And then the crowd whooped, roared, and rolled on the counters and barrels, and roared and whooped again. They stamped and yelled, and ran around like fiends, kicking the boxes and banging the coal-scuttle in a perfect pandemonium of mirth, leaving the old man standing there helpless in his wrath, mad enough to shoot. Steve was just preparing to seize the old man from behind, when Judge Gordon, struggling to his feet among the spittoons, cried out, in the voice of a Colonel of Fourth of July militia:-- "H-O-L-D!" Silence was restored, and all stood around in expectant attitudes to hear the Judge's explanation. He squared his elbows, shoved up his sleeves, puffed out his fat cheeks, moistened his lips, and began pompously:-- "Gentlemen--" "You've hit it; that's us," said some of the crowd in applause. "Gentlemen of Rock River, when in the course of human events, rumor had blow'd to my ears the history of the checker-playing of Rock River, and when I had waxed Cerro-Gordo, and Claiborne, and Mower, then, when I say to my ears was borne the clash of resounding arms in Rock River, the emporium of Rock County, then did I yearn for more worlds to conquer, and behold, I buckled on my armor and I am here." "Behold, he is here," said Foster, in confirmation of the statement. "Good for you, Judge, git breath and go for us some more." "Hurrah for the Judge," etc. "I came seekin' whom I might devour like a raging lion. I sought foemen worthy of my steel. I leaped into the arena and blew my challenge to the four quarters of Rock--" "Good f'r you, settemupagin! Go it, you old balloon," they all applauded. "Knowing my prowess I sought a fair fout and no favors. I met the enemy and he was mine. Champion after champion went down before me like--went down like--Ahem! went _down_ before me like grass before the mighty cyclone of the Andes." "Listen to the old blow-hard," said Steve. "Put him out," said the speaker, imperturbably. "Gentlemen, have I the floor?" "You have," replied Brown, "but come to the point. The Colonel is anxious to begin shooting." The Colonel, who began to suspect himself victimized, stood wondering what under heaven they were going to do next! "I'm a gitt'n' there," said the orator with a broad and sunny condescension. "I found your champions an' laid 'em low. I waxed Walters, and then I tackled the Colonel. I tried the _echelon_, the 'general advanced,' then the 'give away' and 'flank' movements. But the Colonel _was there_. Till this last game it was a fair field and no favor. And now, gentlemen of Rock, I desire t' state to my deeply respected opponent, that he is still champion of Rock, and I'm not sure but of Northern Iowa." "Three cheers for the Kunnel!" And while they were being given the Colonel's brows relaxed, and the champion of Cerro-Gordo continued earnestly:--