CHAPTER XV.-(CONTINUED)

Waikato Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1571, 29 July 1882, Page 5

CHAPTER XV.-(CONTINUED)

Hector's friends and supporters were perfectly aware of the kind intentions of the other fraction, and they ' resolved to meet them in their tactics hfflf-way. When, therefore, the first rush was made, the Macinnis party closed round the devoted Standstills. Thin, however, did not prevent the latter from gaining tho platform. Instantaneously tho chairman, the respected Bunakum, was whirled off his eeat, the representatives of tho Trwnjwl and Star (tho opposition journal) sent under tho table, and oven tho candidate hustled to the extreme end. In a moment all was confusion. Heads, arms, and legs wero to be seen mingled in inextricable cenfueion; oaths were plentiful as leaves in autumn, and hats and hair wero flying in nil directions. But only for a few minutes. The Macinuis faction was tho strongest in numbers, and when Bunakum, clinging to a post, his hair neaily clawed off his head, his face well scratched, and his eyes closed, called upon them, in tho sacred name of Liberty, to clear tho room of the enemy, or bury him for ever, they chose tho former alternative. Tho struggle was brief but decisive ; tho furniture and doors wore annihilated, but so wero tho adversaries, and in live minutes tho Standstills were reclining in the lano in a general state of dilapidation. Then tho doors woro closed, tho extinguished lamps re-lighted, and tho platform put in order, bandages and a fresh supply of brandy obtained for Bunakum, and mattera generally settled satisfactorily. With tears in what remained open of his eyes, Bunakum feelingly addressed the electors of Grit upon tho scene they had witnessed, and said that, " after that display of their loyalty to liberty, he did not feel inclined to be buried.' 1 Whereupon silence being restored and tho wounded taken to the bar to bo doctored by Maggie, business was resumed. ( Heotor again came forward, and was received with cheer after cheer, faintly answered by some groaus from tho Standstills outside, much of which was wrung from them by their sufferings. Hector was not a good speaker so firf <ir as voice went, but the matter of his speeches was always sound and reasonable, and good, and displayed great dopth of thought, so that the electors listened attentively to all he said, and cheered lustily occasionally, when he threw in a little declamation to lighten hia .address. As Hector spoke he felt his spirits rise, and ho concluded with a brilliant peroration which roused his friends to the highest pitch of enthusiasm. He sat down, as the Trumpet cut it next day, "amidst plaudit after plaudit, cheer after cheer, until the ' roof of the Patriot Hotel rang and rang again." . A short, whispered conversation now took place between Hector and Bunakum. " You had better go," said Hector. "Yes," replied tho landlord of the Patriot ; it will be as well. We can't tell , what they may let out." And Bunakum, after refreshing? himself with, another glass of brandy, left by the back door. While this was going on another gentleman had taken tho chair, and the mover of the resolution in Hector's favour, stood up and made an oration, ex- , tremely intelligible to himself, but very cloudy to his audience. The seconder, , however, was better. He was no less a peraoiiage than Obadiah Sweetcomfort. It might have been the excitement of the , contest which had just taken place that , caused Obadiah to be so palo, that made | t hits eyea glitter, and moved him to glance uneasily around the hall. It was evident, however this might, that he was not the calm, self-possessed, "cheeky," consequential person he usually was. It seemed as if he were full of suppressed < excitement. His speech ( was not bad, interlarded with^ somewhat ill - applied (J ( J metaphors, and diffusive in all conscience. I^Words came'to him as naturally as tak|t||jnghw dinner., They swelled out in volT^ume after volume, until his audience lost 'th/j SQuso/and were wrapt in wonder' at I , jbhe fine sound, blaming their, intelligence for nothing able to gratp what he said. ' Ww- But,-, like.. Fergus O'Connor's listeners, ' the . more unintelligible his words were, Blithe "grander they thought his speech . Wf although a few sceptics "shrugged their •W shoulders, and said Obadiah' was getting .? oMpM dep'fchV/^fie'wprfchy Swe>fci'

