Page:Wren--The young stagers.djvu/43

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ANCIENT BRITONS AND MODERN
25

"Call me Reginald or Reggie, then," permitted the Vice. "No—Samuel would be nicer, I think, 'Samuel the Standard-bearer' or 'Samuel the Censurian' sounds all-right."

"Right O, Thammy," acquiesced the Vice, and prepared to do battle.

"No—you get in the chariot," directed the President, "and I come ashore in a boat. Then I hop out and make a speech to my soldiers who hang back a bit. They're not for it, at first, you know, and . . ."

"Can I take a pot at you while you speech?" interrupted the Vice.

The President considered this.

"It is battle, you know," urged the Vice, "and I didn't ask you to come invading on my sands when I might want to be fishing or paddling or playing with my children or anything."

"Yes—but I've got to win, you know. It is History, and we can't alter that. . . . Tell you what—you can hit me in the shield while I am making the speech—or knock my helmet off. Yes—make it all the more real. . . ."