The woman put the jug to her lips and drained it manfully. Other women who were present screamed in chorus, and the men laughed boisterously.
"Your old woman does that handsomely," applauded Koth. "Hell and thunder! But she must be a real spitfire."
Again they laughed uproariously.
"I wish there were an election every day, what a jolly life this would be!" said Koenig. "Nothing to do, eating and drinking gratis--what more would you wish?"
"That's the way the bigbugs live all the year round. They may eat and drink what they like best, and needn't do a hand's turn. Isn't it glorious to be rich?" cried Graeulich.
"So drink, boys, drink till you can't stand! We are all of us big-bugs to-day."
"And if things were regulated as they should be," said Koth, "there would come a day when we poor devils would also see glorious times. We have been torturing ourselves about long enough for the sake of others. I maintain that things will have to be differently regulated."
"What game is that you are wishing to come at? Show your hand, old fellow!" cried several voices.
"Here's what I mean: Coffers which are full will have to pour some of their superfluity into coffers which are empty. You take me, don't you?"
"'Pon my soul, I can't make you out. You are talking conundrums," declared Koenig.