y and I will kill a goat or two, to show them what we can do with
the rifles; and if that don't stop them, we will shoot at their legs;
and if that don't stop them--I guess you'd better come back, and we'll
all run."

Stedman looked at Albert, and Albert looked at Stedman, and neither of
them winced or flinched.

"Is this another of my secretary's duties?" asked the younger boy.

"Yes," said the consul; "but a resignation is always in order. You
needn't go if you don't like it. You see, you know the language and I
don't, but I know how to shoot, and you don't."

"That's perfectly satisfactory," said Stedman, handing his gun to old
Bradley. "I only wanted to know why I was to be sacrificed, instead of
one of the Bradleys. It's because I know the language. Bradley, Sr., you
see the evil results of a higher education. Wish me luck, please," he
said, "and for goodness' sake," he added impressively, "don't waste much
time shooting goats."

The Hillmen had stopped about two hundred yards off, and were drawn up
in two lines, shouting, and dancing, and hurling taunting remarks at
their few adversaries. The stolen cattle were bunched together back of
the King. As Stedman walked steadily forward with his handkerchief
fluttering, and howling out something in their own tongue, they stopped
and listened. As he advanced, his three companions followed him at about
fifty yards in the rear. He was one hundred and fifty yards from the
Hillmen, before they made out what he said, and then one of the young
braves, resenting it as an insult to his chief, shot an arrow at him.
Stedman dodged the arrow, and stood his ground without even taking a
step backwards, only turning slightly to put his hands to his mouth, and
to shout something which sounded to his companions like, "About time to
begin on the goats." But the instant the young man had fired, King
Messenwah swung his club and knocked him down, and none of the others
moved. Then Messenwah advanced before his men to meet Stedman, and on
Stedman's opening and shutting his hands to show that he was unarmed,
the King threw down his club and spears, and came forward as
empty-handed as himself.

"Ah," gasped Bradley, Jr., with his finger trembling on his lever, "let
me take a shot at him now." Gordon struck the man's gun up, and walked
forward in all the glory of his gold and blue uniform; for both he and
Stedman saw now that Messenwah was more impressed by their appearance,
and in the f