chain of forts, and shut England in between the sea and those mountains yonder.  You have heard, I doubt not, how England is resolved not to be thus held in check.  Major George Washington and General Braddock have both made attacks upon Fort Duquesne, and though both have suffered defeat owing to untoward causes and bad generalship, the spirit within them is still unquenched.  Fort Duquesne, Fort Niagara, Fort Ticonderoga—­these are the three northern links of the chain, and I think that England will never rest until she has floated her flag over these three forts.

“We have come from far to the heart of that great struggle which all men know must come.  The day of rest for us seemed ended.  We have been travelling all through the long, hot summer months, to find and to be with our countrymen when the hour of battle should come.”

Humphrey looked from one to the other, and said: 

“There are only two of you.  Where are all the rest from your smiling valley of the south?  Were you the only twain that desired to join the fight?”

“A dozen of us started, but two turned back quickly, discouraged by the hardness of the way, and a few died of fever in the great swamps and jungles:  Others turned aside when we neared the great lakes, thinking to find an easier way.  But Fritz and I had our own plan of making our way to New England, and after long toil and travel here we are at the end of our journey.  For this indeed seems like the end, when we have found a comrade who will show us the way and lead us to the civilized world again!”

“Ay, I can do that,” answered Humphrey; “I know well the road back to the world.  Nor is it a matter of more than a few days’ travel to reach the outlying townships.  I have often said I would go and visit our sisters and friends, but I have never done so.  Alas that I should go at last with such heavy tidings!”

“Heavy tidings indeed,” said Fritz, with sympathy; “yet we will avenge these treacherous murders upon those who have brought them to pass.”

“That will not restore the dead to life,” said Humphrey mournfully.

“No, but it will ease the burning heart of its load of rage and vengeance.”

Humphrey’s eyes turned for a moment towards his sleeping brother.  He knew how welcome would be such words to him—­that is, if he awoke from his fever dreams in the same mood as they had found him.

“And yet,” said Julian thoughtfully, “we have been taught by our fathers that brothers should live at peace together, even as we in our valley lived long at peace with all and with one another.  So long as the memory of our venerable Father remained alive there was all harmony and concord, and every man sought his brother’s well being as earnestly as his own.”

“Can you remember the holy man?” asked Humphrey, with interest.