Winton laughed.

"Let me return the invitation. Come up, and you may read your warrants
to us all day."

Deckert withdrew his men, and at Winton's signal the track-layers
came in and the earth began to fly again.

Virginia sighed her relief, and Bessie plucked up courage to go to
the window, which she had deserted in the moment of impending battle.

"Breakfast is served," announced the waiter as calmly as if the
morning meal were the only matter of consequence in a world of
happenings.

They gathered about the table, a silent trio made presently a quartet
by the advent of Mrs. Carteret, who had neither seen nor heard
anything of the warlike episode with which the day had begun.

Mr. Darrah was late, so late that when he came in, Virginia was the
only one of the four who remained at table. She stayed to pour his
coffee and to bespeak peace.

"Uncle Somerville, can't we win without calling in these horrid men
with their guns?"

A mere shadow of a grim smile came and went in the Rajah's eyes.

"An unprejudiced outsideh might say that the 'horrid men with their