So the day wore on and night came and went and another day broke fresh, beautiful and sunshiny, and the volcano was as quiet as on the morning previous.
“What do you think of the volcano, to-day?” asked Onrai of Mr. Bruce. “Will it be advisable for me to start the men to work?”
“I think you can send them to the volcano to-day with perfect safety,” said Mr. Bruce. “The danger is past, I think, for the present, but may not be for good, for the volcano, now that it has again broken out, may become active frequently.”
“Enough,” said Onrai, “I will get the men in readiness, for they can work but a week at this time, as they will have to return to the city to celebrate the Day of Resis. All are required to be there on that day. During this week they can get well started, and upon their return they can begin where they left off. Would you like to accompany me?”
“With pleasure,” added they all in chorus, and together they started for the camp on the other side of the avenue.
The men had been up for sometime, the morning meal had been eaten and the remains cleared away, and they were now awaiting orders from the King. The party crossed the avenue and immediately upon the word being sent around the camp that the King was with them, all were attention and awaiting orders. One of the men, who seemed to have command, came forward and received orders from the King to get in readiness at once, and proceed to the cliff to begin operations. It took but a moment for the word to be sent flying around the camp, and in an instant, almost, the tents were lowered, rolled up and placed upon the backs of the zebras and elephants, and the men in line to start.
“If these men are as practical in their fighting as they are in this kind of work, what an army they would make,” said Harry, who had spent five years in one of the crack regiments of the O. N. G., and thought he understood the art of breaking camp.
“These men could be made regular fighting machines,” said Mr. Bruce. “Did you see how they fought on the nights when the negroes tried to make the attack on the villa? They stood like statues until the hot breath of the negroes were in their faces, and then their arms rose and fell like automatons, and each stroke killed its man. I never saw a cooler piece of business in my life.”
“Their great ability in this direction is to be wasted though, if such an ability can be wasted,” said Harry; “for with the crevice closed again, they will never have a chance to try their powers in this direction against invaders.”
“No,” said Mr. Bruce, “but it is far better as it is.”