The men having thus been disposed of in a summary fashion,Richard was elected Janitor in Charon's place,and the club was entirely reorganized,with Cleopatra as permanent President.The meeting then adjourned,and the invaders set about enjoying their newly acquired privileges.The smoking-room was thronged for a few moments,but owing to the extraordinary strength of the tobacco which the faithful Richard shovelled into the furnace,it developed no enduring popularity,Xanthippe,with a suddenly acquired pallor,being the first to renounce the pastime as revolting.
So fast and furious was the enjoyment of these thirsty souls,so long deprived of their rights,that night came on without their observing it,and with the night was brought the great peril into which they were thrown,and from which at the moment of writing they had not been extricated,and which,to my regret,has cut me off for the present from any further information connected with the Associated Shades and their beautiful lounging-place.Had they not been so intent upon the inner beauties of the House-boat on the Styx they might have observed approaching,under the shadow of the westerly shore,a long,rakish craft propelled by oars,which dipped softly and silently and with trained precision in the now jet-black waters of the Styx.Manning the oars were a dozen evil-visaged ruffians,while in the stern of the approaching vessel there sat a grim-faced,weather-beaten spirit,armed to the teeth,his coat sleeves bearing the skull and cross-bones,the insignia of piracy.