He was reading a brown-backed volume, but as the crowd approached he laid it aside, and listened attentively to an account of the episode.

Then he turned to the two castaways.
"If we take you with us," he said, in solemn words, "it can only be as believers in our own creed.

We shall have no wolves in our fold.

Better far that your bones should bleach in this wilderness than that you should prove to be that little speck of decay which in time corrupts the whole fruit.

Will you come with us on these terms ?" "Guess I'll come with you on any terms," said Ferrier, with such emphasis that the grave Elders could not restrain a smile.