antity of iron
bedsteads, each borne solemnly upon the shoulders of four men. The
guards accompanying them were armed, and wore queer, shining helmets.
Still another company came swinging down to meet us, with fixed,
imperturbable countenances, each bearing a towel in one hand, with
military precision. They were on their way to the bathing-house upon the
bridge.

Scattered about upon the broad esplanade at the summit, or rather
arranged in lines upon the breezy, grass-grown space, were squads of
recruits being drilled. At the word of command they struck the most
extraordinary attitudes. Taking a tremendous stride, they endeavored to
poise themselves on one foot, while they threw the other leg straight
out behind into the air. Being of all sizes, forms, and degrees of
grace in movement, the effect, to say the least, was surprising;
especially as the most intense silence and seriousness prevailed. A
second stride and fling followed, then a third, when a pert young
officer, of the bantam species, seized a gun, and strutting to the
front, proceeded to illustrate the idea more perfectly. At this point
our gravity gave way.

A young sergeant, with a stupid but good-natured face, attached himself
to us in the capacity of guide. He could speak nothing but German, of
which not one of us understood a word. We followed him from point to
point, politely attending to all his elaborate explanations, and were
surprised to find how many ideas we had finally gained by means of the
patient and painful pantomimic accompaniment to his words.

The view from the summit is wonderfully extensive. All the kingdoms of
the earth and the glory of them seemed spread out at our feet; and our
fat little guide grew fairly red in the face in his efforts to make us
comprehend the names of the various points of interest.

When we returned to the carriage the animated jumping-Jacks were still
engaged in their remarkable evolutions; and as we came down we had a
last glimpse of our Dutch friend and his Malays, who were making the
ascent on foot.

The next day, though passed upon the beautiful river, was a day of
torment. The stream narrowed; the frowning rocks closed in upon us,
shutting out every breath of air; the sun beat down upon the water and
the low awning over our heads with fiery fury; in a moment of idiocy we
answered the call to _table d'hote_, which was served upon deck with a
refinement of imbecility just as the climax of the striking sce