to him that hath-第16章

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coolly　surveying　the　room；　sauntered　down　the　aisle　and　took　a　seat
at　his　side。　　He　nodded　to　McNish。

〃Quite　a　crowd；　McNish；〃　he　said。　　〃I　hear　the　American　Johnnie　is
quite　a　spouter　so　I　came　along　to　hear。〃

McNish　looked　at　him　and　silently　nodded。　　He　could　not　understand
his　presence　at　that　kind　of　a　meeting。

〃You　know　I　am　a　Union　man　now；〃　said　Captain　Jack；　accurately
reading　his　silence。　　〃Joined　a　couple　of　months　ago。〃

But　McNish　kept　his　face　gravely　non…committal；　wondering　how　it
was　that　this　important　bit　of　news　had　not　reached　him。　　Then　he
remembered　that　he　had　not　attended　the　last　two　monthly　meetings
of　his　Union；　and　also　he　knew　that　little　gossip　of　the　shops　came
his　way。　　None　the　less；　he　was　intensely　interested　in　Maitland's
appearance。　　He　did　Captain　Jack　the　justice　to　acquit　him　of
anything　but　the　most　honourable　intentions；　yet　he　could　not　make
clear　to　his　mind　what　end　the　son　of　his　boss　could　serve　by
joining　a　Labour　Union。　　He　finally　came　to　the　conclusion　that
this　was　but　another　instance　of　an　〃Intellectual〃　studying　the
social　and　economic　side　of　Industry　from　first…hand　observation。
It　was　a　common　enough　thing　in　the　Old　Land。　　He　was　conscious　of
a　little　contempt　for　this　dilettante　sort　of　Labour　Unionism；
and　he　was　further　conscious　of　a　feeling　of　impatience　and
embarrassment　at　Captain　Jack's　presence。　　He　belonged　to　the　enemy
camp；　and　what　right　had　he　there？　　From　looks　cast　in　their
direction　it　was　plain　that　others　were　asking　the　same　question。
His　thought　received　a　sudden　and　unexpected　exposition　from　the
platform　from　no　less　a　person　than　Mr。　Wigglesworth　himself　to
whom　as　one　of　the　oldest　officials　in　Unionised　Labour　in　the　town
had　been　given　the　honour　of　introducing　the　distinguished　visitor
and　delegate。

In　flowing　periods　and　with　a　reckless　but　wholly　unauthorised
employment　of　aspirates　he　〃welcomed　the　（h）audience；　（h）especially
the　ladies；　and　other　citizens　among　'oom　'e　was　delighted　to
（h）observe　a　representative　of　the　（h）employing　class　'oo　was　for
the　present　'e　believed　one　of　themselves。〃　　To　his　annoyed
embarrassment　Captain　Jack　found　himself　the　observed　of　many　eyes；
friendly　and　otherwise。　　〃But　'e　would　assure　Captain　Maitland　that
although　'e　might　feel　as　if　'e　'ad　no　right　to　be　'ere〃

〃'Ere！　'Ere！〃　came　a　piercing　voice　in　unmistakable　approval；
galvanising　the　audience　out　of　its　apathy　into　instant　emotional
intensity。

〃（H）I　want　most　（h）emphatically　to　（h）assure　Captain　Maitland；〃
continued　Mr。　Wigglesworth；　frowning　heavily　upon　the　interrupter；
〃that　'e　is　as　welcome〃

〃No！　　No！〃　cried　the　same　Cockney　voice；　followed　by　a　slight
rumbling　applause。

〃I　say　'e　is；〃　shouted　Mr。　Wigglesworth；　supported　by　hesitating
applause。

〃No！　　No！　　We　don't　want　no　toffs　'ere。〃　　This　was　followed　by　more
definite　applause　from　the　group　immediately　surrounding　the
speaker。

Mr。　Wigglesworth　was　much　affronted　and　proceeded　to　administer　a
rebuke　to　the　interrupter。

〃I　（h）am　surprised；〃　he　began；　with　grieved　and　solemn　emphasis。

〃Mr。　Chairman；〃　said　the　owner　of　the　Cockney　voice；　rising　to　his
feet　and　revealing　himself　a　small　man　with　large　head　and　thin
wizened　features；　〃Mr。　Chairman；　I　rise　to　protest　right　'ere　an'
naow　against　the　presence　of　（h）any　representative　of　the　（h）enemy
class　at〃

〃Aw；　shut　up！〃　yelled　a　soldier；　rising　from　his　place。　　〃Throw　out
the　little　rat！〃

Immediately　there　was　uproar。　　On　every　side　returned　soldiers；
many　of　whom　had　been　in　Captain　Jack's　battalion；　sprang　up　and
began　moving　toward　the　little　Cockney　who；　boldly　standing　his
ground；　was　wildly　appealing　to　the　chair　and　was　supported　by　the
furious　cheering　of　a　group　of　his　friends；　Old　Country　men　most　of
whom；　as　it　turned　out；　were　of　the　extreme　Socialist　type。　　By
this　time　it　had　fully　been　borne　in　upon　Captain　Jack's　mind；
somewhat　dazed　by　the　unexpected　attack；　that　he　was　the　occasion
of　the　uproar。　　Rising　from　his　place　he　tried　vainly　to　catch　the
Chairman's　attention。

