“Give the messenger food and have his horse seen to. I will be back at once,” I said as I gathered up my reins, and, with my archers behind me--now all suppressed excitement and with no eyes left for the scared girls who edged off the road as we came tearing along--went back full speed to the city. As we clattered through the big gates one of my orderlies shouted something to the sentry, and looking back I saw the guard tumbling out of their quarters. A minute later a thin wisp of smoke went up from the guard-house above the gate, a wisp which before long thickened to a dense black pillar, signal to the countryside that the enemy were moving. We came up the main street at a hard gallop, the pedestrians scuttling to either side at the scurry of hoofs and the shouts of my men, swung to the left up to the keep, and pulled up before the main entrance. I flung my reins to one of the men, and ran up the steps to find Kyrlos talking to Torka and Andros in the main hall. As he read the letter, I hurriedly explained the situation to Andros. “We must march at once,” said Kyrlos. “But they have many hours’ start of us, unfortunately. They can be eight or nine miles into our country before we can hope to meet them. Henga estimates them at not less than six thousand to seven thousand, and there will be more behind if this is their main force. How soon can we move, Andros?” “I gave orders yesterday for the troops to be ready to move at three hours’ notice, sir. Did you warn the camp, Harilek?” He turned to me. “Yes; Philos sounded a horn as I came away, and the men were turning out. I told my people to be ready in an hour.” “Then we can be away within the three hours, sir. Milos’s mounted troops under Stephnos must go first, and find out in which direction the enemy are heading, and then get news back to meet us along the main road. He may meet them anywhere after the sixth mile out.” By this time the alarm was sounding all round, and outside the courtyard was filling with horses as mounted man after mounted man came clattering in seeking orders from Andros. I have never seen such good methodical staff work outside a modern force. I could almost forgive Andros his plume of mauve-bound eagle feathers as I listened to his quick, incisive orders given in a cool, level tone, and watched messenger after messenger race down the steps, swing into the saddle, and away out of the gates. The man was not only a born soldier--he was that far rarer being, a born staff officer.