to have seen him, Paul. He looked like an avenging
angel. He stood there, a single, unarmed man, and they were afraid of him.
I could see fear on every one of their faces."

Paul's vivid imagination instantly painted the whole scene. It appealed to
him with tremendous power. It was the triumph of mind and character over
force and wickedness.

"I can see Father Montigny now," he said. "A man who always does right and
has no fear whatever of death, is afraid of nothing, either in this world
or the world to come."

"Which gives him a pow'ful sight uv freedom," said Long Jim.

"When he told them to stop they took away their balls and chain," said
Henry, "and sent me back here. Alvarez realized that he had gone too far,
but I think that he fears Father Montigny for other reasons, too. The
priest may put the Governor General on his guard."

"So we ain't alone," said Long Jim musingly. "Curious how you git help
when you ain't expectin' it. The wicked hev it their way fur a while, an'
then they don't. They don't ever seem able to finish up their work.
Sometimes I think the right is jest like a river flowin' on in its nateral
channel, an' boun' to git to the sea after a while, no matter what
happens. The wrong is all them dams, an' san' bars an' snags, and brush
an' drift-wood that people an' chance pile up in the way. They do choke up
the waters, an' send 'em around in other channels, an' make a heap uv
trouble, but by and by them waters git to the sea jest the same."

"I hope so, Jim," said Paul.

"Now thar ain't no doubt uv what I say," said Long Jim. "Take this case uv
ourn. Jest when we need it most fur a thousand miles uv river travel we
git a bee-yu-ti-ful boat, all fitted up with everything we want. Jest when
that Spaniard gits his paws on us, he don't git his paws on one uv us, an'
that's Shif'less Sol out thar in the woods. An' so long ez Shif'less Sol
is free out thar in the woods we're mighty nigh free ourselves. Then, when
this same Spaniard is ready to load irons on Henry in a way that no
free-born man kin stand, in pops a priest who likes us--an' we don't
belong to his church either--an' puts a stop to the whole thing."

While they were talking Francisco Alvarez also was busy with a kindred
theme, as he entertained a guest. That guest was Father Montigny, to whom
he had made up his mind to be courteous, although he would not condescend
to any further apology. He ordered that the priest should receive food