dded to the lustre of his reputation. A
celebrated German preacher, Cesar of Spiers, had attended his
preachings and entered the Order. Elias was installed at the next
Chapter before five thousand brethren. It was at this Chapter, that on
the seventh day they had to beg of the people not to bring them any
more food, and even then they had to prolong the Chapter two days, in
order to eat up all the provisions that had been donated! Elias
presided at the last sitting, which was the one when the brethren
received their appointments. We have told you how unfortunate the
first German expedition had been and how the poor brethren returned
more dead than alive with fright. Well, during the course of this last
sitting, Francis felt impressed that they ought to make another
attempt for the salvation of Germany. As he was not very well that
day, and unable to make himself heard, he pulled Elias by the tunic,
and whispered to him aside. Elias stood up and said--

"My brethren, this is what the Brother tells me," they always called
Francis "The Brother." "There is a country, Germany, whose inhabitants
are Christians, and full of devotion. You have often seen them passing
through our country walking in the sunshine with long sticks and great
boots, singing the praises of God. Several of our brethren have
already been amongst them. They did not succeed, and had to come back.
Now I compel none of you to undertake this mission again, but if
anyone is sufficiently filled with zeal for the glory of God and the
salvation of souls to venture upon it they can give in their names."

[Sidenote: _An Unwilling Volunteer._]

A wave of horror ran through the assembly, for no mission was more
dreaded, but very soon they recovered themselves, and about ninety
gave in their names, several of whom were of German origin. Among this
last number was Cesar of Spiers, who was appointed Minister for
Germany. A rather amusing incident occurred in connection with this
expedition.

The ninety volunteers were all told to come out of the ranks, and
stand together till those who were to go were chosen. As they stood
waiting there a certain brother called Giordano, who was one of those
most scared at the idea of a mission to Germany, and had taken good
care not to volunteer, thought he would go and have a look at them.

Giordano had a spirit of investigation that would have led him into
the ranks of journalism had he lived only a few centuries later!

"The