not for the strenuous life beating above and below.
Over the near vivid crests cutting the skyline, quick black clouds came reefing up. Sunlight struck them to the glistening green of a starling’s wing. Into the wide-spaced silence volleyed the sudden roar of musketry; snatching echoes from the splintered rocks; tossed back and out again by the gullies, and live-leaping down the length of the ranges with a broken handful of lightning to chase it. Lou came to his feet with quick hands seeking the rifle-butt, and lust red in his eyes. No man on Mains knew ever that Lou had ridden the Boer war through, there earning praise and secret shame and open disgrace. No man knew that, because each soul must love something or it will die—Lou loved, with all the wild godless heart of him, the ring of the rifle and the gobble of the field-guns growing nearer. He was shouting straight-flung command as in years past, when the next thunder-rattle brought explanation and black disgust. Then a quick snicker of lightning laughed with him.
“Does Ted think he will muster the Brothers to-day?” he said.
Strung across the great head and shoulders of the Brothers the boys saw the storm coming, and each and each, after their own kind, they denounced it, and hesitated, or took action promptly. For there is no man in the Back-
