The grandest sight that ever was seen. Lord, how the plumes streamed, how the sun flamed and flashed from the endless procession of webby wheels!
I waved my right arm as Launcelot swept in — mdash; he recognized my rag — mdash; I tore away noose and bandage, and shouted:
“On your knees, every rascal of you, and salute the king! Who fails shall sup in hell to-night!”
I always use that high style when I’m climaxing an effect. Well, it was noble to see Launcelot and the boys swarm up onto that scaffold and heave sheriffs and such overboard. And it was fine to see that astonished multitude go down on their knees and beg their lives of the king they had just been deriding and insulting. And as he stood apart there, receiving this homage in rags, I thought to myself, well, ———————————————————————— Page 366
really there isg something peculiarly grand about the gait and bearing of a king, after all.
I was immensely satisfied. Take the whole situation all around, it was one of the gaudiest effects I ever instigated.
And presently up comes Clarence, his own self! and winks, and says, very modernly:
“Good deal of a surprise, wasn’t it? I knew you’d like it. I’ve had the boys practicing this long time, privately; and just hungry for a chance to show off.”
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Chapter 39
THE YANKEE’S FIGHT WITH THE KNIGHTS
HOME again, at Camelot. A morning or two later I found the paper, damp from the press, by my plate at the breakfast table. I turned to the advertising columns, knowing I should find something of personal interest to me there. It was this: [Image]
DE PAR LE ROI
DE PAR LE ROI. Know that the great lord and illustrious Kni8ht, SIR SAGRAMOR LE DESIROUS naving condescended to meet the King’s Minister, Hank Morgan, the which is surnamed The Boss, for satisfgction of offence anciently given, these wilL engage in the lists by Camelot about the fourth hour of the morning of the sixteenth day of this next succeeding month. The battle will be а l’outrance, sith the said offence was of a deadly sort, admitting of no comPosition. DE PAR LE ROI ———————————————————————— Page 368
Clarence’s editorial reference to this affair was to this effect:
[Image]
thdrew. |It will be observed, by a gl7nce at our |our disppointm work maintained |advertising columns, that the community |Promptly and- there since, soon|is to be favored with a treat of unusual |two of their felo listic have writh|interest in the tournament line. |erlain, and o oked interest |The names of the artists are warrant of |ers have already upon the ev n |good enterTainment. The box-office |spoken, you’ ve been m d |will be open at noon of the 13th; admission |furnisned for oy the an s, |3 cents, reserved seats 5; proceeds |their use, ent out ch by |to go to the hospital fund The |make and terian B |and|royal pair and all the Court will be present.|the kind some young men |With these exceptions, and the |letters of our under the|press and the clergy, the free list is strictly|of introd i guidance of the|susended. Parties are hereby warned |duction what or aid in a known|against buying tickets of speculators; |they are un ie great enterprise|they will not be good at the door. |ing friends to us of making pure |Everybodv knows and likes The Boss, |ried, and leave the esent |everybody knows and likes Sir Sag.; |thotkind words and wovement had its|come, let us give the lads a good sendoff. |which you, my joy- origin in preven|ReMember, the proceeds go to a |hind; and it is a has ever been a |great and free charity, and one whose |home matter b sions in our |broad benevolence stretches out its helping |it is our durp on of Mis- |hand, warm with the blood of a loving |direct them to other one |heart, to all that suffer, regardless of |now under the ospel, |race, creed, condition or color — mdash; the |g field sg as ar by- |only charity yet established in the earth |These young me e |which has no politico-religious stopcock |are warm-hearted The |on its compassion, but says Here |azirl, regions bey the same |flows the stream, let all come and |not to “build co represent |drink! Turn out, all hands! fetch along |ond,’,and the ized thirty of — our doughnuts and your gum-drops |der instructi eeds and hear-|and have a good time. Pie for sale on |ons of our hich, years ago!|the grounds, and rocks to crack it with;|another man esgn was osgan- |and ciRcus-lemonade — mdash; three drops of |founhati’s on. ng, the missions,|lime juice to a barrel of water. |ociety, whlch so that both had|N.B. This is the first tournament |They go un o withdraw and |under the new law, whidh allow each |say that “inr much to their |combatant to use any weapon he may prefer. |ionaries to mon grief, |You may want to make a note of that. |say sending miss ———————————————————————— Page 369