“Clarence, you’ve done a world of work,
and done it perfectly.”
“We had plenty of time for it; there wasn’t
any occasion for hurry.”
We sat silent awhile, thinking. Then my mind
was made up, and I said:
“Yes, everything is ready; everything is shipshape,
no detail is wanting. I know what to do now.”
“So do I; sit down and wait.”
“No, sir! rise up and strike!”
“Do you mean it?”
“Yes, indeed! The defensive isn’t
in my line, and the offensive is. That
is, when I hold a fair hand—two-thirds as
good a hand as the enemy. Oh, yes, we’ll
rise up and strike; that’s our game.”
“A hundred to one you are right. When
does the performance begin?”
“Now! We’ll proclaim the Republic.”
“Well, that will precipitate things,
sure enough!”
“It will make them buzz, I tell you! England
will be a hornets’ nest before noon to-morrow,
if the Church’s hand hasn’t lost its cunning—and
we know it hasn’t. Now you write and I’ll
dictate thus:
“PROCLAMATION
—–
“BE IT KNOWN UNTO ALL. Whereas
the king having died and left no heir, it becomes
my duty to continue the executive authority vested
in me, until a government shall have been created
and set in motion. The monarchy has lapsed,
it no longer exists. By consequence, all
political power has reverted to its original source,
the people of the nation. With the monarchy,
its several adjuncts died also; wherefore there
is no longer a nobility, no longer a privileged class,
no longer an Established Church; all men are become
exactly equal; they are upon one common level,
and religion is free. A Republic is hereby proclaimed,
as being the natural estate of a nation when other
authority has ceased. It is the duty of the
British people to meet together immediately, and
by their votes elect representatives and deliver into
their hands the government.”
I signed it “The Boss,” and dated it from
Merlin’s Cave. Clarence said—
“Why, that tells where we are, and invites them
to call right away.”
“That is the idea. We strike—by
the Proclamation—then it’s their
innings. Now have the thing set up and printed
and posted, right off; that is, give the order; then,
if you’ve got a couple of bicycles handy at
the foot of the hill, ho for Merlin’s Cave!”
“I shall be ready in ten minutes. What
a cyclone there is going to be to-morrow when this
piece of paper gets to work!... It’s a
pleasant old palace, this is; I wonder if we shall
ever again —but never mind about that.”
THE BATTLE OF THE SAND BELT
