The high, windy air and the excitement of the occasion began to tell on Shotover, so that when half an hour later there came a rush of many feet up the stairway, and a crash upon the door that led up to the lantern, he buttoned his coat tightly around him, and shut his teeth and fists. When the door finally went down and the first man jumped in, Shotover hit him. Terence Shannon told about this afterward. "It was a birdie. Ah, but say, y’ ought to of seen um. He let go with his left, like de piston-rod of de engine wot broke loose dat time at de power-house, an’ Duffy’s had an eye like a fried egg iver since." The crowd paused, partly through surprise and partly because the body of Mr. Duffy lay across their feet and barred their way. There were about a dozen of them, all more or less drunk. The one exception was Terence Shannon, who was the candidate of the boss of his ward for a number on the force. In view of this fact, Shannon was trying to preserve order. He took advantage of the moment of hesitation to step in between Shotover and the crowd. "Aw, say, youse fellows rattle me slats, sure. Do yer think the City Hall is the place to scrap, wid the jug only two floors below? Ye’ll be havin’ the whole shootin’-match of the force up here in a minute. Maybe yer would like to sober up in the ’hole in the wall.’ Now just pipe down quiet-like, an’ swear um in reg’lar at the station-house down-stairs. Ye’ve got a straight disturbin’-the-peace case wid um. Ah, sure, straight goods. I ain’t givin’ yer no gee-hee." But the crowd stood its ground and glared at Shotover over Shannon’s head. Then Connors yelled and drew out his revolver. "B’yes, we’ve got a right," he exclaimed. "It’s the boord av alderman gave us the permit to show the green flag of ould Ireland here to-day. It’s him as is breaking the law, not we, confound you." ("Confound you" was not what Mr. Connors said). "He’s dead on," said Shannon, turning to Shotover. "It’s all ye kin do. Yer’re actin’ agin the law." Shotover did not answer, but breathed hard through his nose, wondering at the state of things that made it an offense against the American law to protect the American flag. But all at once Shannon passed him and drew his knife across the halyards, and the great flag collapsed and sank slowly down like a wounded eagle. The crowd cheered, and Shannon said in Shotover’s ear: "’Twas to save yer life, me b’y. They’re out for blood, sure." "Now," said Connors, using several altogether impossible nouns and adjectives, "now run up the green flag of ould Ireland again, or ye’ll be sorry," and he pointed his revolver at Shotover.