"Mr. Cantwell is nominated," said the chairman; and the jokers were delighted when they found they had carried their point; but Ryder paused, and looked uneasily at the members of the ring.
"Vote for him," said Norwood. "Make him chairman, and that will take the wind out of his sails. In the chair he can't oppose the plan, and we can tell the principal, when we go to him, that Cantwell presided over the meeting."
"Question!" shouted the officers.
"If it is your pleasure that Mr. Cantwell serve you as chairman of this meeting, you will manifest it by saying,'Ay.'"
"Ay!" yelled nearly the whole crowd.
"Those opposed, 'No,'" continued the chairman.
"No!" replied a few, who did not understand the tactics of the ring.
"It is a vote," said Ryder, "and Mr. Cantwell is elected chairman of this meeting."
"I move you that a committee of two, consisting of Lieutenant De Forrest and Mr. Beckwith, be appointed to conduct him to the chair," shouted Scott.