is taking off his puggree and pretending to take a
handkerchief out and mopping his bald head."

"Like Wrayford does. Why, the scoundrel stood as stiff as a poker when
he was here and let the others do the talking."

"Yes, while he was studying his part. Now they're laughing again and
stamping about and holding their sides. He is going through everything
he noted for their amusement, and telling them what absurd-looking
people the English are."

"Oh yes," said Roberts; "we're a very humorous lot, we British--very
amusing indeed, but best at a distance, for we're rather prickly, and
easily induced to make use of our knives. What next?"

"The show's over; and look--you can see that?"

"What! that flashing in the sunshine?"

"Yes; every man has drawn his sword and is waving it in the air. He
must have said something which excited them."

"Made 'em all draw and swear that they'd cut us to pieces and fling us
in the river, I dare say."

"Oh, there you are!" cried a familiar voice, and the tall, thin
subaltern hurried to their side. "I say, what do you think of that for
a fit?" he cried, stopping, and then holding out one foot. "Just as if
they had been made for me."

"If you say any more about them I'll take them away again," said Bracy,
smiling.

"Then mum it is, for I wouldn't be so cruel to my poor plantigrades.
They haven't been so happy and comfortable for months. Watching those
Dwats?"

"I've been doing so," said Bracy, closing his glass and returning it to
its case. "What do you think of them?"

"Think they're a set of humbugs. They've come here hunting for
information and pretending to be friends; and the worst of it is, old
Wrayford believes in them."

"Nonsense! He couldn't be so weak," cried Roberts.

"Oh, couldn't he? But he could. He hasn't been the same man since he
was cut down about a month ago. Poor old man! he's as brave as a lion
still, but he has done several weak things lately which none of us like.
What do you think that thick-lipped, black-bearded ruffian proposed?"

"I don't know," said Bracy eagerly.

"To send on a couple of hundred of his cut-throats to help to defend the
fort against the enemy."

"He proposed that?" cried Roberts.

"To be sure he did."

"But Colonel Wrayford," said Bracy, "he declined, of course--at once?"

"No, he didn't. He hesitated, and told your old man that an ally would
be so valuable, and that it would not do, hemmed in as we are, t