3. Separation of Church and State. 4. Absolute equality of all nationalities and all religious organizations. 5. Inviolability of the individual, of the home, and of correspondence. 6. Liberty of removal (of traveling from place to place). When Ghevont had finished reading, he held out a wooden crucifix to Archag, and said: "Repeat my words: I swear upon this emblem of our religion never to betray our society; to be a faithful fédai; to be obedient and devoted even to the point of imprisonment and death. In the name of the Virgin, Sourp Krikor, and Sourp Thaddeus, patrons of Haiastan (Armenia). So be it. Amen." Archag repeated the oath in a low voice, kissed the crucifix, and made the sign of the cross three times. "Garabed," said Ghevont, "will you admit Archag to our society? Will you guarantee his good faith?" "Yes." "Very well then, that being so, I dedicate you, Archag, a fédai, by this brotherly kiss." The first duty of the fédai being to help their compatriots, according to their means and ability, it was decided that Archag should go to town every Saturday to conduct a class in Armenian for illiterate adults, at the school of Sourp Nersès. Garabed himself was giving free instruction in English to members of the Gregorian union. The three boys were stirred by their common enthusiasm. Armenia seemed to them like a bride, very fair and very pure, to whose service they were dedicated in knightly fashion. Gazing into the starlit night, they saw their country transformed and their people happy. Garabed began to sing softly the March of the Dachnaktzoutioun (revolutionary society), and the voices of the others joined him: "Gervetzek dererk, gervetzek Katch Katch Anvehergan Knatz, technemmoun aratch. Tzangala emess, misht aznive mahe. Heroun mezanitt, vozohi dhe." "Fight on ye children, bravely, ever bravely, Fearless before the enemy we stand. Die though we may, we go to death with gladness, Fear of the foe shall never stain our land." CHAPTER XI ON THE MOUNTAIN It was a college custom for each class to go for a three days' excursion, before the Easter holidays, and this year the boys of the Sophomore class had selected the mountain of Sof, to the northwest of Aintab, as the objective point of their trip. Monsieur Bernier and Mihran hodja were to go with them. About six o'clock in the morning, one day toward the end of March, the masters gave the signal for the start, and the boys sprang to their saddles. They rode horses or donkeys. These donkeys of the East are strong, vigorous animals, with bright eyes and glossy skin, and often rival the horses in speed.