`It’shereorhereabouts-officers’tentsunderthetrees，Itakeit，an’therestofuscanstayoutside。Havetheymarkedoutforthebaggage-wagonsbehind？’
Theycriedagaintotheircomradesinthedistance，andtheroughanswercamebackfaintandmellowed。
`Shovetheflaginhere，then，’saidone。
`Whatdotheyprepare？’saidthelama，wonderstruck。`Thisisagreatandterribleworld。Whatisthedeviceontheflag？’
Asoldierthrustastavewithinafewfeetofthem，grunteddiscontentedly，pulleditupagain，conferredwithhiscompanion，wholookedupanddowntheshadedcaveofgreenery，andreturnedit。