“Repeat my words: I swear upon this emblem of our religion never to betray our society; to be a faithful fédaī; to be obedient and devoted even to the point of imprisonment and death. In the name of the Virgin, Sourp Krikor, and Sourp Thaddeus, patrons of Haīastan (Armenia). So be it. Amen.”
Archag repeated the oath in a low voice, kissed the crucifix, and made the sign of the cross three times.
“Garabed,” said Ghevont, “will you admit Archag to our society? Will you guarantee his good faith?”
“Yes.”
“Very well then, that being so, I dedicate you, Archag, a fédaī, by this brotherly kiss.”
The first duty of the fédaī being to help their compatriots, according to their means and ability, it was decided that Archag should go to town every Saturday to conduct a class in Armenian for illiterate adults, at the school of Sourp Nersès. Garabed himself was giving free instruction in English to members of the Gregorian union.
The three boys were stirred by their common enthusiasm. Armenia seemed to them like a bride, very fair and very pure, to whose service they were dedicated in knightly fashion. Gazing into the starlit night, they saw their country transformed and their people happy. Garabed began to sing softly the March of the Dachnaktzoutioun (revolutionary society), and the voices of the others joined him:
“Gervetzek dererk, gervetzek Katch Katch
Anvehergan Knatz, technemmoun aratch.
Tzangala emess, misht aznive mahe.