They
sat fascinated and spellbound.
"Herman, tell that again!" said Penrod, breathlessly.
Herman, nothing loath, accepted the encore and repeated the Miltonic
episode, expanding it somewhat, and dwelling with a fine art upon those
portions of the narrative which he perceived to be most exciting to his
audience. Plainly, they thrilled less to Paradise gained than to its
losing, and the dreadful climax of the descent into the Pit was the
greatest treat of all.
The effect was immense and instant. Penrod sprang to his feet.
"Georgie Bassett couldn't do that to save his life," he declared. "_I_'m
goin' to be a preacher! I'D be all right for one, wouldn't I, Herman?"
"So am I!" Sam Williams echoed loudly. "I guess I can do it if YOU can.
I'd be better'n Penrod, wouldn't I, Herman?"
"I am, too!" Maurice shouted. "I got a stronger voice than anybody here,
and I'd like to know what----"
The three clamoured together indistinguishably, each asserting his
qualifications for the ministry according to Herman's theory, which had
been accepted by these sudden converts without question.
"Listen to ME!" Maurice bellowed, proving his claim to at least the
voice by drowning the others. "Maybe I can't climb a pole so good, but
who can holler louder'n this? Listen to ME-E-E!"
"Shut up!" cried Penrod, irritated. "Go to heaven; go to hell!"
"Oo-o-oh!" exclaimed Georgie Bassett, profoundly shocked.
Sam and Maurice, awed by Penrod's daring, ceased from turmoil, staring
wide-eyed.
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