wed in his father's face as he raised the
boy and put his hand on his shoulder.

"Comrade," he said, "you don't know how much I love you--and what
reason there is that we should love each other! You don't know how I
have been watching you, and thanking God each year that here grew a man
for Samavia. That I know you are--a MAN, though you have lived but
twelve years. Twelve years may grow a man--or prove that a man will
never grow, though a human thing he may remain for ninety years. This
year may be full of strange things for both of us. We cannot know WHAT
I may have to ask you to do for me--and for Samavia. Perhaps such a
thing as no twelve-year-old boy has ever done before."

"Every night and every morning," said Marco, "I shall pray that I may
be called to do it, and that I may do it well."

"You will do it well, Comrade, if you are called. That I could make
oath," Loristan answered him.

The Squad had collected in the inclosure behind the church when Marco
appeared at the arched end of the passage. The boys were drawn up with
their rifles, but they all wore a rather dogged and sullen look. The
explanation which darted into Marco's mind was that this was because
The Rat was in a bad humor. He sat crouched together on his platform
biting his nails fiercely, his elbows on his updrawn knees, his face
twisted into a hideous scowl. He did not look around, or even look up
from the cracked flagstone of the pavement on which his eyes were fixed.

Marco went forward with military step and stopped opposite to him with
prompt salute.

"Sorry to be late, sir," he said, as if he had been a private speaking
to his colonel.

"It's 'im, Rat! 'E's come, Rat!" the Squad shouted. "Look at 'im!"

But The Rat would not look, and did not even move.

"What's the matter?" said Marco, with less ceremony than a private
would have shown. "There's no use in my coming here if you don't want
me."

"'E's got a grouch on 'cos you're late!" called out the head of the
line. "No doin' nothin' when 'e's got a grouch on."

"I sha'n't try to do anything," said Marco, his boy-face setting itself
into good stubborn lines. "That's not what I came here for. I came to
drill. I've been with my father. He comes first. I can't join the
Squad if he doesn't come first. We're not on active service, and we're
not in barracks."

Then The Rat moved sharply and turned to look at him.

"I thought you weren't coming at all!" he snap