"No, but I hear him blat outside," replied another, at which a general laugh ensued.
"But really," continued the other, undisturbed by the merriment at his expense, "there is something behind that curtain. Joe, the kid, knows all about it, but he's as tight as a clam. He said the parson put it up at the last moment like greased lightning."
"Maybe he keeps his thunder there," laughed another. "I understand he's dead set against whiskey, and has some hot bolts to hand out to-night. But say, here he comes, looking mighty pleased about something."
At first the debate was conducted in a formal and orderly manner. The leaders in carefully prepared speeches opened up the subject, and received hearty applause. Gradually the men thawed out, the speaking became general, and in some cases regular harangues ensued, punctured by witty remarks from the listeners.
One of these had the floor when Pritchen arrived. He had been talking for some time about the evils of whiskey and the misery it caused to so many people.
"Think of the homes it has ruined," he was saying; "the young lives it has blighted; the prisons it is filling; the——"
"What about the snakes, Mickie?" came a voice from the audience.
"Sure, you're right there. I don't intind to leave the snakes out. And say, Dave Groggan, did yer grandfather ever tell ye where the sarpents wint to whin Saint Patrick drove thim out of ould Ireland?"
"Into the sea, of course."
"Ay, ay; into the sea, sure enough, the sea of Irish and all ither kinds of whiskey."