s a wonderful gift, yours, Mr. Brand.
When one reads one seems to see a picture of the whole place. You have
written wonderfully of your adventures here."

"And yet," he said, in a low tone, "the adventure here which was most
interesting to me, which I shall never forget so long as I live, I
have not written about at all. It is for the memory only."

Again their eyes met. He was very bold, this Englishman. Yet though
her eyebrows were slightly raised she did not rebuke him.

"I think, perhaps," she said, "that we had better obey the royal
command."

She touched her horse with the whip, and they galloped up the
hillside. Ughtred watched them closely as they rode up. He made room
for Marie by his side. Brand had perforce to fall behind. They talked
together eagerly of the manoeuvres. The girl was thoroughly well
versed in the situation.

"I believe from the south," she said, "that Theos is unassailable. If
only we had more heavy guns for the passes."

"You have seen the new battery?" Ughtred asked.

She nodded.

"Yes. The Maxims are wonderful."

"I am expecting," he said, "that the donor will be paying us a visit
here soon."

She looked up inquiringly.

"An American was it not?"

"An American and his daughter, Mr. and Miss Van Decht. If they come I
hope that I may count upon you, Countess, to help me make their visit
an enjoyable one."

"I will do all that I can," she answered, coldly. "I have never met
any Americans. They must be wonderful people. In England they are
intermarrying, is it not so, with the aristocracy?"

"There have been many such marriages," Ughtred assented.

"It is the worst of England," she murmured. "A great nation, but
indeed a nation of shopkeepers. Amongst the nobles, the pride of race
seems to have died out. The fear of poverty is to them as the fear of
death. Ah, see."

Through the pass below was a sudden movement. Little puffs of smoke
burst out all over the hillside. General Dartnoff and his staff came
galloping up.

"Your Majesty," he said, saluting, "I shall ask for your
congratulations on behalf of Colonel Bushnieff. The attacking force
have been entrapped into the pass, and are now subject to a terrible
cross-fire. Bushnieff's guns are so placed that every one of them is
effectual. I go to give the award. The defending force have easily
triumphed."

"I will come with you," the King answered.

Brand drew back to let them pass. Marie also lingered. In a moment
they