This staggered them a little; and I perceived that they looked at each other in doubt.
"But you can, at least, turn round suddenly, at need ?" one of them asked, after a pause.
"Certainly, sir," I answered, giving ocular evidence that I was no idle boaster, making a complete gyration on my heels, in very good time.
"Very well!--admirably well!" they all cried in a breath.

"The great political essential is to be able to perform the evolutions in their essence--the facility with which they are performed being no more than a personal merit." "But, gentlemen, I know little more of your constitution and laws, than I have learned in a few broken discussions with my fellow-travellers." "This is a matter of no moment, sir.

Our constitution, unlike that of Leaphigh, is written down, and he who runs can read; and then we have a political fugleman in the house, who saves an immense deal of unnecessary study and reflection to the members.

All you will have to do, will be to watch his movements; and, my life on it, you will go as well through the manual exercise as the oldest member there." "How, sir, do all the members take the manoeuvres from this fugleman ?" "All the Horizontals, sir--the Perpendiculars having a fugleman of their own." "Well, gentlemen, I conceive this to be an affair in which I am no judge, and I put myself entirely in the hands of my friends." This answer met with much commendation, and manifested, as they all protested, great political capabilities; the statesman who submitted all to his friends never failing to rise to eminence in Leaplow.

The committee took my name in writing and hastened back to their schooner, in order to get into port to promulgate the nomination.