do nothing without order!" he
pleaded to Madame Bill.
"The military," says the tin-type man, from the shutters, speaking
through his nose, soft and scornful, "they appear to feel tolerable
good. There's a batch of 'em on the steps under here, a-sittin' in
their sins, and shoutin' 'Down with Bill!' very hearty like."
"Mutiny!" howled the Minister.
Pages:
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195