ch the better, colonel," returned Johnson. "It's real kind of
you, I call it; and if the lads don't appreciate it, they ought to;
that's all I can say. I've told 'em what you're going to do for 'em and
all that; so, as soon as you're ready, I guess you can fire away."

Lance turned and opened the piano, looking quietly over the audience as
he did so. His eye fell upon the half-dozen who seemed disposed to
interrupt the proceedings, and stepping forward to the edge of the
platform, he waved his hand for silence and said--

"Your captain informs me that he has already explained to you the reason
for his invitation to you to be present here this evening. To-day has
been a somewhat notable day in the annals of the settlement. You have
this morning laid the keel of a new ship, and commenced an undertaking
which will tax your utmost skill, energy, and resource to carry through
to a successful issue; and Captain Johnson has thought it an event of
sufficient importance to be specially marked. Hence he has made it a
holiday for all hands; and, finding that I possessed some little skill
as a musician, he invited me to help in the celebration of the day by
closing it with a musical performance. This I willingly consented to
do, in the belief that it might afford you a little pleasure and
recreation; and I may as well take advantage of the present opportunity
to tell you all that my friends and myself will always be found ready to
do everything in our power to promote your comfort and welfare. But I
must remind you that we are here to-night for _your_ pleasure rather
than our own. We will do our best to amuse you, and I hope that you in
your turn will individually do what you can to maintain quiet and order.
We may not perhaps succeed in pleasing you all; if such should be the
case, let those who are dissatisfied rise and quietly leave, and not
disturb others, or interfere with their enjoyment by giving noisy
expression to their dissatisfaction, I notice one or two who seem
inclined to be a little unruly, but I hope they have sense enough to see
that such conduct on their part would be in the worst possible taste,
and that they will think better of it."

Loud exclamations of approval greeted this speech, mingled with shouts
of "If they don't behave themselves we'll turn 'em out, guv'nor," and
such like. There was a good deal of noise and confusion for about five
minutes, during which Lance calmly seated himself and waite