"I beg your pardon!" said Johnson, flushing. "I said 'bosh,'" repeated the judge, bringing the point of his cane against the floor. "You've muddied it, as every sensible man can see. Best thing is to put a bold face on it. Take it for granted that the committee has promised to surrender all right of action, and that they have promised definitely to leave the case to the courts." "I hardly think they intended that," murmured Johnson. "Meant!" snorted the judge. "The words will bear that interpretation, won't they? Who cares what they meant!" The following morning this version was industriously passed about. When Coleman heard of it he pulled his long moustache. "The time has come," he said with decision. "After that, it is either ourselves or a mob." He went immediately to the hall. "Call Olney," he told a messenger. The head of the guard was soon before him. "Olney," said his chief, "will you accept the command of a picked company in an important but somewhat perilous movement?" Olney's tall form stiffened with pleasure. "I will--with thanks!" "Well, then, pick out from all the forces, of whatever companies, sixty men. Accept none but men--of the very highest bravery. Let them know that they are chosen for the post of danger, which is the post of honour, and permit none to serve who does not so esteem it." Olney saluted, and went at once to the main floor, which, for drilling purposes, was shared by four companies. He stood still until his eye fell on Johnny Fairfax--him he called aside. "You can get the whole sixty right here if you want to," Johnny told him. "But if you want to distribute things----" "I do," said Olney. "Then I'd take Keith, Carter, that teamster McGlynn, and Salisbury." Together they went the rounds of the impromptu armouries, going carefully over the rolls, picking a man here and there. By eight o'clock the sixty, informed, equipped, and ready, were gathered at the hall. Olney dismissed all others, and set himself to drilling his picked body. "I don't care whether you can do 'shoulder arms' or not," he said, "but you've got to learn simple evolutions so I can handle you. And you must learn one another's faces. Now, come on!" At two o'clock in the morning he expressed himself as satisfied. From the stock of blankets with which the headquarters were already provided they selected, bedding, and turned in on the floor. At six o'clock Olney began to send out detachments for breakfast. "Feed up," he advised them. "I don't know what this is all about, but it pays to eat well." By eight o'clock every man was in his place, lined up to rigid attention as Coleman entered the building. "There they are!" said Olney proudly. "Every man of them of good, tough courage, and you can handle them as well as any old soldiers!"