and then another. A hush fell
upon the chattering, laughing crowd. Then as they caught the strain men
lolling upon the ground sprang to their feet; lads stood at attention.

"Send him victorious,"

some one sang timidly, giving words to the music. In one instant a
hundred throats were wide open singing the words:

"Happy and glorious,
Long to reign over us,
God save our King."

Again the chords sounded and at once the verse from the first was sung
again.

"God save our gracious King,
Long live our noble King,
God save our King,
Send him victorious,
Happy and glorious,
Long to reign over us,
God save our King."

As the last note died Ramsay Dunn leaped upon a huge boulder, threw up
his hand and began,

"In days of yore, from Britain's shore."

A yell greeted him, sudden, fierce, triumphant, drowned his voice, then
ceased! And again from a hundred throats of men and women, boys and
girls, the words rang out,

"There may it wave, our boast and pride,
And joined in love together,
The thistle, shamrock, rose entwine,
The Maple Leaf forever."

Again and again and once again they followed Ramsay in the quick, shrill
Canadian cheer that was to be heard in after days in places widely
different and far remote from that gay, moonlit, lantern-decked,
boat-thronged, water-lapped island in that far northern Canadian lake.
Following the cheers there came stillness. Men looked sheepishly at each
other as if caught in some silly prank. Then once more the Spectre drew
near. But this time they declined not to look, but with steady, grave,
appraising eyes they faced The Thing, resolute to know the worst, and in
quiet undertones they talked together of War.

The bonfire roared gloriously up through the dark night, throwing far
gleams out upon the moonlit waters in front and upon the dark woods
behind. The people gathered about the fire and disposed themselves in
groups upon the sloping, grassy sward under the trees, upon the shelving
rocks and upon the sandy shore.

But Mr. Murray had business on hand. In company with Dr. Brown and the
minister, Mr. McPherson, he sought his host. "Would it be possible,
Mr. Rushbrooke," he said, "to gather a number of business men here
together?"

"What for?" inquired Rushbrooke.

"Well, I may be all wrong," said Mr. Murray apologetically, "but I have
the feeling that we ou