irection the old man pointed, carefully scanning
the distance, but seeing nothing save the undulating stony plain with
here and there a stunted tree, and in one part a depression like an old
river bed.

"Well," he said; at last; "I can see nothing."

"Not looking right," said Serge.

"I've looked right and left, and down that hollow too," said Marcus.

"That's what I say. You haven't looked right up. Look up."

"Up?" cried Marcus, who felt puzzled. "I do wish you would speak.
There is nothing to see there but those crows circling slowly round and
round."

"That's right," grunted Serge; "you have seen what I mean."

"What, the crows?"

Serge grunted, and Marcus stared.

"I don't know a bit what you mean," said Marcus, irritably. "Don't,
pray don't, waste time."

"I'm not wasting time. I say we're on the right track, boy. Look at
the crows."

"What for?" cried Marcus, angrily.

"What for?" growled Serge. "S'pose you and me was at home and were out
among the pastures and up the lowest slopes of the mountains where we
drive the goats."

"Well, what then?" cried Marcus, impatiently.

"And suppose we saw crows flying round and round. What would you say
then?"

"That there was a dead lamb or a kid lying somewhere about, or that the
wolves had been down and killed a sheep."

"Well?" said Serge, with a dry look on his wrinkled face.

Marcus was silent for a few moments, and then, "Oh, Serge," he cried,
with a look of horror, "you don't think--"

"Yes, I do, boy. Nay, I feel sure. There's been a big fight yonder
where those crows are flying about."

"Yes: I see," cried Marcus. "But--but which side has won?"

"Ah, that we are going to see, my boy, and before long too. Turn a bit
more to the right, my man," he continued, laying his hand upon the
driver's shoulder, and their direction was a trifle altered, with the
result that before long they were passing by the side of a portion of
the plain where it was evident that a desperate encounter had taken
place from the large number of ghastly relics of the engagement that lay
scattered about, spread over the space of quite a mile.

The scene was passed in silence, Marcus pressing their driver to urge on
the ponies till they were well ahead, after grasping the fact that a
stubborn stand must have been made, and that the action had been
continued onward to where they stood.

"Well," said Serge, "you see all clearly enough now, don't you, boy?"

"