Outside, the women were gathering in the plaza, with the
children about them, and the men were running from hut to hut,
warning their fellows, and arming themselves with spears and
swords, and the native bows and arrows.
"They might have waited until we had that army trained," said
Gordon,in a tone of the keenest displeasure. "Tell me, quick,
what do they generally do when they come?"
"Steal all the cattle and goats, and a woman or two, and set
fire to the huts in the outskirts," replied Stedman.
"Well, we must stop them," said Gordon, jumping up. "We must
take out a flag of truce and treat with them. They must be
kept off until I have my army in working order. It is most
inconvenient. If they had only waited two months, now, or six
weeks even, we could have done something; but now we must make
peace. Tell the King we are going out to fix things with
them, and tell him to keep off his warriors until he learns
whether we succeed or fail."
"But, Gordon!" gasped Stedman. "Albert! You don't
understand. Why, man, this isn't a street-fight or a cane-
rush. They'll stick you full of spears, dance on your body,
and eat you, maybe.
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