they
held in loving reverence the name of Father Fritz, and none of his
children, as they called us all alike, could do wrong in their
eyes. So then it was their policy to get rid of such as would not
own the supremacy of France in all things. I was glad at the last
to go. We became weary of the bickerings and strife. Some of the
elders remained behind, but the rest of us went forth to find
ourselves a new home and a new country."

Humphrey listened to this tale with as much interest as it was
possible for him to give to any concern other than his own.
Something of that indignant hatred which was springing into active
life all through the western continent began to inflame his breast.
It had been no effect of Charles's inflamed imagination. The French
were raising the Indians against them, and striving to overthrow
England's sons wherever they had a foothold, beyond their immediate
colonies. It was time they should arise and assert themselves.
Humphrey's eyes kindled as he sat thinking upon these things.

"I too will go forth and fight France," he said at last; and with
that resolve the sense of numb lethargy and despair fell away from
him like a worn-out garment, and his old fire and energy returned.

Chapter 3: Philadelphia.

"I will go and tell my tale in the ears of my countrymen," said
Charles, with steady voice but burning eyes, "and then I will go
forth and fight the French, and slay and slay till they be driven
from off the face of the western world!"

The fever had left Charles now. Some of his former strength had
come back to him. But his brother looked at him often with
wondering eyes, for it seemed to him that this Charles was a new
being, with whom he had but scant acquaintance. He could not
recognize in this stern faced, brooding man the quiet, homely
farmer and settler whose home he had shared for so long.

Their new comrades were glad of the rest afforded them by the
necessity of waiting till Charles should be fit to move. They had
been travelling for many months, and the shelter of a roof--even
though it was only the roof of a shed--was grateful to them.

Fritz and Charles took a strong mutual liking almost from the
first. Both were men of unwonted strength and endurance, and both
were fired by a strong personal enmity towards the French and their
aggressive policy.

Julian told Humphrey, in their private conferences, something of
the cause of this personal rancour.

"There was a fai