A blaze more brilliant than all the rest cleft wide the sky and, as they looked toward the North, they saw directly in the middle of the flame a black dot that had not been there before. "He's coming," said Henry in the quiet tone that indicated nothing more than a certainty fulfilled. "Just in time to take a seat in our house," said the shiftless one. Sol ran out and gave utterance to a long echoing cry that sounded like a call. It was answered at once by the new black dot under the Northern horizon, which was now growing fast in size, as it came on rapidly. It took a human shape, and, thirty yards away, a fine, delicately-chiselled face, the face of a scholar and dreamer, remarkable in the wilderness, was revealed. The face belonged to a youth, tall and strong, but not so tall and large as Henry. "Here we are, Paul," said Shif'less Sol. "We've fixed fur you." "And mighty glad I am to overtake you fellows," said Paul Cotter, "particularly at this time." He ran for the shelter just as the forest began to moan, and great drops of rain rushed down upon them. He was inside in a moment, and each gave his hand a firm grasp. "We're all here now," said Henry. "All here and ready for the great work," said Shif'less Sol, his tranquil face illumined again with that look of supreme exaltation. Then the storm burst. The skies opened and dropped down floods of water. They heard it beating on the leaves and thatch overhead, and some came through, falling upon them but they paid no heed. They sat placidly until the rush and roar passed, and then Henry said to the others: "We're to stick to the task that we've set ourselves through thick and through thin, through everything?" "Yes! Yes!" "If one falls, the four that are left keep on?" "Yes! yes!" "If three fall and only two are left, these must not flinch." "Yes! yes!" "If four go down and only one is left, then he whoever he may be, must go on and win alone?" "Yes! yes!" came forth with deep emphasis. CHAPTER II A FOREST ENVOY A group of men were seated in a pleasant valley, where the golden beams of the sun sifted in myriads through the green leaves. They were about fifty in number and all were white. Most of them were dressed in Old World fashion, doublets, knee breeches, hose, and cocked hats. Nearly all were dark; olive faces, black hair, and black pointed beards, but now and then one had fair hair, and eyes of a cold, pale blue. Manner, speech, looks, and dress, alike differentiated them from the borderers. They were not the kind of men whom one would expect to find in these lonely woods in the heart of North America. The leader of the company--and obviously he was such--was one of the few who belonged to the blonde type. His eyes were of the chilly, metallic blue, and his hair, long and fair, curled at the ends. His dress, of some fine, black cloth, was scrupulously neat and clean, and a silver-hilted small sword swung it his belt. He was not more than thirty.