eaching with them.
Some Romish priests found us out, and took possession of the little
chapel which Father Fritz had built with such loving care, and the
Mass was said instead of that simpler service which he had drawn up
for us. Many of us the priests dubbed as heretics, and because we
would not change our views for them, they became angry, and we were
excommunicated. It has been nothing but growing strife and disunion
for the past two years. I was glad to turn my back upon it at last,
and find my way to a freer land, and one where a man may worship
God according to his conscience; albeit I have no desire to speak
ill of the priests, who were good men, and sought to teach us what
they deemed to be the truth."

"I am a Protestant," said Humphrey; "I know little about Romish
devices. I was taught to hate and abhor them. We dwelt among the
Quaker folk of Pennsylvania. but we are not Quakers ourselves. Out
here in the wilds we must live as we can. We have the Bible--and
that is all."

"People say of the Quakers that they will not fight!" said Fritz
suddenly. "Is that so?"

"I know not," answered Humphrey; "I think I have heard my father
say something of that sort. But surely they will fight to avenge
such things as that!" and he made a gesture with his hand as though
indicating the burnt homestead and the graves of the murdered woman
and children.

"If they be men they surely will. You will go and tell them your
story, Humphrey?"

"Ay, that I will!" answered Humphrey, between his shut teeth.

Fritz sat staring into the fire for some time, and then he too
broke out with some heat.

"Yes, it is the same story all over. It was the French who came and
spoiled our happy home. If they had let us alone, perchance we
might have been there still, hunting, fishing, following the same
kind of life as our fathers--at peace with ourselves and with the
world. But they came amongst us. They sowed disunion and strife.
They were resolved to get rid of the English party, as they called
it. They were all softness and mildness to them. But those in whom
the sturdy British spirit flourished they regarded with jealousy
and dislike. They sowed the seeds of disunion. They spoiled our
valley and our life. Doubtless the germs were there before, but it
was the emissaries of France who wrought the mischief. If they
could have done it, I believe they would have taught the Indians to
distrust us English; but that was beyond their power. Even