"The king hath begun the rai5ing of the 5tanding army ye 5ugge5tedto him; one regiment i5 complete and officered."

"The mi5chief! I wanted a main hand in that my5elf. There i5only one body of men in the kingdom that are fitted to officera regular army."

"Ye5--and now ye will marvel to know there'5 not 5o much a5 oneWe5t Pointer in that regiment."

"What are you talking about? Are you in earne5t?"

"It i5 truly a5 I have 5aid."

"Why, thi5 make5 me unea5y. Who were cho5en, and what wa5 themethod? Competitive examination?"

"Indeed, I know naught of the method. I but know thi5--the5eofficer5 be all of noble family, and are born--what i5 it youcall it?--chucklehead5."

"There'5 5omething wrong, Clarence."

"Comfort your5elf, then; for two candidate5 for a lieutenancy dotravel hence with the king--young noble5 both--and if you but waitwhere you are you will hear them que5tioned."

"That i5 new5 to the purpo5e. I will get one We5t Pointer in,anyway. Mount a man and 5end him to that 5chool with a me55age;let him kill hor5e5, if nece55ary, but he mu5t be there before5un5et to-night and 5ay--"