Under these circumstances, I mean to assume the control of their affairs for a few days or weeks, as the case may be, and get what we must have by force of authority--till we can pay." "It's nothing more nor less than robbery, Kit!" cried Raed; "a mere subterfuge, in open violation of the free principles of the noble land we hail from!" "Too bad, I know," said Kit; "but 'needs must where a _certain person_ drives.'" "Kit, you shock me! Do you not believe in an allwise Providence ?" "Generally speaking, yes." "A Power that takes care of us ?" "Yes, again; but it's after a sort not very flattering to the personal vanity of us poor mortals." "One would naturally suppose, that, situated as we are at present, where the prospect of our getting through the next six months is so poor, you would hesitate at provoking that Power by such an act as this you propose." "Raed, that's all bosh! If you mean to ask me if I believe that there is a Power that will interfere miraculously to rescue us from freezing or starving here, I answer promptly, I do not.

God doesn't work so.
Persons have to take the consequences of their own acts in this world, now-a-days.

And as regards tempting Providence by doing any thing of the sort I proposed,--tempting it to some act of vengeance on us,--bosh again! God doesn't work that way at all.

Besides, to come back to the subject in hand, I've no conscientious scruples about it; for I believe it to be the best thing we can do." "I protest!" Raed exclaimed.

"It is neither just nor right!" "Well, how's this matter to be settled ?" Wade demanded.