His words had instant effect. The moment the crowd fell back he suspended the otter from the hook of the spring-balance he carried, and watched the index.
‘What does he scale, sir?’ shouted a score excited voices.
‘Twenty-nine pounds good.’
Then followed a tumult of conversation, amidst which could be distinguished:
‘Now, Thomas ’Enery, what did I say all along?’
‘He’s a pound over and above your guess.’
‘Sandy was right.’
‘You said forty pound, Geordie, you know you did.’
‘You’m a liard; I——’
‘Silence, mates!’ roared the landlord, stepping into the ring; ‘the squire wants to spake. Silence, I say!’