Page:The trail of the golden horn.djvu/246

242 and that we are two of his descendants. We are ever wandering from place to place, and have been doing so for years. It seems to be our fate. I am getting more than tired of this life.”

“Longing for a change, eh?”

“It wouldn’t come amiss, let me tell you that.”

“But we’re getting plenty of change, Tom. Ever since we left Kynox haven’t we had no end of excitement, ending up with that racket last night?”

“Do you call that the end? It looks to me like only the beginning. But, then, let us keep up courage; the worst is yet to come. Say, sergeant, I’ve been thinking.”

“I’m glad to hear it, Tom. Rather unusual, isn’t it?”

“Perhaps so, but I really have. I’ve been thinking about all the people who sing the national anthem in cities and towns.”

“Does your brain hurt from such deep thinking?”

“I wonder if they realize what our motto, ‘Maintien le Droit,’ really means? Look at us, for instance, upholding the right, and enforcing the King’s laws, while all they do is sing, cheer, and wave the flag. When I get out of the Force, I’m going to write something that will open their eyes.”

“Poetry, I suppose. Will people read it?”

“They will have to. I shall write such blazing stuff that everyone will want to read it. It will not be the trash that is so often seen in print.”

“I wish you good luck, old man,” North replied, as he lifted his small pack and slung it once again over his shoulders. “But I wouldn’t be too hopeful. People, as a rule, don’t take kindly to poetry.”

“But they will take to mine. I shall write such stuff that they won’t be able to help themselves. Now, some