"Well done," he said; "and I am praying with you that the divine seed of this day may have already taken root in his heart."
Then they parted, each hopeful of the new scholar; and yet so short-sighted is human faith, that had either of them known where that scholar was, and what he was doing at that very hour, their hopes would have gone out in darkness.
After dinner, Ray had gone across the stream at the mills, and into the woods beyond. Putting his fingers into his mouth, he had given, in rapid succession, three shrill whistles. In answer, a dozen or more lads of his own age had joined him. So soon as all were assembled, they formed a ring about their leader, saying:
"At thy call, chief of the Night Hawks, we come."
"What is it you come for?" Ray asked.
"To do thy bidding, O chief," they answered in chorus.
"Know ye the arch-traitor, Jacob Woodhull?" he asked.
Three groans followed.
"I heard him say last evening," the leader went on, "that he should begin to pick his strawberries to-morrow."
"Hear, hear!" cried all.