not be to accompany me. Let each man and woman be
informed of what I do, and let them lift a petition for me, that my work
be crowned with success. But let them not assume that to-morrow I shall
have anything to impart. The night may be one of peace within, though
so stormy without. I may pray till dawn with no knowledge how my prayer
prospers, or I may be called to face a being that no human eye has ever
seen and lived. These things are hidden from us."

"You are wonderful, and it is heartening to meet with such mighty
faith," replied Sir Walter. "You have no fear, no shadow of hesitation
or doubt at the bottom of your mind?"

"None. Only an overmastering desire to obey the message that throbs in
my heart. I will be honest with you, for I recognize that many might
doubt whether you were in the right to let me face this ordeal. But I
am driven by an overwhelming mandate. Did I fear, or feel one tremor of
uncertainty, I would not proceed; for any wavering might be fatal and
give me helpless into the power of this watchful spirit; but I am as
certain of my duty as I am that salvation awaits the just man.

"I believe that I shall liberate this arrested being with cathartic
prayer and cleansing petition to our common Maker. And have I not the
spirit of my dead boy on my side? Could any living man, however well
intentioned, watch with me and over me as he will? Fear nothing; go to
your rest, and let all who would assist me do so on their knees before
they sleep."

Even Masters echoed some of this fierce and absolute faith when he
returned to the servants' hall.

"His eyes blaze," he said. "He's about the most steadfast man ever I saw
inside a pulpit, or out of it. You feel if that man went to the window
and told the rain to stop and the wind to go down, they would. No ghost
that ever walked could best him anyway. They asked me to talk and say
what I felt, and I did; but words are powerless against such an iron
will as he's got.

"I doubted first, and Sir Walter said he doubted likewise; but he's dead
sure now, and what's good enough for him is good enough for us. I'll bet
Caunter, or any man, an even flyer that he's going to put the creature
down and out and come off without a scratch himself. I offered to sit
up with him, so did Sir Walter; but he wouldn't hear of it. So all we've
got to do is to turn in and say our prayers. That's simple enough for
God-fearing people, and we can't do no better than to obey orders."