n all branches of military and civil service."

"So that," added Jack, "it all comes to this, that you and Ralph and I
must carry on the war by rule of three, each taking his just and
appropriate proportion of the work to be done. Now, to change the
subject, there's the sun getting up, and so is the king, if I may judge
from the stir in his majesty's household."

Having begged the king to assemble his warriors together, Jack now
proceeded to divide them into four companies, or bands, over which he
appointed respective leaders. All the men who possessed guns were
assembled together in one band, numbering about one hundred and fifty
men. These Jack subdivided into two companies, one including a hundred,
the other fifty men. The remainder, constituting the main army, were
armed with bows and arrows, spears and knives. Of these a large force
was told off to remain behind and guard the village.

This home-guard was placed under command of the king in person. The
hundred musketeers were placed under Peterkin's command. The other
fifty were given to me, along with a hundred spear and bow men. Jack
himself took command of the main body of spearmen. As Peterkin had to
act a special and independent part, besides commanding his hundred
musketeers, Makarooroo was made over to him, to act as lieutenant.

All these arrangements and appointments were made in a cool, quiet, and
arbitrary manner by Jack, to whom the natives, including the king,
looked up with a species of awe amounting almost to veneration.

"Now," said our commander-in-chief to Lieutenant Mak, "tell the niggers
I am going to make them a speech," (this was received with a grunt of
satisfaction), "and that if they wish to have the smallest chance of
overcoming their enemies, they had better give their closest attention
to what I have to say."

Another grunt of acquiescence followed this announcement.

"Say that I am going to speak to them of things so mysterious that they
shall not by any conceivable or possible effort understand them."

This being quite in accordance with the superstitions and tastes of the
negroes, was received with eager acclamations of delight.

"Tell them," continued Jack, in a deep, solemn tone, and frowning
darkly, "that we shall gain the victory _only_ through _obedience_.
Each man must keep his ears open and his eye on his leader, and must
obey orders _at once_. If the order `Halt' should be given, and any man
should have his