“Boys,” he was saying, “there's three hundred armed soldiers on the hill
yonder, with twenty rounds of ball-cartridge apiece. You're going to the
Coort because you've a right to go. You're going up peaceable, and, when
you're getting there, you're going to mix among the soldiers, three to
every man, two on either side and one behind. Then your spokesmen
are going to spake out your complaint. If they're listened to, you're
wanting no better. But if they're not, and if the word is given to fire
on them, then, before there's time to do it, you're going to stretch
every man of the three hundred on his back and take his weapon. Don't
hurt the soldiers--the poor soldiers are only doing what they're tould.
But don't let the soldiers hurt you neither. You're going there for
justice. You're not going there to fight. But if anybody fights you, let
him never forget the day he done it. Break up every taffy stand in the
fair, if you can't find anything better. And if blood is shed, lave
the man that orders it to me. And now go up, boys, like men and like
Manxmen.”
There was no cheering, no shouting, no clapping of hands. Only broken
exclamations and a sort of confused murmur. “Come,” whispered the Clerk
of the Rolls, putting his hand through Philip's quivering arm. “Little
does the poor devil think that, if blood is shed, he will be the first
to fall.” “God in heaven!” muttered Philip.
XI.
The crowd on Tynwald had now gathered thick down the neck of the
enclosure and dense round the mount. To the strains of the National
Anthem, played by the band of the regiment, the Governor had come out of
the church. He was in cocked hat and with sword, and the sword of state
was carried upright before him. With his Keys, Council, and clergy, he
walked to the hill-top. There he took one of the two chairs under the
canopy; the other, was taken by the Bishop in his lawn. Their followers
came behind, and broke up on the hill into an indiscriminate mass. A
number of ladies were admitted to the space on the topmost round. They
stood behind the chairs, with their parasols still open.
There are men that the densest crowd will part and make way for.
The crowd had parted and made way for Philip. As the court was being
“fenced,” he appeared with his companion at the foot of the mount. There
he was recognised by many, but he scarcely answered their salutations.
The Governor made a deferential bow, smiled, and beckoned to him to come
up to his side. He went up slowly, pausing at every other step, like a
man who was in doubt if he ought to go higher. At length he stood at the
Governor's right hand, with all eyes upon him, for the favourite of
the great is favoured. He was then the highest figure on the mount, the
Governor and the Bishop being seated. The people could see him from
end to side of the Tynwald, and he could see the people as they stood
closely packed on the green below.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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