unselfishly for the good of the whole; like the bee, flying straight for
the object to be attained. Every member of the House from Putnam County,
for instance, was seen by one of these indefatigable captains, and if
the member had a mortgage or an ambition, or a wife and family that made
life a problem, or a situation on the railroad or in some of the larger
manufacturing establishments, let him beware! If he lived in lodgings
in the town, he stuck his head out of the window to perceive a cheery
neighbour from the country on his doorstep. Think of a system which
could do this, not for Putnam County alone, but for all the counties in
the State!

The Honourable Hilary Vane, captain-general of the Forces, had had but
four hours' sleep, and his Excellency, the Honourable Asa Gray, when he
arose in the twilight of the morning, had to step carefully to avoid the
cigar butts on the floor which--like so many empty cartridge shells were
unpleasant reminders that a rebellion of no mean magnitude had arisen
against the power to which he owed allegiance, and by the favour of
which he was attended with pomp and circumstance wherever he chose to
go.

Long before eleven o'clock the paths to the state-house were thronged
with people. Beside the office-holders and their friends who were in
town, there were many residents of the capital city in the habit of
going to hear the livelier debates. Not that the powers of the Empire
had permitted debates on most subjects, but there could be no harm in
allowing the lower House to discuss as fiercely as they pleased dog and
sheep laws and hedgehog bounties. But now! The oldest resident couldn't
remember a case of high treason and rebellion against the Northeastern
such as this promised to be, and the sensation took on an added flavour
from the fact that the arch rebel was a figure of picturesque interest,
a millionaire with money enough to rent the Duncan house and fill its
long-disused stable with horses, who was a capitalist himself and a
friend of Mr. Flint's; of whom it was said that he was going to marry
Mr. Flint's daughter!

Long before eleven, too, the chiefs over tens and the chiefs over
hundreds had gathered their men and marched them into the state-house;
and Mr. Tooting, who was everywhere that morning, noticed that some
of these led soldiers had pieces of paper in their hands. The chaplain
arose to pray for guidance, and the House was crowded to its capacity,
and the gallery fill