XXII. The Fighting Instinct 192 XXIII. The Cords Tighten 207 XXIV. Some Interrogation Points 212 XXV. The Master Hand 224 XXVI. At the Parting of the Ways 235 XXVII. The Fruits of Patience 246 XXVIII. The New Master 257 XXIX. A Test of Strength 269 XXX. A Vision from the Hilltop 274 XXXI. In Love and War 283 XXXII. A Primitive Lover 291 XXXIII. Equality 295 XXXIV. A Brother to the Beast 306 XXXV. Love and Locksmiths 313 XXXVI. The Shining Emblem 318 LEADING CHARACTERS OF THE STORY _Scene_: California. _Time_: 1898-1901 NORMAN WORTH An Amateur Socialist COLONEL WORTH His Father ELENA STOCKTON The Colonel's Ward HERMAN WOLF A Socialist Leader CATHERINE His Affinity Wife BARBARA BOZENTA A New Joan of Arc METHODIST JOHN A Pauper TOM MOONEY A Miner JOHN DIGGS A Truth Seeker ROLAND ADAIR Bard of Ramcat ILLUSTRATIONS "Norman clasped her in his arms" _Frontispiece_ FACING PAGE "'Lift the flag back to its place!'" 72 Barbara 214 "Wolf grasped her" 292 COMRADES COMRADES CHAPTER I THE WOMAN IN RED "Fools and fanatics!" Colonel Worth crumpled the morning paper with a gesture of rage and walked to the window. Elena followed softly and laid her hand on his arm. "What is it, Guardie? I thought you were supremely happy this morning over the news that Dewey has smashed the Spanish fleet?" "And so I am, little girl," was the gentle reply, "or was until my eye fell on this call of the Socialists for a meeting to-night to denounce the war--denounce the men who are dying for the flag. Read their summons." He opened the crumpled sheet and pointed to its head lines: "Down with the Stars and Stripes--up with the Red Flag of Revolution--the symbol of universal human brotherhood! Come and bring your friends. A big surprise for all!" The Colonel's jaws snapped suddenly. "I'd like to give them the surprise they need to-night." "What?" Elena asked. "A serenade." "A serenade?" "Yes, with Mauser rifles and Gatling guns. I'd mow them down as I would a herd of wild beasts loose in the streets of San Francisco."