The congressman arose and went up to Belton and congratulated him upon his triumph over oratory, and lamented his defeat by prejudice.

This action caused a perceptible stir in the entire audience.
The teacher went to his desk and produced a large gold medal.

He took his accustomed place on the platform and began thus: "Ladies and Gentlemen, this is the proudest moment of my life." He got no further.

Belton had pulled the rope, the rope had caused the weight to fall, and the weight had pulled the prop and down had gone the teacher into a well of water.
"Murder! Murder! Murder!" he cried "Help! Help! Help! I am drowning.
Take me out, it is cold." The audience rushed forward expecting to find the teacher in a dangerous situation; but they found him standing, apparently unharmed, in a cistern, the water being a little more than waist deep.

Their fright gave way to humor and a merry shout went up from the throats of the scholars.
The colored men and women laughed to one side, while the white people smiled as though they had admired the feat as a fine specimen of falling from the sublime to the ridiculous.