the sensible and very satisfactory ground
that he could do without them. He
recommended, however, that we should try—
that is, the accredited agent and myself—
to gain them over by palaver, and secure
their support as we would that of any
respectable and honourable elector, by
persuasion. "Perhaps," he said, "if they
find that nothing is to be got by
dishonesty, they will be honest. Of course
they'll try the other side, and may get
something in that quarter; but even if they
all go over, they will only diminish our
majority, and not destroy it." Mr. Tompkins
remained in the room "to watch the
fun," as he said, but would take no part in
the proceedings.

Mr. Slugg, the spokesman of the
deputation, was a carpenter. He had on his
Sunday clothes and his best hat, as was
the case with the six other "free and
independent electors" of the borough of Great
Lumpington, who were ushered into the
presence of the Liberal candidate's agent
and his two supernumeraries, myself and
Mr. Tompkins. The Man in the Moon
pretended to be engrossed with a daily
newspaper, but I could see that he watched
the deputation from the corner of his eye,
that the ponderous leading article did
not interest him, and that his thoughts
were on the Jolterheads, and not on the
morning's news.

"Well, gentlemen," said Mr. Slugg,
proceeding at once to business, "how is it to
be? Are we to vote for your side or not?"

"I think you ought to vote for us, and
that you will vote for us," replied the
agent, "because you are Liberals, and our
candidate is a Liberal. It is not likely that
such free and independent gentlemen as
you are should do violence to your
convictions, and betray your trust to your
country?"

"That's all gammon," said Mr. Slugg;
"and I hope you'll excuse me for saying
so. We are poor men, and we have votes,
and this election can't be won without us
and our votes. Put those three things
together. There doesn't need much thinking
to know what these things mean, when put
in a string like. We are fifty-one of us,
and we all go together."

"Glad to hear it," said the legal gentle-
man; "and I confidently reckon that you
will vote like patriots—as you are—on our
side."

"Patriots be blowed!" said Mr. Slugg
"Business is business. Will that do?"
And he handed a small shred of paper to
the agent, on which were written the
words, "Ten, each."

"No! it won't do. We want no man's
vote who will not give it freely, and
because he believes in us and our principles."

"I'll believe in you and your principles,
as you call 'em, if you'll just say 'Yes'—
you know what I mean—and it'll be all
right."

"Mr. Slugg and gentlemen," said the
agent, "you have my answer. Good
morning."

"Well," said Mr. Slugg, "this is a rum
go. But we'll come back again later in
the day. You can't do without us."

"We'll try, at all events. Good morning."

"Good morning," said Mr. Slugg, and
the deputation withdrew.

"Useful people these on an emergency,"
said the Man in the Moon, as the door was
shut upon the Jolterheads. "They'll come
again, as they said, mark my word if they
don't, unless they are bought by the other
side. And you may count it as certain
that they have been bought by the other
side, for ten pounds a head, or five, may
be, or for half-a-crown, if we see no more
of them till twelve o'clock."

By twelve o'clock our candidate was in
a majority of a hundred and thirty-two,
and both sides looked upon this majority
as decisive, and not to be reduced by any
exertion or agency whatever under eighty-
one, and that would allow the Jolterhead
vote to be given in a lump to the opposite
party. A little after twelve, Mr. Slugg
and another Jolterhead presented
themselves, and were received with an intimation
to be brief, as we were busy.

"Have a good thumping majority," said
Mr. Slugg, impressively; "have us all
with you. We'll do it for—" And he
handed a little shred of paper, on which
was written "Two," at the same time
holding up two fingers. The agent shook
his head. The Man in the Moon looked
on and said nothing. The refusal this
time was very curt, and the deputation
retired, much more crestfallen, to all
appearance, than on the first interview.
They appeared again at three o'clock, when
the majority for our candidate amounted
to one hundred and fifty-seven. The same
deputation represented the interests of the
Jolterheads.

"We are going to vote on the other
side," said Mr. Slugg, "but don't mind
being true to your colours if you'll give us
a pot of beer all round."