do not see how that makes war right, sir."

"No, but when Germany invaded Belgium, broke all treaty rights, and
Belgium asked us to protect her what were we to do?"

"Admiral," said Bob, "I believe you pretend to be a Christian."

"Yes, of course I do, but what has that to do with it?"

"Do you happen to believe in 'The Sermon on the Mount'?"

"Good Lord, yes! Isn't it our Lord's own words?"

"Then I want to ask you how a man can reconcile the teaching of 'The
Sermon on the Mount' with bloody warfare such as this is to be?"

The Admiral was nonplussed for a moment; he was a simple seaman, and
not versed in the philosophy of ethics.

"Look here, my boy!" he cried passionately, "if I know anything about
Christianity, it teaches a man to be honourable, truthful, and to keep
his word. I would not give a fig for any Christian who did not keep
his word. Well, we gave our word to Belgium. The Germans did so, too,
but, like the brutes they are, they violated theirs, and when Belgium
appealed to us, and asked us to keep our word, could we refuse? Could
any Christian refuse? No, by gad, no!"

"But, Admiral, don't you see that----"

"Look here, Bob, I want no more talking. Are you going to back out of
your duty, or are you going to play the game like a man?"

"I am going to try to be true to my conscience, sir. As I told you,
war to me is unchristian, devilish, and if I enlisted, I should, by so
doing, become a paid murderer."

The Admiral rose to his feet, his eyes blazing. For a moment his
temper had got the better of him, and, had he been able to speak, he
would have hurled at Bob words for which he would have been sorry
afterwards. Luckily, he could not. Presently he had gained command
over himself.

"I do not think we had better say any more," he said quietly. "I am
sorry I have been mistaken in you; sorry that you should have accepted
the hospitality of a Pagan home like this. Of course you are not
renewing your visits here?"

"But, Admiral!" cried Bob, angry with himself for not weighing his
words before uttering them. "I--I----"

"Excuse me," said the old man, "it is no use saying any more. Good
night."

He did not offer to shake hands, but went to the bell push. A second
later a servant appeared, to whom the Admiral nodded. Without
hesitation the man opened the door and held it while Bob passed out,
and then led the way to the front entrance. When he had gone, the
Admiral threw himse