but coming to do a thing and doing it are two different
matters. Well, the show is over, and we may come down. Let's go and
see about getting our new quarters a little more ship-shape. I want to
see what the men are doing."

"Not yet," said Bracy. "I want to watch these fellows back to their own
men, to see what they are about."

"You can't tell from this distance."

"Not much; but my glass is very powerful, and I want to try and judge
from their actions what is going on yonder."

"All right; I'll stop with you."

Two-thirds of the guards mounted were dismissed, and soon after, the
walls and towers were pretty well deserted. The two young officers
remained, however, Captain Roberts dreamily watching the wondrous
panorama of snowy mountains spreading out to the north as far as the eye
could reach, while Bracy sat with his double glass carefully focussed
and resting upon the stone parapet, watching the departing chiefs, who
strode away looking proud and haughty, and apparently without holding
any communication with one another till they were well on their way,
when Bracy noted that they suddenly began to talk with a good deal of
animation.

Bracy kept up his watch till they reached their followers, who closed
round them in a very excited way.

It was just then that Roberts roused himself from his reverie.

"Hullo, there!" he cried; "'most done? Can't make out anything, can
you?"

"Yes; there's a regular mob of fighting-men crowding round those
fellows, and they're holding a regular meeting."

"Good little glass. I say, old man, I'll swop with you. Mine's a
bigger and better-looking binoc. than yours. Anything else?"

"One of the party--I think it's the one with the scar on his face, but I
can't be sure--"

"Can't you tell him?"

"Not at this distance."

"Then I won't swop. It's not such a good glass as I thought. Well,
what next?"

"He's telling his experiences, and the beggars are lancing about,
roaring with laughter."

"Can you see that?"

"Yes, quite plainly."

"Then I think I will swop, after all. Can't hear what they say, I
suppose?"

"Hardly."

"Humph! Not so good a glass, then, as Pat's, that brought the church so
near that he could hear the singing. Go on."

"He's gesticulating. Now he's marching up and down stiffly like Graves
did while the conference was going on."

"Well, of all the impudence! But no flam: can you really make out all
that?"

"Perfectly. Now he