htly into the saddle of the magnificent white stallion that,
gorgeously caparisoned, chafed and fretted under the restraint of his
bridle, held by two of the nobles, while two more held the heavy gold
stirrups for the royal rider's feet, wheeled his steed and cantered
gaily off to where Umu, sitting bolt upright in his saddle with drawn
sword, waited in the centre, and some few paces in front of the
regiment, to receive him. That the military usages of the more
civilised nations had not been permitted to pass altogether unnoticed
now became apparent; for as Harry approached Umu uttered a loud shout of
command, and at the word every sword flashed up in salute in the most
approved fashion, while a band of mounted musicians blared forth certain
weird strains which, the young Inca subsequently learned, was the
national anthem of the ancient Peruvians.

Accompanied by Umu, Harry now rode to the right flank of the regiment,
from whence he proceeded slowly along the front rank and finally the
rear, noting critically the appearance and bearing of the men, and
gauging the breed and quality of the horses as he went. The horses
were, without exception, splendid animals, while the men were, for the
most part, fine, stalwart fellows, well set up; but, accustomed as
Escombe had been to the sight of the Life Guards and other crack cavalry
regiments in London, he could not avoid seeing that there was plenty of
room for improvement in the appearance and discipline generally of his
own bodyguard. Yet it was glaringly apparent to him that Umu, their
captain, was inordinately proud of his regiment; and the new Inca was by
no means untactful. Wherefore, having completed his inspection, Harry
spoke a few well-considered words of praise that rang sufficiently true
to make Umu his devoted slave henceforward, while the faint suggestion
conveyed that the praise was not quite unqualified impressed the Indian
noble with a sense of the high standard of perfection that must exist in
the young monarch's mind, and caused him there and then to register a
silent vow that the regiment should be brought up to that standard, even
though he should be obliged to kill every man of it in the process.

By the time that the inspection was completed the priests and nobles had
climbed into their saddles, and everything was ready for the
commencement of the march. Harry therefore gave the word to Umu, who in
turn uttered a few sharp orders to the men, whereupo