“I was about to explain to our host briefly what seems to me afoot in all this business,” he said without looking up, “when he asked that you should join us so that we can all work together.” And, while signifying my assent, I caught myself wondering what quality it was in the calm speech of this undemonstrative man that was so full of power, so charged with the strange, virile personality behind it and that seemed to inspire us with his own confidence as by a process of radiation.

“ Mr. Hubbard,” he went on gravely, turning to the soldier, “knows something of my methods, and in more than one⁠—er⁠—interesting situation has proved of assistance. What we want now”⁠—and here he suddenly got up and took his place on the mat beside the Colonel, and looked hard at him⁠—“is men who have self-control, who are sure of themselves, whose minds at the critical moment will emit positive forces, instead of the wavering and uncertain currents due to negative feelings⁠—due, for instance, to fear.”