re's something in that. But what's the good
of doing it with only the people of the campong to look on?"

"Oh, I wouldn't do it shabbily, sir. I think, in honour of Her
Majesty's birthday, Sir Charles ought to give a big banquet here, and
invite both Rajah Suleiman and Rajah Hamet to come in force with their
followers, and after the sham-fight have it all arranged that their
people shall be well feasted."

"But the expense--the expense, sir!" cried Sir Charles.

"You go on, Archie Maine," said the Major. "Capital! Hang the
expense!"

"But all these things have to be considered, sir," said the diplomat
rather coldly.

"Yes, sir; and I am considering them," said the Major. "I think the
plan's excellent. It will be killing two birds with one stone. I'll
make it so real that we shall overawe the people, and please them and
make them more friendly, at one stroke. Why, it will be worth in
prestige twenty times as much as the money it will cost."

"Then you think we ought to do it, Major?"

"Think we ought to do it, Dallas?" said the Major in astonished tones.
"Why, of course. Don't you?"

"I think it's worth consideration, certainly, but I am not for coming to
a rash decision."

"Rash!" said the Major hotly. "I don't call that rash. What is there
rash in it?"

"Several things occur to my mind," said the Resident.

"Never mind the several; let's have one," said the Major, with the
facial muscles making his moustache twitch sharply.

"Well, sir, we are few in number. Would it be wise to invite these two
Eastern princes to come here in force and well-armed, so that they could
combine and try to sweep us out of existence?"

"What! when our men are hot with excitement and ready to smell mischief
in a good sham-fight? I should just like to see them try--eh, Maine?"

"Yes, sir," said Archie, with his eyes twinkling. "I think they would
make a mistake."

"Yes," said the Major, leaning forward to give the boy a slap on the
knee that made him wince. "And what about your despised British
bayonets then--eh, sir? Eh?"

"Ah!" said the Resident thoughtfully.

"Oh, nonsense, nonsense, Sir Charles!" cried the Major. "Come, I think
this is a grand proposal, and I can only see one failing in it."

"What's that, sir?"

"That I didn't think of it myself. Why, my dear sir, it's splendid; and
I tell you what, we have got a pretty good supply in store. Our fellows
shall give them a grand _salvo_ of rockets