"There," said one of the others, "the old Adam need not be so fierce
in thee, brother Jephthah! No one wants to hurt the lad, young
prelatist though he be, so he will make amends by burning their
superstitious books on the fire, even as Jehu burnt the worshippers
of Baal."

Steadfast felt somewhat as Christians of old may have felt when
called on to throw incense on the altar of Jupiter, as a handful of
pages torn from a Prayer-book was thrust into his hands. Words did
not come readily to him, but he shook his head and stood still,
perhaps stolid in resistance.

"Come," said Jeph, laying hold of his shoulder to drag him along.

"I cannot; 'tis Scripture," said Stead, as in his distress his eye
fell on the leaves in his hand, and he read aloud to prove it--

"Thy Word is a lantern unto my feet, and a light unto my path."

There was one moment's pause. Perhaps the men had absolutely
forgotten how much of their cherished Bible was integral in the hated
Prayer-book; at any rate they were enough taken aback to enable Jeph
to pull his brother out at the door, not without a fraternal cuff or
two, as he exclaimed:

"Thou foolish fellow! ever running into danger for very dullness."

"What have I done, Jeph?" asked poor Stead, still bewildered.