“That’s what they came for, cheerful or not.”
“Perhaps so; but coming to do a thing and doing it are two different matters. Well, the show is over, and we may come down. Let’s go and see about getting our new quarters a little more ship-shape. I want to see what the men are doing.”
“Not yet,” said Bracy. “I want to watch these fellows back to their own men, to see what they are about.”
“You can’t tell from this distance.”
“Not much; but my glass is very powerful, and I want to try and judge from their actions what is going on yonder.”
“All right; I’ll stop with you.”
Two-thirds of the guards mounted were dismissed, and soon after, the walls and towers were pretty well deserted. The two young officers remained, however, Captain Roberts dreamily watching the wondrous panorama of snowy mountains spreading out to the north as far as the eye could reach, while Bracy sat with his double glass carefully focussed and resting upon the stone parapet, watching the departing chiefs, who strode away looking proud and haughty, and apparently without holding any communication with one another till they were well on their way, when Bracy noted that they suddenly began to talk with a good deal of animation.
Bracy kept up his watch till they reached their followers, who closed round them in a very excited way.
It was just then that Roberts roused himself from his reverie.
“Hullo, there!” he cried; “’most done? Can’t make out anything, can you?”