, or at some "touch of
that nature" which is said on very high authority, to "make the whole
world kin."

The proceedings eventually closed with a brief speech from the king, who
referred to Peterkin's remark about each man doing his duty, and said
that, "if each man did _not_ do his duty--" Here his majesty paused for
a minute, and wrought his countenance into horrible contortions,
indicative of the most excruciating agony, and wound up with an emphatic
repetition of that dire threat about the unnatural treatment of eyes,
heart, liver, and carcass, which had on the previous evening sounded so
awful in our ears, and had been treated with such profound indifference
by those whom it was specially designed to affect.

"I didn't know, Jack," observed Peterkin gravely, as we returned to our
hut, "that you were such an out-and-out humbug."

"You are severe, Peterkin. I scarcely deserve to be called a humbug for
acting to the best of my judgment in peculiar circumstances."

"Peculiar circumstances!" responded Peterkin. "Truly they have received
peculiar treatment!"

"That is as it should be," rejoined Jack; "at any rate, be they peculiar
or be they otherwise, our plans are settled and our mode of action
fixed, so we must e'en abide the issue."

CHAPTER TWENTY.

A WARLIKE EXPEDITION AND A VICTORY.

It was excessively dark that night when we set forth on our expedition.

The scout from whom we had already ascertained so much about the
intended movements of the enemy also told us that they meant to set out
at a little before midnight and march on the village by a certain route.
Indeed, it was very unlikely that they would approach by any other, as
the jungle elsewhere was so thick as to render marching, especially at
night, very difficult.

Jack therefore resolved to place the greater proportion of his troops in
ambush at the mouth of a small gully or dell a few miles from the
enemy's camp, where they were almost certain to pass. But with a degree
of caution that I thought highly creditable in so young and
inexperienced a general, he sent out a considerable number of the most
trustworthy men in advance, with instructions to proceed with the
stealth of leopards, and to bring back instant information of any change
of route on the part of the foe.

The troops placed in ambush at the dell above referred to were
Peterkin's hundred musketeers, supported by Jack's spear and bow men. I
was ordered to advance by a ci