_Buttons_.--"Oh yes it did. It was dark, and you didn't notice. Go get it to-morrow, examine it, and you will find traces of the exploded shell."
_Bandit No. 4_.--"Santa Maria! What lies this giant tells his friends! and they all laugh. They don't believe him."
_Bandit No. 3_. "Well, that revolver is enough for me; and they all have them."
The above conversation was all carried on very rapidly, and did not take up much time.
At once the Club proceeded to carry out the Senator's plan. First they talked nonsense, and roared and laughed, and perfected their plan, and thus passed about ten minutes. Then Buttons asked the Italians if they wished more music.
"Answer, gallant Captain of these Kings of the Road. Will you hear our foreign songs?"
"Most gladly," said the gallant Captain. "There will yet be time before we get our supper."
A sinister gleam in his eye as he said this about the supper did not escape the notice of Buttons. Thereupon he handed the guitar to Dick, and the latter began to sing once more the strains of "Ole Virginny." The Italians showed the same delight, and joined in a roaring chorus. Even the men by the door stood yelling or whistling as Dick sang.
Lastly, Dick struck up the final song. The hour had come!
"Yankee Doodle came to town