r built. For before the Bradleys could mark out the
foul-lines for the base-ball field on the plaza, or teach their standing
army the goose step, or lay bamboo pipes for the water-mains, or clear
away the cactus for the extension of the King's palace, the Hillmen paid
Opeki their quarterly visit.

Albert had called on the King the next morning, with Stedman as his
interpreter, as he had said he would, and, with maps and sketches, had
shown his Majesty what he proposed to do towards improving Opeki and
ennobling her king, and when the King saw Albert's free-hand sketches of
wharves with tall ships lying at anchor, and rows of Opekian warriors
with the Bradleys at their head, and the design for his new palace, and
a royal sedan-chair, he believed that these things were already his, and
not still only on paper, and he appointed Albert his Minister of War,
Stedman his Minister of Home Affairs, and selected two of his wisest and
oldest subjects to serve them as joint advisers. His enthusiasm was even
greater than Gordon's, because he did not appreciate the difficulties.
He thought Gordon a semi-god, a worker of miracles, and urged the
putting up of a monument to him at once in the public plaza, to which
Albert objected, on the ground that it would be too suggestive of an
idol; and to which Stedman also objected, but for the less unselfish
reason that it would "be in the way of the pitcher's box."

They were feverishly discussing all these great changes, and Stedman was
translating as rapidly as he could translate, the speeches of four
different men,--for the two counsellors had been called in, all of whom
wanted to speak at once,--when there came from outside a great shout,
and the screams of women, and the clashing of iron, and the pattering
footsteps of men running.

As they looked at one another in startled surprise, a native ran into
the room, followed by Bradley, Jr., and threw himself down before the
King. While he talked, beating his hands and bowing before Ollypybus,
Bradley, Jr., pulled his forelock to the consul, and told how this man
lived on the far outskirts of the village; how he had been captured
while out hunting, by a number of the Hillmen; and how he had escaped to
tell the people that their old enemies were on the war path again, and
rapidly approaching the village.

Outside, the women were gathering in the plaza, with the children about
them, and the men were running from hut to hut, warning their fell