that the shift of the excellent sixteen was a popular victory.

It was two days before the caucus. The line-up of forces, Frost against
Hawke, Hanway against Obstinate, under able captains went vigorously
forward. It pleased Senator Hanway to hear that the Frost fortunes were
being unexpectedly served by the volcanic Mr. Hawke himself. That
gentleman had fallen into a state of indignant eruption; his best
friends could not approach him because of the smoke and flame and lava
which his rage cast up.

"The most scoundrel thing I ever saw in Washington is that I am made to
fight for the Speakership!" cried the eruptive Mr. Hawke; and this
fashion of outburst does not help any man's cause.

To steal a simile from a dead gentleman who stole from others in his
day, Mr. Hawke went into the final battle of the caucus much after the
manner wherewith a horse approaches a drum, that is, with a deal of
prance and but little progress, and, for the most part, wrong end
foremost. Even then the count of Senator Hanway--a cold-blooded
computation--gave that gavel to the violent Mr. Hawke. So much for being
a House leader, a tariff monger, and a friend of Governor Obstinate.

On the afternoon before the caucus, Senator Hanway took a last look at
the array. Besides Mr. Hawke and Mr. Frost, there were two other
candidates, Mr. Patch and Mr. Swinger. These latter had been sent into
the lists by the diplomacy of Senator Hanway to hold the delegations
from their States, a majority whereof, if released, would fly to Mr.
Hawke. With all four names before the caucus, Mr. Frost would lead Mr.
Hawke by two, without having a majority. Eliminate Mr. Patch and Mr.
Swinger, however, and Mr. Hawke would be chosen by a majority of seven.