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 Reuben waited a few seconds and then said softly,—"Massa, we can't take de Kingdom of Hebben by sto'm."

"You're right, of course, Reuben," Hernando answered, giving himself a mental shake. "I'm afraid I'm a poor soldier anyway."

"'Scuse me, Massa, mebbe yo'se done been fightin' undah de wrong Cap'n; an' mebbe agin taint no use fightin' nohow; jes' let de Kingdom ob Hebben take yo'."

Hernando leaned slightly nearer, and Reuben went on,—"Now taint no makin' b'lieve 'bout dis gibin' up, like dem po' sinnahs what hollahs amen, 'thout takin' de mo'nah's bench. Hit's got 'o be a willin' sacrifice. We mus' git right down on our knees an' hollah f'um de bery bottom ob de hea't,—'Oh, Lawdy, Lawdy, hyah am eberyt'ing I got in dis wo'l 'thout no stipylations!' Den we mus' trus' de good Lawd an' be glad to trabel back to de fo'cks of de road; an' w'en dis trablin' do seem like hit aint neber goin' to en', we must 'member de promise: 'God