d provided,
and afterwards sat smoking their pipes beside the fire, whilst the
wind moaned and sighed round the corners of the shed, and whispered
through the trees around the clearing, he told these strangers the
whole history of his life, and how it had seemed to be suddenly cut
in half a week ago, whilst the last half already began to look and
feel to him longer than the first.

There was no lack of sympathy and interest in the faces of his
hearers. When they heard how a Frenchman had been with the Indians
upon their raid, Fritz smote the ground heavily with his open hand,
exclaiming:

"That is what we heard as we journeyed onward; that is the rumour
that reached us even in the far south. It was hard to believe that
brother should turn against brother out here in these trackless
wilds, amid hordes of savage Indians. We said it must surely be
false--that Christian men could not be guilty of such wickedness!
Yet it has proved all too true. We have heard stories during our
journey which have filled our hearts with loathing and scorn.
France is playing a treacherous, a vile and unworthy game. England
is no match for her yet--unprepared and taken at a disadvantage.
But you will see, you will see! She will arise from sleep like a
giant refreshed! And then let proud France tremble for her bloody
laurels!"

His eye flashed, and Julian said thoughtfully:

"Ay, truly has she stained her laurels with blood; and she is even
now staining her annals with dark crimes, when she stirs up the
savage Indian to bring death and desolation to those peaceful
settlers with whom they have so long lived as friends. God will
require their blood at the hands of France. Let her beware! for the
hour of her destruction will not be prolonged if she sells herself
to sin."

There was a long silence then between the three men; it was at
length broken by Humphrey, who looked from one to the other, and
said:

"You have not yet told me of yourselves. Who are you, and whence do
you come? I have heard of vast plains and mighty rivers in the
south and west, but I know nothing beyond these forest tracks which
lie about our desolated home."

Fritz signed to Julian to be the speaker, and he leaned his back
against the wall, clasping his hands behind his head. The firelight
gleamed upon his earnest face and shone in his brilliant eyes.
Humphrey regarded him with a species of fascination. He had never
seen a man quite of this type before.

"Have yo