Again they retired for deliberation.
"Now, see here, fellows," said Crazy, "let's be reasonable. We want this thing to go through, don't we?"
"Who's hedging now?" said Hickey, with a laugh.
"No one," retorted Crazy. "I'll talk up if you say. I'm not afraid, only I don't stand one, two, three with the Doctor and you know it. I've flunked every recitation in Bible this month. What we want is the strongest pull—and Wash is the one. Why, the old man would feed out of Wash's hand."
Wash indignantly repelled the insinuation. Finally it was agreed that Crazy should state the facts, that Hickey should say, "Doctor, we feel strongly, very strongly, about this," and that Wash should then make the direct demand for the suspension for one month of the "sinker," and its future regulation to two appearances a week.
"And now, no more backing and filling," said Hickey.
"I'll lay the facts before him, all right," added Crazy, clenching his fists.
"We'll stick together, and we stand firm," said Wash. "Now for it!"
They had reached a point about thirty feet from the threshold, when suddenly the door was flung violently open and a luckless boy bolted out, under the lamp, so that the three could distinguish the vehement gestures. The Doctor appeared in a passion of rage, calling after the retreating offender:
"Don't you dare, young man, to come to me again with such a complaint. You get your work up to where it ought to be, or down you go, and there isn't a power in this country that can prevent it."