“I move we adjourn,” he said.
“Second the motion!” cried Poke.
“Mr. President, that’s out of order,” Zorn objected.
“Motion to adjourn’s always in order,” Sam insisted.
“Not with the vote on a secretary pending—you can’t side-track it that way.”
By this time half a dozen members of the class were on their feet. Parliamentary practice was supposed to be one of the benefits of these meetings, and this day the Juniors were trying to put to use all they knew about methods of procedure.
Carson was not enjoying his authority as presiding officer, but in his desire to stand with the majority made up his mind to rule Orkney’s resolution out of order.
Tumult greeted his announcement. Zorn and his followers applauded; Step, Poke, Herman Boyd and Orkney made loud protest. The Shark, unmoved, calmly watched the proceedings through his big spectacles. Sam was busy with plans for the next move. He understood perfectly that the voting strength was against him; that a carefully arranged plan to humiliate the Trojan, and through him the Safety First Club, was being carried out; that he could not avert the election of a secretary, and that all that was left for him was to soften the blow so far as he might.
“Vote! Vote now!” Somebody raised the cry, and many voices repeated it.
The Shark rose in leisurely fashion. Somehow, though he did not seem to raise his voice, he managed to make himself heard.