k from
cowardice, just give them a white feather, and never speak to them
again until they have wiped away their disgrace." He took up the
basket and held it out. "There," he said, "I have finished my speech:
men and women do your duty!"

As he sat down the whole meeting was in a state of wild uproarious
enthusiasm.

A few minutes later the hall began to empty itself, although a number
of people remained behind to discuss the situation. An old retired
sergeant of seventy years of age stayed with a number of young fellows
who lingered behind, and as they stood near to Bob he could hear every
word that was said.

"Come, you chaps," said the sergeant, "aren't you going to be men?
aren't you going to fight the Germans?"

"Why shud us?" they asked. "What 'ave we got 'ginst the Germans?"

"Would you like the Germans to conquer your country? would you like to
have the Kaiser for a king?"

"Dunnaw: why shudden us?" replied one.

"Laive they that want to fight the Germans, fight 'em--we bean't goin'
to," said another. "Why shud we all git killed to plaise Members of
Parliament?"

"I be sheamed ov 'ee," cried an old man near; "you bean't worthy to be
called Englishmen."

"Why bean't us?"

"'Cos you be cowards. Wud 'ee like to be traited like they Germans be?"

"From oal accounts they be a darned sight better on than we be," was
the reply.

"Wot do 'ee main?"

"Why," laughed a young fellow, "at the last general election one of the
spaikers, I doan' know who 'twas, but the one that talked Tariff
Reform, zaid that the Germans was a lot better off than we be. He zaid
that the Germans was fat, and that we was lean, and that the Germans
had better times, shorter hours, and higher wages than we've got. Ef
tha's so, we'd be a lot better off under the Germans than we be now."

"Bean't 'ee Englishmen?" cried the old man. "Bean't 'ee goin' to fight
and keep 'em from England?"

"I bean't goin' over there to git killed--not me. I knaw trick worth
two of that"; and then shamefacedly the whole lot of them left the hall
without enlisting.

Bob's anger rose as he listened. "What mean cowards they are!" he said
to himself; "I feel almost ashamed to be a Cornishman. Of course
scores of our boys are playing the game like men, but these creatures
make one sick." A moment later his face became crimson with shame.
Was he not doing the same? Yes; his reasons were different, and of
course he could have made a better c