"We like it not, this mode of yours--putting us in the background, out of danger, while you stand up in front," observed the officer; "we consent only because the lord Monella so desires it. They are many, but we should not shrink; and others from the king's palace would soon come to our assistance." "Yes, yes, good Abla. We have no misgivings of your courage. But you could do no good with so few men--they are more than ten to one, I hear--and your men would but impede us. Besides, it will give them a lesson for the future, if we deal with them ourselves, unaided." Abla bowed and walked away unwillingly, as one who is bound to obey orders, but does so against his will. Monella now came in view, and was soon standing by their side. After a few words of explanation, he said gravely, "They thought to have surprised us all three up here; but, when they saw they had failed in that, they took a bold course and came straight on. Now that means, in effect, an open challenge to the king. It means," he continued with increased earnestness, "civil war. Civil war, you understand, has therefore broken out in the land--unless we nip it in the bud, _here, now_, as we can, if we show no untimely hesitation. These men are scoundrels of the serpent's brood; cruel, bloodthirsty tools of the human fiends behind them. They deserve no mercy, no consideration. Let none be shown to them! My plan is simply to shoot them down the instant they appear on that ledge below us. They _must_ climb up in front; there is no way round it, nor any means of getting to the height above us. Therefore, they must cross that piece of open ground. One word more. The chief, Dakla, leads them. Do not fire at him. I wish to take him alive, if possible; he will make our best ambassador hereafter."