comfort continued his flow of words, and ended his Bpeech amid great applause. There -was a little pause now. The chairman rose. " Gentlemen," said he, you have heaid it moved and seconded, that Mr Hector Mcinnis is a fit and proper person to represent this constitnoucy in Parliament. Is thero present any gentleman who desires to move an amendment upon that motion i" Now, considering that persons willing to do so had heen rather rudely ejected recently, it did not seem probable anyone would bo so hardy as to try the experiment. The chairman's request was wonderfully like that of a Hibernian chairman at Kilmore. This gentleman invited questions at tho close of the candidate's address. One foolhardy elector did put a question, and received as a reply a hearty thump on the head from the chairman's shillelagh. Whereupon this original immediately asked with considerable emphaein, "Is there any other gentleman wants to ax a question ?'' whirling his stick about at the same time. It is unnecessary to say no other question was asked that evening', and the chairman 'announced that all questions had been 'answered satisfactorily. No doubt of it. "If theie is not," continued the chairman, " I will put the motion. It was understood that Mr John Meldou was to move the amendment, but he is not hero." " Ho dare not come," cried a number of voices. "lie cannot come," said a deep voice, and William Brown stepped upon the platform. He was well known and greatly respected by tho miners, who knew him to bo a perfectly jiibt and honest man. His advent was therefore received in silence, for they did not like to fehow him disrespect. "Gentlemen," said Mr Brown, his face, voice, and manner showing him to be deeply agitated, " I come forwaid to perform a task which I trust will never be mine again. You all know my fiicnd John, a young man who is respected by all of you, however you may differ jfrora him id political opinions. (Hear, hear). Gentlemen, I fear you will neve 1 ' see him alive again." A thiill ran through the assembly. The ininerH liked Jack ; ho was known to nearly all of them, and was much thought of. Hector Macinnis grew deadly pale. He clutched hischair, and awaited tho coming revelation, as one who was about to hear a sentence — guilty or not guilty, no couLi not tell. Obadiah's face grew very white, his teeth chattered, and for onco ho made a movement as if he was going to take a gulp of brandy. "In the discharge of duty, which, however dangerous, ho never shirked," continued Mr Brown, "ho went to knock do^yn the timber in ono of the diivos, and the ground collapsed. Ho has been buried alive !" Never in the history of Grit had such a sensation been experienced by a crowd as> was that night. The speaker's words wero echoed throughout the building 1 . Jack's friends, and they wero very many, felt their eyes becoming dim as thoy fancied tho dear, handsome boy buried bouoath tho earth, where no human aid could avail him. "Canhcnotbo bayed ?" cried a thousand voices. " I fear not," replied Mr Brown, mournfully. " Our pumps wero out of order, and it seems tho fall tappod somo vein. The mine is now flooded, and though everything is being done to foik tho water, it will be hours boforo wo can have the mine dry." Again a thrill of horror ran through the crowd. An unearthly light of triumph shone in Hector Macinnis' eyes. Ho drew in his breath as if ho had escaped some great calamity. " Heavens!" cried the chairman, who had turned round, "what is tho matter, Mr S weetcomf ort ? Arc you fainting ?' ' Rigid and ghastly, Obadiah Sweetcomfort sat in his chair. "No, no," he feebly murmured ; " I— l aft* so horrified." <( So are wo all," said tho chairman. " Here, take a glass of brandy." And, ere Obadiah. could help it, ho had swallowed a hugo bumper. It revived him ; the light of life again came into his eyes, and the blood began to flow to his face. •• Don't think you havo broken the pledge," said tho chairman, who, also, was a teetotaller, soothingly. " Remember, you havo only taken it medicinally." Obadiah nodded iv a sfcrango sort of way. He seemed as if in a dream. Yes, a dream wherein the beautiful face of Bertha White beamed upon him aa his! Hector Maccinnis reached forth his hand, and also took a draught. His eyes wore unnaturally bright. "Tho last !" he murmured to himself. "Gentleman!" continued Mr Brown, " After what had occurred, I do not feel that 1 should tako my friend's place and move an amendment. I could not. The meeting can thoreforo proceed. I will go and try and save the poor fellow." No such a cheer had greeted any of tho previous speakers as that which now made the galvanised iron roof ring and ring again. Tho anxiety of everyone to hasten to the scene of the catastrophe caused tho proceedings to be hurriedly brought to a close. Hector Macinnis was unanimously declared to bo a fit and proper candidate for Grit ; and, with a vote of thanks to the chairman, the vast assemblage dispersed as if by magic, just as Bunakum entered. His face 6howed that he knew what had transpired. " He's dead,", said Bunakum, taking Hector's hand. "And the woman!" said Hector mechanically. Obadiah Sweotcomfort, who still lingered on tho platform, bent his ferret eyes upon tho two, and strange thoughts entered inta his mind. " Unconscious," was tho reply. " She will not recover. The police aro trying to find out the ringleaders in the assault." "I have won the game !" muttered Hector, as ho rose and mado his way to the bar.