se,' replied the Englishman, 'we are not going to stand by
and see a little state wronged and ruined, because a great nation like
Germany, who should keep her word, is playing Belgium false.'

"'Treaty,' questioned the German, 'what is a treaty? Will you go to
war with us for that--just for a scrap of paper?'

"'But that scrap of paper means our nation's honour,' the Englishman
said.

"'Have you counted the cost?' asked the German, thinking to frighten
the Englishman.

"'We English,' replied the British Ambassador, 'are not likely to go
back on our word because of fear.'

"The German left him in a passion, and the Englishman said in his
heart, 'It is war.'

"Would you have had him give another answer?"

And again a mighty shout from the hall, "No, by God, no!"

"Then do your duty--help us in the fight," cried the Captain. The
right note was struck now, and it had been struck by Bob's rival. Oh,
how he envied him! He saw that Nancy's eyes were ablaze with joy, that
she was moved to the depth of her being; and the man who had moved her
to enthusiasm and admiration was the man who wanted the woman Bob
loved, and whom he had lost.

"Can any Englishman," went on Captain Trevanion, "stand by after that?
If he can, what is he worth? Of course he will make paltry excuses, he
will say this and that and the other thing, but what are his excuses
worth? I have heard of young fellows, men who have been trained in our
public schools, who stand by and refuse to help; what shall we say of
them? And you young chaps, healthy, strong, unmarried, without home
ties, what if you refuse to respond to the call of your country? I
will tell you what I think of you: you are white-livered cowards."

Again the audience cheered, and Captain Trevanion, fired by the
enthusiasm he had roused, became almost eloquent. He knew he had the
grip of his audience, and his words came more easily.

"I want to appeal to you girls," he went on. "Your sweethearts are
sitting by you: well, a fellow who is such a coward as to refuse to
fight for his country isn't worth having. Tell him so, shame him into
being a man!" he cried, and his voice rang out, as though he were
giving orders on parade.

"What shall we do?" shouted a voice in the hall.

"Make them feel what cowards they are. Here," and he laughed as he
spoke, "I have in a basket a lot of white feathers; I think they might
be of use. Any of you girls who know men who are hanging bac