to Barry. "You Canadians!"

Surprised, Barry glanced at his face. Those hard blue eyes were brimming
with tears; the leatherlike skin was working curiously about the mouth.

"Why, sir, I don't quite understand what you mean," said Barry.

"No, and you never will. Think of it, rushing three thousand miles--"

"Five thousand for some of us," interrupted Barry.

"Fancy that! Rushing five thousand miles in this way, to help old mother
England, and all of your own free will. We didn't ask it of you. Though,
by heaven, we're grateful for it. I find it difficult, sir, to speak
quietly of this."

Not until that moment had Barry caught the British point of view. To
him, as to all Canadians, it had only been a perfectly reasonable and
natural thing that when the Empire was threatened, they should spring
into the fight. They saw nothing heroic in that. They were doing their
simple duty.

"But think of the wonder of it," said the naval officer again, "that
Canada should feel in that way its response to the call of the blood."

The old man's lips were still quivering.

"That is true, sir," said the M. O., joining in the talk, "but there is
something more. Frankly, my opinion is that the biggest thing, sir, with
some of us in Canada, is not that the motherland was in need of help,
though, of course, we all feel that, but that the freedom of the world
is threatened, and that Canada, as one of the free nations of the world,
must do her part in its defence."

"A fine spirit," said the old gentleman.

"This fight," continued the M. O., "is ours, you see, as well as yours,
and we hate a bully."

The old salt swore a great oath, and said:

"You are pups of the old breed, and you run true to type. I'm glad to
know you, gentlemen," he continued, shaking them warmly by the hand.

After they had gone a few steps he called Barry back to him.

"That's my card, sir. I should like you to come to see me in London
sometime when you are on leave."

Barry glanced at the card and read, "Commander Howard Vincent, R. N. R."

"It was very decent of the old boy," he said to the Commanding Officer
afterwards, when recounting the interview. "I don't suppose I'll ever
use the card, but I do think he really meant it."

"Meant it," exclaimed the Commanding Officer. "Why, Dunbar, I'm an old
country man, and I know. Make no mistake. These people, and especially
these naval people, do not throw their cards loosely about. You will
undoubtedly h