dexterity of practised scouts. The watchers from the plain below could see them

flit from rock to rock until their figures stood out against the skyline. The

young man who had first given the alarm was leading them. Suddenly his followers

saw him throw up his hands, as though overcome with astonishment, and on joining

him they were affected in the same way by the sight which met their eyes.

 

On the little plateau which crowned the barren hill there stood a single giant

boulder, and against this boulder there lay a tall man, long-bearded and

hard-featured, but of an excessive thinness. His placid face and regular

breathing showed that he was fast asleep.

 

Beside him lay a little child, with her round white arms encircling his brown

sinewy neck, and her golden haired head resting upon the breast of his velveteen

tunic. Her rosy lips were parted, showing the regular line of snow-white teeth

within, and a playful smile played over her infantile features. Her plump little

white legs terminating in white socks and neat shoes with shining buckles,

offered a strange contrast to the long shrivelled members of her companion. On

the ledge of rock above this strange couple there stood three solemn buzzards,

who, at the sight of the new comers uttered raucous screams of disappointment

and flapped sullenly away.

 

The cries of the foul birds awoke the two sleepers who stared about them in

bewilderment. The man staggered to his feet and looked down upon the plain which

had been so desolate when sleep had overtaken him, and which was now traversed

by this enormous body of men and of beasts.