His silence appeared to enrage Brand. He turned to Barry.
“Do you mean to tell me, sir, that you approve of this? Do you consider it right and fair that these men should break their engagement with us? We have gone to great expense, we have extremely important interests at stake in this exploration.”
Barry stood looking at him in silence, as if trying to take in exactly what he meant, then in a low and awed tone he said:
“We cannot help that,” cried Brand. “What difference can this war make to you here a hundred miles from civilisation? These men are pledged to us.”
“Their first pledge is to their country, sir,” said Barry gravely.
“But why should you, a Canadian, take part in this war?” argued Mr. Howland. “Surely this is England's war.”
Then Barry appeared to awake as from a dream.
“Yes, it is England's war, it is Britain's war, and when Britain is at war my country is at war, and when my country is at war I ought to be there.”
“God in heaven!” shouted Duff, striking him on the back, “you have said it! My country is at war, and I must be there. As God hears me, I am off to-day--now.”
“I'm going with you, sir,” said little Harry Hobbs, ranging himself beside Barry.
“Count me in,” said Tom Fielding quietly. “I have a wife and three kids, but--”
“My God!” gasped Duff. “My wife.” His face went white. He had not yet fully adjusted himself to the fact of war.
“Why, of course,” said Mr. Howland, “you married men won't be called upon. You must be reasonable. For instance you, Mr. Duff, cannot leave your wife.”
“My wife, sir? My wife would despise me if I stayed up here. Sir, my wife will buckle on my belt and spurs and send me off to the war,” cried Duff in a voice that shook as he spoke.
With a single stride Barry was at his side, offering both his hands.
“Thank God for men like you! And in my soul I believe the Empire has millions of them.”
“Does your Empire demand that you desert those you have pledged yourself to?” enquired Brand in a sneering tone.
“Oh, Cornwall!” exclaimed Paula, “how can you?”
“Why, Brand,” said Mr. Howland, “that is unworthy of you.”
“We will see you into safety, sir,” said Duff, swinging round upon Brand, “either to the Hudson's Bay Company's post, where you can get Indians, or back to Edmonton, but not one step further on this expedition do I go.”