nities," said Sam.

"That old fellow with the long beard is Cope, the inventor of the Cope
gun. He's a wonder. He was out here in the employ of the Porsslanese
Government. Most of their artillery was designed by him. What a useful
man he has been to his country! First he invented a projectile that
could go through any steel plate then known, and all the navies had to
build new steel-clad ships on a new principle that he had invented to
prevent his projectiles from piercing them. Then what does he do, but
invent a new projectile that could go through that, and they had to
order new guns for it and build new ships to withstand it. He's done
that four times. And he's got a rifle now that will penetrate almost
anything. If you put two hundred Porsslanese of the same height in a
row it would go through all their heads at five hundred yards. I hope
they'll try the experiment before this affair is over."

The major-general had by this time exhausted all possible subjects of
conversation with his host and sat silent, and Sam felt obliged to turn
his attention to him, and was soon engaged in relating his experience
in the Cubapines. Meanwhile Cleary had been conversing with the brave
young lieutenant at his side and the reverend gentlemen beyond him.
They had been discussing the slaughter of the Porsslanese, the
lieutenant sitting back from the table while his neighbors talked
across him.

"I confess," said the Rev. Mr. Parker, "that I am not quite satisfied
with our position here. This wholesale killing of non-combatants is
revolting to me. Surely it can not be Christian."

"I have had some doubts about it too," said the young man. "I don't
mind hitting a man that hits back. I didn't object to the pig-sticking
in South Africa, and I believe that man-hunting is the best of all
sports; but this killing of people who don't resist, and even smile in
a sickly way while you do it and almost thank you--it really does go
against me."

"Yes," said Cleary, "perhaps there is something in that."

"Oh, my dear young friend!" cried the clergyman, turning toward the
lieutenant, "you don't know what joy it gives me to hear you say that.
I have spoken in this way again and again, and you are the first man I
have met who agrees with me. Won't you let your fellow officers know
what you think? It will come with so much more force from a military
man, and one of your standing as a V.C. Won't you now tell t