"Now then," he said cheerfully, "there you are. Have you any objection to prayers? It is a rule of this camp to have prayers night and morning, especially if any strangers happen along. I like to practise on them, you know."
French nodded gravely. "Good idea. I can't say it is common in this country."
Brown brought out two hymn books and passed one to French, stirred up the fire to a bright blaze, and proceeded to select a hymn.
Suddenly he turned to Kalman. "I say, my boy, do you read?"
"Sure thing! You bet!" said Kalman indignantly.
"Educated, you see," said French apologetically. "Street University, Winnipeg."
"That's all right, boy. I'll get you a book for yourself. We have lots of them. Now, French, you select."
"Oh, me? You better go on. I don't know your book."
"No, sir," said Brown emphatically. "You have got to select, and you have got to read too. Rule of the camp. True, I didn't feed you, but then--I hesitate to speak of it--perhaps you remember that mixture."
"Do I? Oh, well, certainly, if you put it that way," said French.
"Let's see, all the old ones are here. Suppose we make it a good old-fashioned one. How will this do?" He passed the book to Brown.
"Just the thing," said Brown. "'Nearer, my God, to Thee.' Can you find it, Kalman?"
"Why, cert," said Kalman.
French glanced apologetically at Brown.
"Recently caught," he explained, "but means no harm."
Brown nodded.
"Proceed with the reading," he said.
French laid down his pipe, took off his hat, Kalman following his example, and began to read. Instinctively, as he read, his voice took a softer modulation than in ordinary speech. His manner, too, became touched with reverent dignity. His very face seemed to grow finer. Brown sat listening, with his face glowing with pleasure and surprise.
"Fine old hymn that! Great hymn! And finely read, if I might say so. Now we'll sing."
His voice was strong, true, and not unmusical, and what he lacked of finer qualities he made up in volume and force. His visitors joined in the singing, Kalman following the air in a low sweet tone, French singing bass.
"Can't you sing any louder?" said Brown to Kalman. "There's nobody to disturb but the fish and the Galicians up yonder. Pipe up, my boy, if you can. I couldn't sing softly if I tried. Can he sing?" he enquired of French.
"Don't know. Sing up, Kalman, if you can," said French.
Then Kalman sat up and sang. Strong, pure, clear, his voice rose upon the night until it seemed to fill the whole space of clearing and to soar away off into the sky. As the boy sang, French laid down the book and in silence gazed upon the singer's face. Through verse after verse the others sang to the end.
"I say, boy," said Brown, "you're great! I'd like to hear you sing that last verse alone. Get up and try it. What do you say?"
Without hesitation the boy rose up. His spirit had caught the inspiration of the hymn and began, "Or if on joyful wing Cleaving the sky, Sun, moon, and stars forgot, Upward I fly, Still all my song shall be, Nearer, my God, to Thee, Nearer to Thee!"
The warm soft light from the glow still left in the western sky fell on his face and touched his yellow hair with glory. A silence followed, so deep and full that it seemed to overflow the space so recently filled with song, and to hold and prolong the melody of that exquisite voice. Brown reached across and put his hand on the boy's shoulder.
"Boy, boy," he said solemnly, "keep that voice for God. It surely belongs to Him."
