At this critical moment the crowd got a shock. Billy Breenshuffled out to the front, and, in a voice shaking with nervousnessand emotion, began to speak, his large, coarse hands wanderingtremulously about.

'0i hain't no bloomin' temperance horator, and mayhap oi hain't noright to speak 'ere, but oi got somethin' to saigh (say) and oi'magoin' to saigh it.

'Parson, 'ee says is it wisky or no wisky in this 'ere club? If yehask me, wich (which) ye don't, then no wisky, says oi; and if yehask why?--look at me! 0nce oi could mine more coal than hany manin the camp; now oi hain't fit to be a sorter. 0nce oi 'ad somepride and hambition; now oi 'angs round awaitin' for some one tosaigh, "Ere, Billy, 'ave summat." 0nce oi made good paigh (pay),and sent it 'ome regular to my poor old mother (she's in the wukusnow, she is); oi hain't sent 'er hany for a fortnight and a 'alf. 0nceBilly was a good fellow and 'ad plenty o' friends; now Slavin'isself kicks un hout, 'ee does. Why? why?' His voice rose to ashriek. 'Because when Billy 'ad money in 'is pocket, hevery man inthis bloomin' camp as meets un at hevery corner says, "'Ello,Billy, wat'll ye 'ave?" And there's wisky at Slavin's, and there'swisky in the shacks, and hevery 'oliday and hevery Sunday there'swisky, and w'en ye feel bad it's wisky, and w'en ye feel good it'swisky, and heverywhere and halways it's wisky, wisky, wisky! Andnow ye're goin' to stop it, and 'ow? T' manager, 'ee says pictersand magazines. 'Ee takes 'is wine and 'is beer like a gentleman,'ee does, and 'ee don't 'ave no use for Billy Breen. Billy, 'ee'sa beast, and t' manager, 'ee kicks un hout. But supposin' Billywants to stop bein' a beast, and starts a-tryin' to be a man again,and w'en 'ee gets good an' dry, along comes some un and says,"'Ello, Billy, 'ave a smile," it hain't picters nor magazines 'udstop un then. Picters and magazines! Gawd 'elp the man as hain'tnothin' but picters and magazines to 'elp un w'en 'ee's got a devilhinside and a devil houtside a-shovin' and a-drawin' of un down to'ell. And that's w'ere oi'm a-goin' straight, and yer bloomin'League, wisky or no wisky, can't help me. But,' and he lifted histrembling arms far above his head, 'if ye stop the wisky a-flowin'round this camp, ye'll stop some of these lads that's a-followin'me 'ard. Yes, you! and you! and you!' and his voice rose to a ferociousscream as he shook a trembling finger at one and another.

'Man, it really is fair gruesome tae hear him,' exclaimed Geordie; 'he's no'canny'; and reaching out for Billy as he went stumbling past, hepulled him down to a seat beside him, saying, 'Sit doon, lad, sitdoon. We'll mak a man o' ye yet.' Then he rose and, using manyr's, exclaimed, 'Maister Chairman, a' doot we'll juist hae to gie itup.'

'Give it up?' called out Nixon. 'Give up the League?'

'Na! na! lad, but juist the wee drap whusky. It's nae that guidonyway, and it's a terrible price. Man, gin ye gang taeHenderson's in Buchanan Street, in Gleska, ye ken, ye'll get mairfor three-an'-saxpence than ye wull at Slavin's for five dollars.An' it'll no' pit ye mad like yon stuff, but it gangs doon smoothan' saft-like. But' (regretfully) 'ye'll no' can get it here; an'a'm skinnykin' a'll juist sign yon teetotal skinnyg.' And up he strodeto the table and put his name down in the book Craig had ready.Then to Billy he said, 'Come' awa, lad! pit yer name doon, an'we'll stan' by ye.'

Poor Billy looked around helplessly, his nerve all gone, and satstill. There was a swift rustle of garments, and Mrs. Mavor wasbeside him, and, in a voice that only Billy and I could hear, exclaimed,'You'll sign with, me, Billy?'