"Then you'll have plenty to eat the balance of your life—you and all the other jackasses in the colony!" old Tom growled.
A laugh rippled the crowd and the speaker paused in angry confusion. For the first time he lost his temper and stood glaring at his tormentors in silent rage.
Norman whispered to Barbara:
"Wolf has urged me for some time to suppress this meeting. Shall I do it?"
"Yes. It's a nuisance. I agree with him. Do it."
Norman rose just as Diggs sat down choking with anger.
"Comrades," the young leader said, in commanding tones. "I think this assembly has completed its work of discussion. The questions propounded here to-night are important. We will meet and solve them in due time, as we come to them. What this community needs now is the spirit of coöperation, of loyalty, and industry. We have been assigned our tasks for the year. Now every man to his work! We have had enough of wrangling and questioning. Let's live and breathe awhile. The executive council has decided to close the weekly sessions of the assembly until the annual election of officers next spring. Hereafter a musicale and dance will be held both Monday and Friday evenings."
The young folks broke into hearty applause led by old Tom and his partner Joe.
The Bard sprang to his feet, his one good eye blazing with inspired wrath.
"And I denounce this act of tyranny as the climax of a series of infamies! You have now forged the chains of slavery on every limb. Free speech has been suppressed—in God's name, what next?"