der a
tempest of cheers, and, followed by McNish, made his way to his seat.

From the first moment of his speech Mr. Howard E. Bigelow had to fight
for a hearing. The little Cockney was the centre of a well-organised and
thoroughly competent body of obstructers who by clever "heckling,"
by points of order, by insistent questioning, by playing now upon the
anti-American string, now upon the anti-Federation string, by ribald
laughter, by cheering a happy criticism, completely checked every
attempt of the speaker to take flight in his oratory. The International
official was evidently an old hand in this sort of game, but in the
hands of these past masters in the art of obstruction he met more than
his match. Maitland was amazed at his patience, his self-control, his
adroitness, but they were all in vain. At last he was forced to appeal
to the Chairman for British fair play. But the Chairman was helplessly
futile and his futility was only emphasised by Mr. Wigglesworth's
attempts now at browbeating which were met with derision and again at
entreaty which brought only demands for ruling on points of order, till
the meeting was on the point of breaking up in confused disorder.

"McNish, I think I'll take a hand in this," said Captain Jack in the
Scotchman's ear. "Are you game?"

"Wait a wee," said McNish, getting to his feet. Slowly he once more
made his way to the platform. As the crowd caught on to his purpose they
broke into cheering. When he reached the side of the speaker he spoke a
word in his ear, then came to the front with his hand held up. There
was instant quiet. He looked coolly over the excited, disintegrating
audience for a moment or two.

"A belonged tae the Feefty-fir-rst Diveesion," he said in his richest
Doric. "We had a rare time wi' bullies over there. A'm for free speech!
Noo, listen tae me, you Cockney wheedle doodle. Let another cheep out o'
yere trap an' the Captain there will fling ye oot o' this room as we did
the Kayser oot o' France."

"You said it, McNish," said Maitland, leaping to the aisle. With a roar
a dozen returned men were on their feet.

"Steady, squad!" rang out Captain Jack's order. "Fall into this aisle!
Shun!" As if on parade the soldiers fell into line behind their captain.

"Macnamara!" he said, pointing to a huge Irishman.

"Sir!" said Macnamara.

"You see that little rat-faced chap?"

"Yes, sir."

"Take your place beside him."

With two steps Macnamara was beside hi