He bowed in assent.
"Is your lodge No. 29, Chicago?"
He bowed again.
"Dark nights are unpleasant," said the voice.
"Yes, for strangers to travel," he answered.
"The clouds are heavy."
"Yes, a storm is approaching."
"Are the brethren satisfied?" asked the Bodymaster.
There was a general murmur of assent.
"We know, Brother, by your sign and by your countersign that you areindeed one of us," said McGinty. "We would have you know, however, thatin this county and in other counties of these parts we have certainrites, and also certain duties of our own which call for good men. Areyou ready to be tested?"
"I am."
"Are you of stout heart?"
"I am."
"Take a stride forward to prove it."
As the words were said he felt two hard points in front of his eyes,pressing upon them so that it appeared as if he could not move forwardwithout a danger of losing them. None the less, he nerved himself tostep resolutely out, and as he did so the pressure melted away. Therewas a low murmur of applause.
"He is of stout heart," said the voice. "Can you bear pain?"
"As well as another," he answered.
"Test him!"
It was all he could do to keep himself from screaming out, for anagonizing pain shot through his forearm. He nearly fainted at thesudden shock of it; but he bit his lip and clenched his hands to hidehis agony.
"I can take more than that," said he.
This time there was loud applause. A finer first appearance had neverbeen made in the lodge. Hands clapped him on the back, and the hood wasplucked from his head. He stood blinking and smiling amid thecongratulations of the brothers.
"One last word, Brother McMurdo," said McGinty. "You have already swornthe oath of secrecy and fidelity, and you are aware that the punishmentfor any breach of it is instant and inevitable death?"
"I am," said McMurdo.
"And you accept the rule of the Bodymaster for the time being under allcircumstances?"
"I do."
"Then in the name of Lodge 341, Vermissa, I welcome you to itsprivileges and debates. You will put the liquor on the table, BrotherScanlan, and we will drink to our worthy brother."
McMurdo's coat had been brought to him; but before putting it on heexamined his right arm, which still smarted heavily. There on the fleshof the forearm was a circle with a triangle within it, deep and red, asthe branding iron had left it. One or two of his neighbours pulled uptheir sleeves and showed their own lodge marks.
"We've all had it," said one; "but not all as brave as you over it."
"Tut! It was nothing," said he; but it burned and ached all the same.
When the drinks which followed the ceremony of initiation had all beendisposed of, the business of the lodge proceeded. McMurdo, accustomedonly to the prosaic performances of Chicago, listened with open earsand more surprise than he ventured to show to what followed.