He resumed his seat amid absolute silence.  Presently the patroon raised his eyes and looked at Colonel John Butler.

“May we hear from you, sir?” he asked, gravely.

“I trust that all may, one day, hear from Butler’s Rangers,” he said.

“And I swear they shall,” broke in Walter Butler, his dark eyes burning like golden coals.

“I think the Royal Greens may make some little noise in the world,” said Captain Campbell, with an oath.

Guy Johnson waved his thin, brown hand towards the patroon:  “I hold my King’s commission as intendant of Indian affairs for North America.  That is enough for me.  Though they rob me of Guy Park and every acre, I shall redeem my lands in a manner no man can ever forget!”

“Gentlemen,” added Colonel Claus, in his bluff way, “you all make great merit of risking property and life in this wretched teapot tempest; you all take credit for unchaining the Mohawks.  But you give them no credit.  What have the Iroquois to gain by aiding us?  Why do they dig up the hatchet, hazarding the only thing they have—­their lives?  Because they are led by a man who told the rebel Congress that the covenant chain which the King gave to the Mohawks is still unspotted by dishonor, unrusted by treachery, unbroken, intact, without one link missing!  Gentlemen, I give you Joseph Brant, war-chief of the Mohawk nation!  Hiro!”

All filled and drank—­save three—­Sir George Covert, Dorothy Varick, and myself.

I felt Walter Butler’s glowing eyes upon me, and they seemed to burn out the last vestige of my patience.

“Don’t rise!  Don’t speak now!” whispered Dorothy, her hand closing on my arm.

“I must speak,” I said, aloud, and all heard me and turned on me their fevered eyes.

“Speak out, in God’s name!” said Sir George Covert, and I rose, repeating, “In God’s name, then!”

“Give no offence to Walter Butler, I beg of you,” whispered Dorothy.

I scarcely heard her; through the candle-light I saw the ring of eyes shining, all watching me.

“I applaud the loyal sentiments expressed by Sir John Johnson,” I said, slowly.  “Devotion to principle is respected by all men of honor.  They tell me that our King has taxed a commonwealth against its will.  You admit his Majesty’s right to do so.  That ranges you on one side.  Gentlemen,” I said, deliberately, “I deny the right of Englishmen to take away the liberties of Englishmen.  That ranges me on the other side.”

A profound silence ensued.  The ring of eyes glowed.

“And now,” said I, gravely, “that we stand arrayed, each on his proper side, honestly, loyally differing one from the other, let us, if we can, strive to avert a last resort to arms.  And if we cannot, let us draw honorably, and trust to God and a stainless blade!”

I bent my eyes on Walter Butler; he met them with a vacant glare.

“Captain Butler,” I said, “if our swords be to-day stainless, he who first dares employ a savage to do his work forfeits the right to bear the arms and title of a soldier.”