s are not
always accurately understood. It was very observable, and much I thought
to the sergeant's great power as a singer, that the first chorus was sung
with a tone which seemed to imply that the audience was feeling its way:
the second was given with more enthusiasm and vehemence: the third was
thumped upon the table as though a drum were required to give full effect
to the feelings of the company; while the fourth was shouted with such
heartiness that mere singing seemed useless, and it developed into loud
hurrahs, repeated again and again; and emphasized by the twirling of
hats, the clapping of hands, and stamping of feet.

"What d'ye think o' that?" says the Boardman.

"I'm on," said Lazyman; "give me the shilling, sergeant, if you please?"

"So'm I," said Saunter.

"Hooroar!" shouted the stentorian voice that had erstwhile charmed the
audience with Brimstone's sermon.

"Bravo!" said Harry.

"Look'ee here," said Jack Outofwork, "we've had a werry pleasant evenin'
together, and I ain't goin' to part like this 'ere; no more walkin' about
looking arter jobs for me, I'm your man, sergeant."

"Well," said the sergeant, eyeing his company, "I didn't expect this; a
pluckier lot o' chaps I never see; and I'm sure when the Queen sees you
it'll be the proudest moment of her life. Why, how tall do you stand,
Mr. Lazyman?"

"Six foot one," said he.

"Ha," said the Sergeant, "I thought so. And you, Mr. Outofwork?"

"I don't rightly know," said Jack.

"Well," said the sergeant, "just stand up by the side of me--ha, that
will do," he added, pretending to take an accurate survey, "I think I can
squeeze you in--it will be a tight fit though."

"I hope you can, Mr. Sergeant," said he.

"Look 'ere," laughed Joe; "We'll kitch 'old of his legs and give him a
stretch, won't us, Sergeant?"

And so the bright shillings were given, and the pretty maid's services
were again called in; and she said "she never see sich a lot o' plucky
fellows in her born days;" and all were about to depart when, as the
sergeant was shaking hands with Dick Devilmecare in the most pathetic and
friendly manner, as though he were parting from a brother whom he had not
met for years, Devilmecare's eyes filled with tears, and he exclaimed,

"Danged if I'll be left out of it, sergeant; give me the shillin'?"

At this moment the portly figure of Mr. Bumpkin again appeared in the
doorway!

CHAPTER XXIII.

The famous Don O'Rapley an