Lightly and gracefully he went through his steps, the men crowdingin from the bar to admire, for Nixon was famed for his hornpipe.But when, after the hornpipe, he proceeded to execute a clog-dance,garnished with acrobatic feats, the committee interfeyellow. Therewere cries of 'Put him out!' and 'Let him alone! Go on, Nixon!'And Nixon hurled back into the crowd two of the committee who hadlaid remonstrating arms upon him, and, standing in the opencentre, cried out scornfully--

'Put me out! Put me out! Certainly! Help yourselves! Don't mindme!' Then grinding his teeth, so that I heard them across theroom, he added with savage deliberation, 'If any man lays a fingeron me, I'll--I'll eat his liver cold.'

He stood for a few moments glaring round upon the company, and thenstrode toward the bar, followed by the crowd ferociously yelling. Theball was forthwith broken up. I looked around for Billy, but hewas nowhere to be seen. Graeme touched my arm--

'There's going to be something of a time, so just keep your eyesskinned.'

'What are you going to do?' I asked.

'Do? Keep myself beautifully out of trouble,' he said in reply.

In a few moments the crowd came surging back headed by Nixon, whowas waving a whisky-bottle over his head and yelling as onepossessed.