"I rise—"
"You were up before," persisted Scott; and a round of applause followed the interruption.
"Mr. Chairman, I second the motion," said Beckwith, who, however, was unable to make the little speech he had arranged in his mind favoring the proposed change, for the laugh and the applause which followed Scott's sally had sadly disconcerted him.
The chairman stated the motion, and the question upon its adoption was fairly before the meeting. Several of the officers spoke in favor of it, and even the commodore, the captain, and the first lieutenant gave it the weight of their powerful influence. Two of the "short jackets" also briefly addressed the meeting in favor of the plan; and thus far the agitators had it all their own way.
"Question!" called some of the ring.
"Mr. Chairman!" shouted Scott, in a tone loud enough to be heard at the farther side of the island, where the adults of the squadron were enjoying the quiet beauty of the scene.
"Mr. Scott," replied the chairman, recognizing and bowing to the joker.
"Question! question!" shouted some of the officers, who were inclined to retaliate upon the joker by using his own tactics.
"Mr. Scott has the floor," interposed the chairman.
"Thank you, Mr. Chairman; but I'm not to be floored so easily. Every fellow that knows me knows that I go in for fair play."