ch provision as would suffice for
their immediate needs. They looked well to their arms and
ammunition. They had mended their clothes, and were strong and
fresh and full of courage.

The journey before them seemed as nothing to the pair who had
traversed so many thousands of miles of wood and water. And the
settlers had friends at the other end who would remember them, and
have tears of sympathy to shed at hearing their terrible tale.

The brothers stood looking their last upon the clearing which had
for so long been their home. In Humphrey's eyes there was an
unwonted moisture; but Charles's face was set and stern, and his
lips twitched with the excess of restrained emotion. His eyes were
fixed upon the mound which hid from his view the corpses of wife
and children. Suddenly he lifted his clinched hand towards heaven.

"Strengthen, O Lord, this right hand of mine, that it may be strong
against the nation whose crimes bring desolation upon Thy children.
Be with us in the hour of vengeance and victory. Help us to render
unto them even as they have rendered to us."

Julian and Fritz had withdrawn themselves a little, respecting the
inevitable emotion which must come to men at such a moment.
Humphrey turned away, and took a few uncertain steps, half blinded
by the unwonted smart of tears in his eyes. He had come almost to
hate this place of terrible associations; and yet it wrung his
heart for a moment to leave those nameless graves, and that little
lonely spot where so many peaceful and happy hours had been spent.

Julian's hand was on his arm, and his voice spoke in his ear.

"I know what it feels like; I have been through it. The smart is
keen. But it helps us to remember that we are but strangers and
pilgrims. It is perhaps those who have no abiding city here who
most readily seek that which is theirs above."

Humphrey pressed Julian's hand, feeling vaguely comforted by his
words, although he could not enter fully into their significance.

To Charles Julian said:

"'We must remember, even in our righteous wrath, that God has said
He is the avenger. We can trust our wrongs in His hands. He will
use us as His instruments if He thinks good. But let us beware of
private acts of vengeance of our own planning. We must not forget
the reverse of the picture--the mercy as well as the anger of God.
We must not take things out of His hands into our own, lest we
stumble and fall. We have a commandment to love our enemie