Evening star., 1935-03-24

He clenched his hands together.
'Oh Lord" he prayed. Can these
men be Thy Instruments"
lie heard no voice, no sound but the
tramp and crunch of many feet in the
snow. But like a flash, a great clear
light flared up in his soul. He knew
These men were in truth the instru-
ments of the Lord But they were sent
to test his forgiveness, his charity. his
humility. With sense of vast relief
he offered up another prayer - a diff
ferent prayer. This time a prayer for
the people of Bristol, for the people
who'd cast him out
"Oh Lord" he prayed, protect
them from peril Make me strong and
cunning. Show me the way"
He saw the banked fires on the
hearths he knew so well. He saw the
house cats doing in the ashes. the
kettles hanging over the Goals, the
houses quiet in the peace of sleep.
"Oh Lord" he prayed as the Rovers
tramped on, show me the way"
Then his heart beat fast with tri-
umph. His prayer was answered.
Captain" he cried clearly. They
keep their arms in the church. Well
go there first
"All right" the captain grunted.
Daniel gave thanks devoutly. Well
he knew that the men of Bristol kept
their muskets loaded and ready over
the hearth. They needed only an
alarm. And the Lord had showed him
how to sound it loud and clear.
They began to pass isolated farm
houses, the windows dark. At last they
reached the church. Daniel went to a
window. and broke pane with his fist.
I'll 60 in first" he said, land un-
bar the front door"
No you WON'T" said the captain.
II don't trust you. FH go first"
He ordered half of his men around
to the front of the building. Then he
climbed through the window. Daniel
followed. his heart pounding hard. It.
was pitch dark in the church. He could
see only the pale rectangle of the
window.
: Daniel set his lips. 1t was now or
never. and possibly death either way.
He clenched his fist tight, digging the
nails into the flesh. Then he struck!
The captains teeth clicked hard
together. He fell to the floor with
steel rattle of arms.
Daniel ran headlong down the side
aisle toward the front of the church.
He heard confused sounds behind him.
Then shouts! Then the loud, furious
below of the captain! He felt his way
toward the tower stairs. The uproar
behind him grew in volume. Answering
shouts came from outside. Rovers
clambered through the window. He
heard them stumbling and cursing
among the pews.
At last he found the door to the
tower stairs. As he clicked the latch,
he heard footsteps close. Arms
clutched him. He kicked out desper-
ately behind. and the Rover fell to the
floor with groan. Daniel opened the
door and dashed up the steep stairs.
Then up the ladder to the belfry. He
pulled it after him. He felt for the bell
rope. He found it. And with all the
strength of crisis he pulled at the bell.
From below came shouts, beloved
curses, the pound of steps on the stairs.
The great bell swung sluggishly. Then
it doomed single loud peal. Harder
and harder he pulled. The bell swung
wide. Its voice struck out above the
frozen fields - the voice of the Lord
God of Hosts - calling His people to
battle!
More shouts from below A shot
rang out, and a bullet smashed up
through the floor Daniel ropped the
rope and felt for the cannon under the
bell. He knelt down. Sparks gushed
from his flint. The powder sputtered.
A small yellow flame blew up in his
face. The cannon leaped back like a