'It is a pregnant question,' he said at last, 'and yet methinks that there is but one answer to it, especially for your father's son.

Should an end be put to James's rule, it is not too late to preserve the nation in its old faith; but if the disease is allowed to spread, it may be that even the tyrant's removal would not prevent his evil seed from sprouting.

I hold, therefore, that should the exiles make such an attempt, it is the duty of every man who values liberty of conscience to rally round them.

And you, my son, the pride of the village, what better use could you make of your strength than to devote it to helping to relieve your country of this insupportable yoke?
It is treasonable and dangerous counsel--counsel which might lead to a short shrift and a bloody death--but, as the Lord liveth, if you were child of mine I should say the same.' So spoke the old carpenter with a voice which trembled with earnestness, and went to work upon his plank once more, while I, with a few words of gratitude, went on my way pondering over what he had said to me.

I had not gone far, however, before the hoarse voice of Solomon Sprent broke in upon my meditations.
'Hoy there! Ahoy!' he bellowed, though his mouth was but a few yards from my ear.