ward to catch the lowest whisper, and so awful was the suspense in the galleries the listeners grew faint.
When his last mad challenge was hurled into the teeth of the judges, the dazed crowd paused for breath and the galleries burst into a storm of applause.
In vain the Chief Justice rose, his lion-like face livid with anger, pounded for order, and commanded the galleries to be cleared.
They laughed at him. Roar after roar was the answer. The Chief Justice in loud angry tones ordered the Sergeant-at-Arms to clear the galleries.
Men leaned over the rail and shouted in his face:
"He can't do it!"
"He hasn't got men enough!"
"Let him try it if he dares!"
The doorkeepers attempted to enforce the order by announcing it in the name of the peace and dignity and sovereign power of the Senate over its sacred chamber. The crowd had now become a howling mob which jeered them.
Senator Grimes, of Iowa, rose and demanded the reason why the Senate was thus insulted and the order had not been enforced.
A volley of hisses greeted his question.
The Chief Justice, evidently quite nervous, declared the order would be enforced.
Senator Trumbull, of Illinois, moved that the offenders be arrested.
In reply the crowd yelled:
"We'd like to see you do it!"
