"If that's the man-of-war that made the treaty with Messenwah,
and Messenwah turns up to-morrow, it looks as if our day would
be pretty well filled up," said Albert, as they felt their way
back to the darkness.
"What do you intend to do?" asked his secretary, with a voice
of some concern.
"I don't know," Albert answered gravely, from the blackness of
the night. "It looks as if we were getting ahead just a
little too fast, doesn't it? Well," he added, as they reached
the house, "let's try to keep in step with the procession,
even if we can't be drum-majors and walk in front of it." And
with this cheering tone of confidence in their ears, the two
diplomats went soundly asleep again.
The light of the rising sun filled the room, and the parrots
were chattering outside, when Bradley woke him again.
"They are sending a boat ashore, sir," he said, excitedly, and
filled with the importance of the occasion. "She's a German
man-of-war, and one of the new model. A beautiful boat, sir;
for her lines were laid in Glasgow, and I can tell that, no
matter what flag she flies. You had best be moving to meet
them: the village isn't awake yet.
Pages:
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72