The strange word intimidated them. But a voice cried defiantly: "Must we wait some more?" And their cries threatened to down the old man.
"No!" he cried in a voice that silenced them. "Here is Ambrose Doane!"
He paused for dramatic effect.
"I ask Ambrose Doane to our meeting to talk with us. I now say to him"—he turned to Ambrose—"you have heard these men. They are so much wronged they cannot see the right. They are so mad they don't know what they do.
"I ask, Ambrose Doane, will you save them from their madness? Will you help us break our chains? Buy our grain?"
CHAPTER XV.
THE PLAN OF CAMPAIGN.
An absolute silence followed Simon Grampierre's unexpected words. The astute old man had withheld his proposal until the psychological moment. Ambrose was a little dazed by it. He rose, feeling every eager eye upon him, and said slowly:
"I must have a little time to consider. I must talk with Simon
Grampierre. I will give him my answer before morning."
Simon said to the company: "Men, will you sell your wheat to Ambrose
Doane at a dollar-seventy-five?"
The question broke the spell of silence. There could be no mistake that the proposal was successful. A chorus of acclamations filled the room.