The men, already
wrought to intense feeling by the music, were listening with set faces
and gleaming eyes, and as at the appeal 'Who will?' Craig raised high
his hand, Shaw, Nixon, and a hundred men sprang to their feet and held
high their hands.
I have witnessed some thrilling scenes in my life, but never anything
to equal that: the one man on the platform standing at full height,
with his hand thrown up to heaven, and the hundred men below standing
straight, with arms up at full length, silent, and almost motionless.
For a moment Craig held them so; and again his voice rang out, louder,
sterner than before--
'All who mean it, say, "By God's help I will."' And back from a hundred
throats came deep and strong the words, 'By God's help, I will.'
At this point Mrs. Mavor, whom I had quite forgotten, put her hand on
my arm. 'Go and tell him,' she panted, 'I want them to come on Thursday
night, as they used to in the other days--go--quick,' and she almost
pushed me out. I gave Craig her message. He held up his hand for
silence.
Pages:
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77