The times produce the man, each war bringing forth its own generals, its heroes, its solvers of great problems.

Thus there came now to these persons assembled, deadlocked, unguided, unhappy, who might else have sat forever rooted to this spot, the man who was to save them, to lead them forth out of their wilderness of incertitude.
None had chosen Battersleigh to the leadership.

He came as mere guest, invited as were the others.

There had been no election for master of ceremonies, nor had Battersleigh yet had time to fully realize how desperate was this strait in which these folk had fallen.

It appeared to him merely that, himself having arrived, there was naught else to cause delay.