all assented.

"Now, boys, let's have some whisky," said the general, and the
conference resolved itself into a committee of the whole.

Early in the morning the troops began to move forward. Sam, who acted
as aide-de-camp, was sent out from headquarters once or twice to urge
the various colonels to make haste, but there seemed to be no special
orders as to the details of the movement. The regiments went as best
they could and selected their own roads, finally choosing the positions
that seemed most desirable to their commanders, who took care not to
leave too great an interval between regiments. The men were set to work
at once at putting up the tents and making entrenchments. It was some
time after midday when the general and his staff finally left the
headquarters in the city. Sam came downstairs with Major Stroud to
mount his horse, and was surprised to see a landau with two horses
drawn up at the door.

"Who's that for?" he cried.

"For the general," answered Major Stroud quietly.

"For the general! Why on earth doesn't he ride a horse?"

"There isn't a horse in the place that can carry him. He tried one when
he first came here. He mounted it on a step-ladder, and the beast came
down on his knees on the stone pavement and had to be shot. He hasn't
tried it since."

After waiting on the street for a long time Sam had the privilege of
seeing the general emerge from the palace and enter his carriage. He
was perspiring and fanning as usual, but carried no whisky and soda.
The staff officers, of whom there were a dozen or more, mounted and
followed the carriage. Sam rode next to Stroud. There was much
confusion in the roads which they traveled--wagons laden with tents and
provisions and hospital stores, camp-followers of all descriptions, and
some belated soldiers besides. The general, however, had the right of
way, and they proceeded with reasonable speed. They passed through
native villages, rows of one-and two-story thatched houses on each
side, with wooden palisades in front of them, well shaded by low but
spreading palms. They passed large sugar refineries, built by the
Castalians, and churches and convents. They passed rice-fields, some
covered with water and others more or less dry, which sturdy peasants
were busy harrowing with buffaloes. On the road they saw many
two-wheeled carts drawn by single buffaloes, the man standing in the
cart as he drove. At last they cam