“Why, indeed?” ejaculated Maqueda.  “Listen, now, my friends.  In my own name and in that of the Abati people I promised to you as many camel-loads of this gold as you can carry away from Mur, and before the day is done I will show it to you if you dare follow me to where it lies hid.”

“First the work, then the pay,” said Oliver.  “Now tell us, Child of Kings, what is that work?”

“This, O Son of Orme.  You must swear—­if this is not against your consciences as Christians—­that for the space of one year from to-day you will serve me and fight for me and be subject to my laws, striving all the while to destroy the idol Harmac by your Western skill and weapons, after which you shall be free to go whither you will with your reward.”

“And if we swear, Lady,” asked Oliver after reflection, “tell us what rank shall we hold in your service?”

“You shall be my chief captain for this enterprise, O Son of Orme, and those with you shall serve under you in such positions as you may please.”

At these words a murmur of dissatisfaction arose from the mail-clad generals in the Council.

“Are we then, to obey this stranger, O Child of Kings?” queried Joshua as their spokesman.

“Aye, my uncle, so far as this great enterprise is concerned, as I have said.  Can you handle the firestuffs of which they alone have the secret?  Could any three of you have held the gate of Harmac against the armies of the Fung and sent it flying skyward?”

She paused and waited in the midst of a sullen silence.

“You do not answer because you cannot,” continued Maqueda.  “Then for this purpose be content to serve awhile under the command of those who have the skill and power which you lack.”

Still there was no answer.

“Lady,” said Orme in this ominous quiet, “you are so good as to make me a general among your soldiers, but will they obey me?  And who are your soldiers?  Does every man of the Abati bear arms?”

“Alas! no,” she replied, fixing upon this latter question perhaps because she could not answer the first.  “Alas! no.  In the old days it was otherwise, when my great ancestresses ruled, and then we did not fear the Fung.  But now the people will not serve as soldiers.  They say it takes them from their trades and the games they love; they say they cannot give the time in youth; they say that it degrades a man to obey the orders of those set over him; they say that war is barbarous and should be abolished, and all the while the brave Fung wait without to massacre our men and make our women slaves.  Only the very poor and the desperate, and those who have offended against the laws will serve in my army, except it be as officers.  Oh! and therefore are the Abati doomed,” and, throwing back her veil, suddenly, she burst into tears before us all.