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ued Jane； 〃round these trees； if you could only coax them out。 They are so shy。〃
Stealthily the children began to move among the bushes； alert for the watching eyes and the shy faces of the wild things that made their homes in these dark dwellings。 The girls sat silent； looking out through the interlacing boughs upon the gleam of the lake below。 They dearly loved this spot。 It was a favourite haunt with them； the very spot for confidence； and many a happy hour had they spent together here。 To…day they sat without speech； there was nothing that they cared to talk about。 It was only yesterday in this same place they had talked over all things under the sun。 They had exchanged with each other their stores of kindly gossip about all their friends and their friends' friends。 Only yesterday it was that Ethel for the twentieth time had gone over with Jane all the intricately perplexing and delightful details in regard to her coming…out party next winter。 All the boys and girls were to be invited； and Jane was to help with the serving。 It was only yesterday that in a moment of quite unusual frankness Ethel had read snatches of a letter which had come from Macleod； who was out in a mission field in Saskatchewan。 How they had laughed together； all in a kindly way； over the solemn； formal phrases of the young Scotch Canadian missionary； Ethel making sport of his solemnity and Jane warmly defending him。 How they had talked over the boys' affairs； as girls will talk； and of their various loves and how they fared； and of the cruelties practised upon them。 And last of all Ethel had talked of Larry； Jane listening warily the while and offering an occasional bit of information to keep the talk going。 And all of this only yesterday； not ten years ago； or a year ago； but yesterday！ And to…day not a word seemed possible。 The world had changed over night。 How different from that unshaded； sunny world of yesterday！ How sunny it was but yesterday！ Life now was a thing of different values。 Ah； that was it。 The values were all altered。 Things big yesterday had shrunk almost to the point of disappearance to…day。 Things that yesterday seemed remote and vague； to…day filled their horizon； for some of them dark enough。 Determined to ignore that gaunt Spectre standing there； in the shadow silent and grim； they would begin to talk on themes good yesterday for an hour's engrossing conversation； but before they were aware they had forgotten the subject of their talk and found themselves sitting together dumb and looking out upon the gleam of the waters； thinking； thinking and ever thinking； while nearer and ever more terrible moved the Spectre of War。 It was like the falling of night upon their world。 From the landscape things familiar and dear were blotted out； and in their place moved upon them strange shapes unreal and horrible。
At length they gave it up； called the children and went back to the others。 At the dock they found a launch filled with visitors bringing newsgreat news and glorious。 A big naval battle had been fought in the North Sea！ Ten British battleships had been sunk； but the whole German fleet had been destroyed！ For the first time war took on some colour。 Crimson and purple and gold began to shoot through the sombre black and grey。 A completely new set of emotions filled their hearts； a new sense of exultation； a new pride in that great British Navy which hitherto had been a mere word in a history book； or in a song。 The children who； after their manner； were quickest to catch and to carry on to their utmost limits the emotions of the moment； were jubilantly triumphant。 Some of them were carrying little Union Jacks in their hands。 For the first time in their lives that flag became a thing of pride and power； a thing to shout for。 It stood for something invisible but very real。 Even their elders were not insensible to that something。 Hitherto they had taken that flag for granted。 They had hung it out of their windows on Empire Day or on Dominion Day as a patriotic symbol； but few of them would have confessed； except in a half…shamed； apologetic way； to any thrill at the flapping of that bit of bunting。 They had shrunk from a display of patriotic emotion。 They were not like their American cousins； who were ever ready to rave over Old Glory。 That sort of emotional display was un…Canadian； un…British。 But to…day somehow the flag had changed。 The flag had changed because it fluttered in a new world； a new light fell upon it； the light of battle。 It was a war flag to…day。 Men were fighting under it； were fighting for all it represented； were dying under its folds； and proudly and gladly。
