"That's queer," said Corker, drinking a lemonade.

"It's perfectly right," said Sam. "When a man's in the right, and of
course we always are, if he fights a man of his size or one bigger than
he is, he gives the wrong a chance of winning, and that is clearly
immoral. If he takes a weaker man he makes the truth sure of success.
And it's just the same way with nations."

Corker did not seem to be much interested by this disquisition, and
Cleary dragged his friend away after they had respectfully bade the
pugilist good-night. A crowd of soldiers was waiting outside to see
Corker get into his carriage. They paid no attention whatever to Sam
and Cleary.

"When it comes to real glory a prize-fighter beats a colonel all
hollow," said Cleary, and they parted for the night.

Sam was retained on the general staff and assigned to the important
post of censor of the press. His duties were most engrossing, for not
only were the proofs of all the local newspapers submitted to him, but
also all other printed matter. One day a large number of handbills
were confiscated at a printer's and brought in for his inspection. He
was very busy and asked his native private secretary to look them over
for him. In a half-hour he came to him with a translation of the
document.

"What does it say?" cried Sam. "I have no time to read it through."

"It says that governments are made to preserve liberty, and that they
get their only authority from the free will of the people who are ruled
by them," answered the clerk.

"That's clearly seditious," said Sam. "There must be some plot at
the bottom of it. Have the whole edition burned and have the printer
locked up."

A few days later a newspaper was brought to him announcing that the
Moritos had massacred the garrison stationed among them, that the whole
province of San Diego was in revolt, and that the regiment there would
probably have to fall back on Havilla. Sam was much scandalized, and
sent at once for the native editor.

"What does this mean?" said he.

"Pardon, my colonel," said the little man apologetically, "this is a
newspaper and this is news. I am sure it is true."

"That is the civilian conception of news," said Sam, with disdain.
"Officially this is not true. We have instructions, as you have often
been told, not to allow anything to be printed that can injure the
Administration at Whoppington. Any one can see how this would injure
it,