, "that they have to pay just as
often now, but that they have to pay bigger sums."

"Of course," cried Cleary, "you wouldn't expect our people to bother
with the little bribes the Castalians were after. We live on a larger
scale. It will do these natives good to open their eyes to a real
nation. I'm sorry any of them steal, but if they do, let 'em take a lot
and be done with it."

"We must remember that these people are only civilians," said Sam.
"What can we expect of them?"

"Our commissary and quartermaster departments aren't much better, tho,"
said Foster. "Somebody's getting rich, to judge from the prices we pay
and the stuff we get. The meat stinks, and the boots are made with glue
instead of stitches and nails."

"Then they must have been appointed from civil life," cried Sam.

"Come, Sam," said Cleary, "I'm a civilian now, and I'm not going to
have you crow over us. How about Captain Peters, who was the pet of
Whoppington and cleaned out the Deer Harbor fund?"

Sam walked on in silence.

"See here," said Foster, "I'm tired of going on foot. Let's take a cab.
Here, you fellow!"

A two-wheeled wagon with an awning, drawn by a small, shaggy horse,
drew up before them.

"There's a gentleman in it," said Sam. "We must wait for another."

"Nonsense!" cried Foster in a loud voice. "You evidently are a new
arrival. It's only one of those monkeys. Here you, sir, get out of
that!"

The native expostulated a little, shrugged his shoulders, and did as he
was told, and the three men got in.

"I'm afraid he didn't like it," said Sam.

"Didn't like it? What of it?" said Foster. "Whatever we do in uniform
is official business, and we've got to impress these fellows with our
power and make them respect us."

They drove now through some narrow streets, past various native cafes
half open to the air, where the _habitues_ were beginning to collect,
through a picturesque gate in the old city wall, and out on the
Boulevard, which was now filled with people driving and walking. It was
a gay scene, and reminded Cleary of some of the cities of the
Mediterranean which he had visited.

"They're not quite as much like Apaches as I expected," said Sam, and
neither of his friends ventured to respond.

"We haven't got time to go out to where the ships are sunk," said
Foster, "but if we drive up that hill and get out and walk up a little
farther we can see them in the distance. I'