"'You, perhaps, think you could do so, but I doubt whether you would guess right.' "'Why, there can be but one subject, I should suppose, which could occupy the mind of any one who has seen what we have seen this evening.' "'True; but there may be different interpretations put upon what is equally a mystery to us all.' "'Well, I will not dispute that point with you,--but there is a _right_ and a _wrong_, notwithstanding. Now, tell me, what is your opinion?' "'It will hardly coincide with yours, Vincent; for I fear we shall never agree in our ideas of the propriety and expediency of taking up arms against our sovereign. As to this pantomime of the clouds, I must confess it is beyond my comprehension; so, if your understanding has been enlightened by the exhibition, I beg you will have charity to extend the benefit.' "'You are always for ridiculing my impressions, Gilbert; but you cannot change my belief that our cause is a rightful one, and that it will, with the help of the Almighty, ultimately prevail.' "'What, against such a host as we have just seen imaged out in the sky?' "'The Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save,' replied Murray. "'But,' continued his friend, 'if a real army, coming over the sea to do battle for the king, has been represented by that ghostly multitude which passed before our view, you will find the number too strong for this fanciful faith of yours, in the help of an invisible arm.' "'It is a faith, however, which I am not yet disposed to yield,--the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong.' "'I will acknowledge,' said Lester, interrupting him, 'that you have the advantage of me in quoting Scripture--but depend upon it, the _practical_ advantages of the British over the rebel army will soon overturn your theory.' "'No such thing, Gilbert. I tell you that the zeal, fortitude, undaunted courage, and invincible resolution, which encompass our little band of patriots, will prove a shield of strength that will make every single man of them equal to at least a dozen British soldiers. And having once risen up in defence of their rights, they will persevere to the last extremity before they will submit to the disgraceful terms of a despotic government. It grieves me that _you_ should be among the tories. Come, I entreat you, and share in the glory of the triumph which I am persuaded will eventually be ours.' "'Then you really do believe, Murray, that God will work a modern miracle in favor of America! My dear friend, I wish you would abandon this vain chimera of your imagination, and let common sense and reason convince you of the folly of this mad rebellion.' "'And what then? Should I sit down in cowardly inaction, while others are sacrificing their lives in the struggle? No--that shall never be said of Vincent Murray! My resolution is taken; I will rise or fall with my country!' "'And perhaps the next time we meet,' said Lester, 'it may be on the field of battle.'