“Yes, and came with a commission from the King of France hard upon a century ago.  My great-grandfather and his father were of the company of La Salle, although they bore their part in a different expedition from that which is known to the world.”

“Are you then French?” asked Humphrey, half disappointed, though he could not tell why.

Julian smiled, reading the thought in his heart.

“French in little beside name,” he replied.  “My great grandfather, Gaspard Dautray, was half English through his mother, an Englishwoman; and he married Mary Neville, an English maiden, from whose family Fritz there is descended.  In brief, let me tell you the story.  Long before La Salle had penetrated the fastnesses of the west, there had grown up in a green valley a little colony of English, outcasts from their own land by reason of their faith.  They had lived at peace for long with the Indian tribes; but when more white men began invading their country, jealousy and fury were awakened in the hearts of the Indians, and this little settlement was in great danger.  In their extremity this little colony sent to La Salle, and though he himself was absent, his lieutenant sent them a band of men to aid them in defending their lives and property, and in routing the attacking Indian force.

“But it was no longer safe to remain in the green valley which had sheltered them so long.  They heard of the lands of the south, down the great mysterious river, and they resolved to seek an asylum there.

“With the company of La Salle, and yet not attached to it, was a holy man whom all the world called Father Fritz; a priest, yet one who followed not the Pope of Rome, but loved each Christian brother, and recognized only one Church—­the Church of the baptized.  He went with the little band, and they made themselves a new home in the land of the south.  They were beloved of the Indians about them.  Father Fritz taught them, baptized such as were truly converted, and lived amongst them to a hoary old age, loving and beloved; seeking always to hold them back from greed and covetousness, and teaching them that the hope for which they must look was the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself to reign upon the earth.”

Julian paused, looking thoughtfully into the fire.  Humphrey heaved a great sigh, and said half bitterly: 

“But the Lord delayeth His coming, and men wage war against their brethren.”

“Yes, verily; yet I think that should make us long the more for the day which will surely come.  However, let me tell my tale.  The great enterprise of France in the south and west has come to but a very small thing.  No chain of forts guards the great river.  The highway from Canada to the south has never been opened up.  France is speaking of it to this day.  These very hostile movements towards England are all part and parcel of the old plan.  She still desires to hold the whole territory by this