〃Come　up　to　the　platform；〃　said　a　voice　in　his　ear。　　He　turned　and
saw　McNish　shouldering　his　way　through　the　excited　crowd　toward　the
front。　　After　a　moment's　hesitation　he　shrugged　his　shoulders　and
followed。　　The　move　caught　the　eye　and　apparently　the　approval　of
the　audience；　for　it　broke　into　cheers　which　gathered　in　volume
till　by　the　time　that　McNish　and　Captain　Jack　stood　on　the　platform
the　great　majority　were　wildly　yelling　their　enthusiastic　approval
of　their　action。　　McNish　stood　with　his　hand　raised　for　a　hearing。
Almost　instantly　there　fell　a　silence　intense　and　expectant。　　The
Scotchman　stood　looking　in　the　direction　of　the　excited　Cockney
with　cold　steady　eye。

〃A'm　for　freedom！　　The　right　of　public　assembly！　　A'm　feart　o'　nae
enemy；　not　the　deevil　himself。　　This　gentleman　is　a　member　of　my
Union　and　he　stays　r…r…right　he…e…r…re。〃　　With　a　rasping　roll　of
his　r's　he　seemed　to　be　ripping　the　skin　off　the　little　Cockney's
very　flesh。　　The　response　was　a　yell　of　savage　cheers　which　seemed
to　rock　the　building　and　which　continued　while　Mr。　Wigglesworth　in
overflowing　effusiveness　first　shook　Maitland's　limp　hand　in　a
violent　double…handed　pump　handle　exercise　and　then　proceeded　to
introduce　him　to　the　distinguished　visitor；　shouting　his　name　in
Maitland's　ear；　〃Mr　'Oward　（H）E。　Bigelow；〃　adding　with　a　sudden
inspiration；　〃（H）Introduce　'im　to　the　（h）audience。　　Yes！　　Yes！
Most　（h）assuredly；〃　and　continued　pushing　both　men　toward　the　front
of　the　platform；　the　demonstration　increasing　in　violence。

〃I　say；　old　chap；〃　shouted　Captain　Jack　in　the　stranger's　ear；　〃I
feel　like　a　fool。〃

〃I　feel　like　a　dozen　of　'em；〃　shouted　Mr。　Bigelow　in　return。
〃But；〃　he　added　with　a　slow　wink；　〃this　old　fool　is　the　daddy　of
'em　all。　　Go　on；　introduce　me；　or　they'll　bust　something　loose。〃

Captain　Jack　took　one　step　to　the　front　of　the　platform　and　held　up
his　hand。　　The　cheering　assumed　an　even　greater　violence；　then
ceased　in　sudden　breathless　silence。

〃Ladies　and　gentlemen；〃　he　said　in　a　slightly　bored　voice；　〃this
gentleman　is　Mr。　Howard　E。　Bigelow；　a　representative　of　the
American　Federation　of　Labour；　whom　as　a　member　of　the　Woodworkers'
Union；　Local　197；　I　am　anxious　to　hear　if　you　don't　mind。〃

He　bowed　to　the　visitor；　bowed　to　the　audience　once　more　swaying
under　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　his　man。

〃Mr。　Chairman；　I　protest；〃　began　the　little　Cockney　fiercely。

〃Pass　him　up；〃　said　the　Captain　sharply。

With　one　single　motion　Macnamara's　hand　swept　the　little　man　out　of
his　place　into　the　aisle。

〃Chuck　him　out！〃　said　Captain　Jack　quietly。

From　hand　to　hand；　with　never　a　pause；　amid　the　jeers　and　laughter
of　the　crowd　the　little　man　was　passed　along　like　a　bundle　of　old
rags　till　he　disappeared　through　the　open　door。

〃Who's　next？〃　shouted　Macnamara　joyfully。

〃As　you　were！〃　came　the　sharp　command。

At　once　Macnamara　stood　at　attention。

Captain　Jack　nodded　to　the　platform。

〃All　right；〃　he　said　quietly。

Mr。　Howard　E。　Bigelow　finished　his　speech　in　peace。　　He　made　appeal
for　the　closing　up　of　the　ranks　of　Labour　in　preparation　for　the
big　fight　which　was　rapidly　coming。　　They　had　just　finished　with
Kaiserism　in　Europe　but　they　were　faced　with　only　another　form　of
the　same　spirit　in　their　own　land。　　They　wanted　no　more　fighting；
God　knew　they　had　had　enough　of　that；　but　there　were　some　things
dearer　than　peace；　and　Labour　was　resolved　to　get　and　to　hold　those
things　which　they　had　fought　for；　〃which　you　British　and　especially
you　Canadians　shed　so　much　blood　to　win。　　We　are　making　no　threats；
but　we　are　not　going　to　stand　for　tyranny　at　the　hands　of　any　man
or　any　class　of　men　in　this　country。　　Only　one　thing　will　defeat
us；　not　the　traditional　enemies　of　our　class　but　disunion　in　our
own　ranks　due　to　the　fool　tactics　of　a　lot　of　disgruntled　and
discredited　traitors　like　the　man　who　has　just　been　fired　from　this
meeting。〃　　He　asked　for　a　committee　which　would　take　the　whole
situation　in　hand。　　He　closed　with　a　promise　that　in　any　struggle
which　they　undertook　under　the　guidance　of　their　International
Officers　the　American　Federation　of　Labour　to　their　last　dollar
would　be　behind　them。

Before　the　formal　closing　of　the　meeting　Maitland　slipped　quietly
out。　　As　he　reached　the　sidewalk　a　light　hand　touched　his　arm。
Turning　he　saw　at　his　elbow　Annette；　her　face　aglow　and　her　black
eyes　ablaze　with　passionate　admiration。

〃Oh；　Captain　Jack；〃　she　panted；　her　hands　outstretched；　〃you　were
just　wonderful！　　Splendid！　　Oh！　I　don't　know　what　to　say！　　I〃
She　paused　in　sudden　confusion。　　A　hot　colour　flamed　in　her　face。
Maitland　took　her　hands　in　his。

〃Hello；