〃And all the men will go to fight； your father and my father； and all the big boys；〃 Ethel heard a little friend confide to Isabel。
〃Hush； Mabel；〃 said Ethel sharply。 〃Don't be silly。〃
But the word had been spoken and as a seed it fell upon fertile soil。 The launch went off with the children waving their flags and cheering。 And again upon those left upon the dock the shadow settled heavier than before。 That was the way with that shadow。 It was always heavier； thicker； more ominous after each interlude of relief。
It was the same at the bonfire in the evening at the Rushbrookes'。 The island was a fairy picture of mingling lights and shadows。 As the flaming west grew grey； the pale silver of the moon； riding high and serene； fell upon the crowding； gaily decked launches that thronged the docks and moored to the shore； upon the dark balsams and silver birches hung with parti…coloured gaudy Chinese lanterns； upon the groups of girls； fair and sweet in their white summer camping frocks； and young men in flannels； their bare necks and arms showing brown and strong； upon little clusters of their fathers and mothers gravely talking together。 From the veranda above； mingling with the laughing； chattering voices； the alluring strains of the orchestra invited to waltz； or fox trot。 As the flame died from the western sky and the shadows crept down from the trees； the bonfire was set alight。 As the flame leaped high the soft strains of the orchestra died away。 Then suddenly； clear； full and strong； a chord sounded forth； another； and then another。 A hush fell upon the chattering； laughing crowd。 Then as they caught the strain men lolling upon the ground sprang to their feet； lads stood at attention。
〃Send him victorious；〃
some one sang timidly； giving words to the music。 In one instant a hundred throats were wide open singing the words：
〃Happy and glorious； Long to reign over us； God save our King。〃
Again the chords sounded and at once the verse from the first was sung again。
〃God save our gracious King； Long live our noble King； God save our King； Send him victorious； Happy and glorious； Long to reign over us； God save our King。〃
As the last note died Ramsay Dunn leaped upon a huge boulder； threw up his hand and began；
〃In days of yore； from Britain's shore。〃
A yell greeted him； sudden； fierce； triumphant； drowned his voice； then ceased！ And again from a hundred throats of men and women； boys and girls； the words rang out；
〃There may it wave； our boast and pride； And joined in love together； The thistle； shamrock； rose entwine； The Maple Leaf forever。〃
Again and again and once again they followed Ramsay in the quick； shrill Canadian cheer that was to be heard in after days in places widely different and far remote from that gay； moonlit； lantern… decked； boat…thronged； water…lapped island in that far northern Canadian lake。 Following the cheers there came stillness。 Men looked sheepishly at each other as if caught in some silly prank。 Then once more the Spectre drew near。 But this time they declined not to look； but with steady； grave； appraising eyes they faced The Thing； resolute to know the worst； and in quiet undertones they talked together of War。
The bonfire roared gloriously up through the dark night； throwing far gleams out upon the moonlit waters in front and upon the dark woods behind。 The people gathered about the fire and disposed themselves in groups upon the sloping； grassy sward under the trees； upon the shelving rocks and upon the sandy shore。
But Mr。 Murray had business on hand。 In company with Dr。 Brown and the minister； Mr。 McPherson； he sought his host。 〃Would it be possible； Mr。 Rushbrooke；〃 he said； 〃to gather a number of business men here together？〃
〃What for？〃 inquired Rushbrooke。
〃Well； I may be all wrong；〃 said Mr。 Murray apologetically； 〃but I have the feeling that we ought without delay to discuss what preliminary steps should be taken to meet with the critical conditions brought on by the war。〃
〃But； Mr。 Murray；〃 cried Mrs。 Rushbrooke； who was standing by her husband's side； 〃they are all so happy it would seem a great pity to introduce this horrible thing at such a time。〃
〃Do you really think it necessary； Murray？〃 said Mr。 Rushbrooke； who was an older man than Mr。 Murray； and who was unwilling to accede to him any position of dominance in the business world of Winnipeg。 〃There's really nothing we can do。 It seems to me th