heard the words.

"Yes, from the settlements of which we speak," replied Wyatt quickly and
in a low tone. He had no time to add more, because Paul was now in the
Spanish camp, and was gravely saluting the leader, whom he had recognized
instantly to be such by his dress and manner. Francisco Alvarez rose to
his feet, and politely returned the salute. He saw at once a quality in
the stranger that was not wholly of the wilderness. Braxton Wyatt nodded,
but Paul took no notice whatever of him. A flush broke again through the
tan of the renegade's face.

"Be seated," said Alvarez, and Paul sat down on a little grassy knoll.

"You are Captain Francisco Alvarez of the Spanish forces at New Orleans?"

"You have me truly," replied the Spaniard smiling and shrugging his
shoulders, "although I cannot surmise how you became aware of my presence
here. But the domains of my master, the king, extend far, and his servants
must travel far, also, to do his will."

Paul understood the implication in his words, but he, too, had the gift of
language and diplomacy, and he did not reply to it. Stirred by deep
curiosity, the Spanish soldiers were gathering a little nearer, but
Alvarez waved back all but Wyatt.

"I am glad to find you here, Captain Alvarez," said Paul with a gravity
beyond his years; indeed, as he spoke, his face was lighted up by that
same singular look of exaltation that had passed more than once over the
face of the shiftless one. "And I am glad because I have come for a
reason, one of the greatest of all reasons. I want to say something, not
for myself, but for others."

"Ah, an ambassador, I see," said Francisco Alvarez with a light touch of
irony.

But Paul took no notice of the satire. He was far too much in earnest, and
he resumed in tones impressive in their solemnity:

"I am from one of the little white villages in the Kentucky woods far to
the eastward. There we have fought the wilderness and twice we have driven
back strong forces of the allied tribes, although they came with great
resolution and were helped moreover by treachery."

Braxton Wyatt moved angrily and was about to speak, but Paul, never
glancing in his direction, went on steadily:

"These settlements cannot be uprooted now. They may be damaged. They may
be made to suffer great loss and grief, but the vanguard of our people
will never turn back. Neither warrior nor king can withstand it."

Now Paul's look was wholly that of the prophet. As