excommunicated. It has been nothing but growing strife and disunion
for the past two years. I was glad to turn my back upon it at last,
and find my way to a freer land, and one where a man may worship
God according to his conscience; albeit I have no desire to speak
ill of the priests, who were good men, and sought to teach us what
they deemed to be the truth."

"I am a Protestant," said Humphrey; "I know little about Romish
devices. I was taught to hate and abhor them. We dwelt among the
Quaker folk of Pennsylvania. but we are not Quakers ourselves. Out
here in the wilds we must live as we can. We have the Bible--and
that is all."

"People say of the Quakers that they will not fight!" said Fritz
suddenly. "Is that so?"

"I know not," answered Humphrey; "I think I have heard my father
say something of that sort. But surely they will fight to avenge
such things as that!" and he made a gesture with his hand as though
indicating the burnt homestead and the graves of the murdered woman
and children.

"If they be men they surely will. You will go and tell them your
story, Humphrey?"

"Ay, that I will!" answered Humphrey, between his shut teeth.

Fritz sat staring into the fire for some time, and then he too
broke out with some heat.