"Look at me. There are six. I will take two; each of you take one--the man on your right, remember. As Dick, in singing, comes to that word, each of you go at your man. Buttons, you hear, of course." [_Club_.--"Ha! ha! ha! ha! ha!"] [What Buttons said he said.] "They think in town that he is the Devil, because he has killed seven men in duels since he came, and has never been wounded. People don't know the great American invention, worn next the skin, which makes the body impervious to bullets." [_Captain_, sneering.--"I don't believe it." Bandit No. 3.--"I don't know. They invented the revolver. If only I had one."] [What the Senator said.] "Boys, arrange to your minds what to do. Grab the gun, and put your man down backward. I'm almost ashamed of the game, it's so easy. Look at these boobies by me. They are like children. No muscle. The fellows at the end won't dare to shoot for fear of wounding their own man." [_Club_.--"Ha! ha! ha! ha! ha!"] [What Buttons said he said.] "He's made up his mind to go and take part in the war in Lombardy. He will raise a band of Americans, all clothed in the great shot-proof shirt, and armed with revolvers like ours, that shoot twelve times, and have bullets like bomb-shells, that burst inside of a man and blow him to pieces." _Captain_, coldly,--"That crow didn't blow up." _Buttons_.--"Oh yes it did. It was dark, and you didn't notice. Go get it to-morrow, examine it, and you will find traces of the exploded shell." _Bandit No. 4_.--"Santa Maria! What lies this giant tells his friends! and they all laugh. They don't believe him." _Bandit No. 3_. "Well, that revolver is enough for me; and they all have them." The above conversation was all carried on very rapidly, and did not take up much time. At once the Club proceeded to carry out the Senator's plan. First they talked nonsense, and roared and laughed, and perfected their plan, and thus passed about ten minutes. Then Buttons asked the Italians if they wished more music. "Answer, gallant Captain of these Kings of the Road. Will you hear our foreign songs?" "Most gladly," said the gallant Captain. "There will yet be time before we get our supper." A sinister gleam in his eye as he said this about the supper did not escape the notice of Buttons. Thereupon he handed the guitar to Dick, and the latter began to sing once more the strains of "Ole Virginny." The Italians showed the same delight, and joined in a roaring chorus. Even the men by the door stood yelling or whistling as Dick sang. Lastly, Dick struck up the final song. The hour had come! "Yankee Doodle came to town To buy himself a pony, Stuck a feather in his hat And called it--_Maccaroni_!" As the song began each man had quietly braced himself for one grand effort. At the sound of the last word the effect was tremendous.