"Friends and naybours," said he, and this opening evoked loud applause.
As it died down, he continued, "Friends and naybours, this here has been
a most successful regatta. Of which, as a fitting conclusion, the
Brave has received his reward at the hands of the Fair."
"Lord! he means hisself!" interrupted a giggling voice from one of the boats.
This interruption called forth a storm of applause. Oars were rattled on rowlocks and feet began stamping on bottom boards.
"By the Brave," continued Cai, pitching his voice higher, "I mean, of course, our respected fellow-citizen, Mr Walter Sobey, whose handling of his frail craft—"
("Hear! Hear!")
"—Whose handling of his frail craft to-day was of a natur' to surprise and delight all beholders."
At this point Mr Willett, the Treasurer, who had for some seconds been staring at the speaker with glazed uncertain eye, interrupted in a voice thick with liquor—
"The question is, Who wants me?"
"Nobody, you d—d old fool!" snapped the Hon. Secretary. "Can't you see
Cap'n Hocken is makin' a speech?"
"I see," answered Mr Willett with drunken deliberation, "and, what's more, I don't think much of it. . . . Gentlemen over there 'pears t' agree with me," he added: for from the rear of the group a scornful laugh had endorsed his criticism.