It wore the look of one with the enthusiasms of a saint across whose path Sin, the Insurmountable, has fallen suddenly.
"We're done," he said, husky and white.
His words revived the other. True man that he was, despair in the boy's heart quickened the courage in his own.
"Never say die till you're dead," he cried, squaring his shoulders— "that's the Englishman's motto."
His spirit rose to meet the occasion.
"Our theatrical friend outside there's no fool. But—but—but! there's just one element he's not reckoned with."
"What?" cried Kit, hanging on his words.
The Parson dropped head and voice.
"Who saved you from the Tremendous?" he whispered. "Who handed you up a cliff a goat couldn't climb?—who brought you to this house? —who put the flag-idea into your head, and brought it off?"
The Parson's words made sudden confusion in the lad's mind. It came to him with a shock of surprise to find such triumphant faith in this ruddy fighting-man.