ity, and the mines. Stuart's place, of course, is at the Palace.
King must take care of this house and those in it, and MacWilliams and
Langham and I must look after the arms. We must organize two parties,
and they had better approach the fort from here and from the mines at
the same time. I will need you to do some telegraphing for me, Mac;
and, King, I must ask you for some more men from the yacht. How many
have you?"

King answered that there were fifteen men still on board, ten of whom
would be of service. He added that they were all well equipped for
fighting.

"I believe King's a pirate in business hours," Clay said, smiling.
"All right, that's good. Now go tell ten of them to meet me at the
round-house in half an hour. I will get MacWilliams to telegraph
Kirkland to run an engine and flat cars to within a half mile of the
fort on the north, and we will come up on it with the sailors and Ted,
here, from the south. You must run the engine yourself, MacWilliams,
and perhaps it would be better, King, if your men joined us at the foot
of the grounds here and not at the round-house. None of the workmen
must see our party start. Do you agree with me?" he asked, turning to
those in the group about him. "Has anybody any criticism to make?"

Stuart and King looked at one another ruefully and laughed. "I don't
see what good I am doing in town," protested Stuart. "Yes, and I don't
see where I come in, either," growled King, in aggrieved tones. "These
youngsters can't do it all; besides I ought to have charge of my own
men."

"Mutiny," said Clay, in some perplexity, "rank mutiny. Why, it's only
a picnic. There are but three men there. We don't need sixteen white
men to frighten off three Olanchoans."

"I'll tell you what to do," cried Hope, with the air of having
discovered a plan which would be acceptable to every one, "let's all
go."

"Well, I certainly mean to go," said Mr. Langham, decidedly. "So some
one else must stay here. Ted, you will have to look after your
sisters."

The son and heir smiled upon his parent with a look of affectionate
wonder, and shook his head at him in fond and pitying disapproval.

"I'll stay," said King. "I have never seen such ungallant conduct.
Ladies," he said, "I will protect your lives and property, and we'll
invent something exciting to do ourselves, even if we have to bombard
the Capital."

The men bade the women good-night, and left them with King and Mr.
L