Part 14 (1/2)
She was abashed by the roar of laughter that followed the proposal Papa Benson flung hi Joe uttered whoops of delight Even Mr Bob shook with speechless s Never in all its history was there such a hullabaloo in the Land We Live In As the ru very like remorse overwhel little face, hot withto the rescue before the bri to his feet with unexpected enthusiasm
”Now, then, boys, who says 'Aye, aye' for the Band of 'Ope?”
A good part of the croould have preferred to stay by their spree; but so contagious is example and so sheeplike the sailor nature, that the whole room fell in with Bob, and answered his call like oneDaisy up on his shoulder, where, from that dizzy perch, she looked back shyly at the noisy pack behind her Secure in the conquest of the ringleader, whoer than the rest, and kinder and h exterior as sied to keep up her courage in spite of the loud, frightening laughter and the tipsy boisterousness and horseplay that marked the inception of the Band of Hope Her satisfaction was suddenly checked, however, by the sight of the Kanaka girls joining the procession and h to follow
”No, they mustn't come!” she cried out jealously ”Please, Mr
Mathison, tell them they mustn't come! This is to be for men only!”
”Turn them back!” thundered Bob ”Don't yer 'ear the little lady's _h_orders? Scamper, ye jades!”
Papa Benson struck up a quickstep on the concertina, and,beside Bob Fletcher, helped to lead the van The mutineers, beach-coht up by the guard, loutish, hobbling, and out of step, bearing their rusty Springfields at all angles In this fashi+on they made the missionary's house, swarmed into the neat bare inclosure of coral sand, and invaded the silent roo over Daisy Twelve slides, representing the wanderings of Saint Paul, began to see the attention of this enormous and expectant crowd
Besides, it came over her with a shock that she was a little hazy about Saint Paul; and then there were disturbing questions of sheets and darkened s, and how toon despair, that she saw the serried ranks of her recruits crowding the roo her with hu her in his lap, and stroking her hair with an enor disposition to himself take the breach At any rate, he roared for silence; told Mr Mathison he'd cut his liver out if he didn't belay with them there remarks, and assuivings
”Friends,” he said, ”and eneletherlike, for the purpose of _h_organizing a Band of 'Ope”
”Local Number One,” interrupted Billy Dutton, the donkey-man, who had had some trades'-union experience
”Band of 'Ope, Local Nuestion in an accoreat pleasure I propose the na”
Then,her head, nestled closer to Mr Bob, and felt all the joy of good works pro fruit
”I don't see no reason,” went on Mr Bob, ”why a false h life, should preventmyself as your _h_esteeh, or reaching out for honors that belong to _h_abler 'eads norin a kindly spirit, and will abide peaceable by a show of 'ands!”
When the applause had subsided, Billy Dutton sprang up, and wanted to knohat about a recording seckitary?”
”I don't see no 'ar the job 'isself,” said Mr Bob, ”if 'e thinks 'e's sufficient of a speller, and won't run the band into 'orrible extravagances for 'igh-priced wines and luxuries The assess to be low, and the diet plain Who says Brother Dutton ain't theyour fist agin hi at a ti _h_endorse Mr Willu did, vociferously and with cheers Daisy ran and got her slate for the recording seckitary, who thereupon (after first inscribing the naan to draonderful picture of a pirate shi+p
”Afore listening to the plans of our valued president,” said Mr Bob, ”I propose eneral reenelether froht-faced boy that 'igh! We've bunked in together, fair weather and foul, co on this thirty year We 'ave set in our time, me and 'Ope, on the bottom of a capsized schooner, ore laden out of Mazatlan, with our tongues 'anging out like the tails of so 'Ope and I took the Chainy coast once on a chicken coop 'Ope and I, e 'ad the dollars, blew thehtened our belts and cheered each other _h_up Looking back over all theht 'ere to the best friend of the sailorman, bar none, and p'r'aps the _h_only one he ever truly 'ad--and that's 'Ope, God bless her!”
A uproar, which jarred the walls of that pri plates off dressers and cock-billing texts, and arresting the astonished clock at four forty-six, little Daisy was trying to nerve herself to address the assembled company The unforeseen docility of the band had put new ideas in that sleek, baby-seal head Odds and ends of tracts and storybooks recurred to her Infantile a, just the sa, unshaved, shaggy-looking faces, all keenly waiting for her to speak
”Now, then, little lady,” said the vice president, ”'ere's your Band of 'Ope, a-panting to set its 'and to the plow!”
Daisy cleared her throat Pride and tier little countenance Had it not been for an encouraging squeeze froht have burst into tears, and disgraced herself before the whole band But the squeeze, co a catastrophe
”My dear friends,” began Daisy, catching with unconscious mimicry some of the rounded tones of her father's voice--”o on,” cried Mr Bob; ”that's a swell start! That's the way to wake them up!”
”Hear! hear!” (This froevver,” went on Daisy bravely, ”so we s to thefor Christirl Saint Paul was a kind of a sailor, too, and got shi+pwrecked, like Mr Bob, in an awful storot mixed up about hie, so we'll knohat the slides are about e get _w_ound to them?”