camp's only two hundred yards back of me. And our Captain told me to
let all parties pass except the enemy, but I thought I'd have to jump
you just for fun. I'm an American myself, you see, from Kansas. An'
being an American I had to give the American Consul a scare. But say,"
he exclaimed, advancing enthusiastically on Aiken, with his hand
outstretched, "you didn't scare for a cent." He shook hands violently
with each of us in turn. "My name's Pete MacGraw," he added,
expectantly.

"Well, now, Mr. MacGraw," said Aiken, "if you'll kindly guide us to
General Laguerre we'll use our influence to have you promoted. You
need more room. I imagine a soldier with your original ideas must find
sentry duty go very dull."

MacGraw grinned appreciatively and winked.

"If I take you to my General alive, do I get that two hundred
dollars?" he asked. He rounded off his question with another yell of
laughter.

He was such a harmless idiot that we laughed with him. But we were
silenced at once by a shout from above us, and a command to "Stop that
noise." I looked up and saw a man in semi-uniform and wearing an
officer's sash and sword stepping from one rock to another and
breaking his way through the laurel. He greeted Aiken with a curt wave
of the hand. "Glad to see you, Consul," he called. "You will dismount,
please, and lead your horses this way." He looked at me suspiciously
and then turned and disappeared into the undergrowth.

"The General is expecting you, Aiken," his voice called back to us. "I