will be the most terrible of all Britain's wars," replied Barry. "It
will take every ounce of Britain's strength."

"You don't tell me!" exclaimed McCuaig, as if struck by an entirely new
idea. "Say, are you really anxious, young man?"

"I am terribly anxious," replied Barry. "I know Germany a little. I
spent a year there. She is a mighty nation, and she is ready for war."

"She is, eh!" replied McCuaig thoughtfully. He wandered off to the fire
without further word, where, rolling himself in his blanket and scorning
the place in the tent offered him by Duff, he made himself comfortable
for the night.

At the break of day Duff was awakened by the smell of something frying.
Over the fire bent McCuaig, busy preparing a breakfast of tea, bacon and
bannocks, together with thick slices of fat pork.

Breakfast was eaten in haste. The day's work was before them, and there
was no time for talk. In a very few minutes they stood ready for their
trip across the portage.

With them stood McCuaig. His blanket roll containing his grub, with
frying-pan and tea-pail attached, lay at his feet; his rifle beside it.

For a moment or two he stood looking back up the stream by which, last
night, he had come. Then he began tying his paddles to the canoe thwarts
in preparation for packing it across the portage.

As he was tying on the second paddle, Duff's eye fell on him.

"What's up, McCuaig?" he said. "Aren't you going up to the Post?"

"No, I guess I ain't goin' up no more," replied McCuaig slowly.

"What do you mean? You aren't going back home?"

"No. My old shack will do without me for a while, I guess.--Say," he
continued, facing around upon Duff and looking him squarely in the face,
"this young chap says"--putting his hand upon Barry's shoulder--"Britain
is going to have a hell of a time licking Germany back into her own
orbut. Them papers said last night that Canada was going in strong. Do
you think she could use a fellow like me?"

A silence fell upon the group of men.

"What! Do you mean it, McCuaig?" said Duff at length.

The man turned his thin, eagle face toward the speaker, a light in his
eyes.

"Why, ain't you goin'? Ain't every one goin' that can? If a fellow stood
on one side while his country was fightin', where would he live when
it's all over? He read out of the papers that them Germans were shootin'
women and children. So--" his face began to work, "am I goin' to stand
by and ask some one else to make 'e