Itwasonlyoneofthesmallpartsofthetrainingwhichhadquietlymadetheboy，evenasachild，self-controlledandcourteous，hadtaughthimeaseandgraceofboyishcarriage，thehabitofholdinghisbodywellandhisheaderect，andhadgivenhimacertainlookofyoungdistinctionwhich，thoughitassumednothing，sethimapartfromboysofcarelesslyawkwardbearing。
``Isthereanewspaperherewhichtellsofthebattle，Lazarus？\'\'
heasked，afterhehadleftthetable。
``Yes，sir，\'\'wastheanswer。``Yourfathersaidthatyoumightreadit。Itisablacktale！\'\'headded，ashehandedhimthepaper。
Itwasablacktale。Asheread，Marcofeltasifhecouldscarcelybearit。ItwasasifSamaviaswaminblood，andasiftheothercountriesmuststandaghastbeforesuchfuriouscruelties。
``Lazarus，\'\'hesaid，springingtohisfeetatlast，hiseyesburning，``somethingmuststopit！Theremustbesomethingstrongenough。
Thetimehascome。Thetimehascome。\'\'Andhewalkedupanddowntheroombecausehewastooexcitedtostandstill。
HowLazaruswatchedhim！Whatastrongandglowingfeelingtherewasinhisownrestrainedface！
``Yes，sir。Surelythetimehascome，\'\'heanswered。Butthatwasallhesaid，andheturnedandwentoutoftheshabbybacksitting-roomatonce。Itwasasifhefeltitwerewisertogobeforehelostpoweroverhimselfandsaidmore。
Marcomadehiswaytothemeeting-placeoftheSquad，towhichTheRathadinthepastgiventhenameoftheBarracks。TheRatwassittingamonghisfollowers，andhehadbeenreadingthemorningpapertothem，theonewhichcontainedtheaccountofthebattleofMelzarr。TheSquadhadbecometheSecretParty，andeachmemberofitwasthrilledwiththespiritofdarkplotandadventure。Theyallwhisperedwhentheyspoke。
``ThisisnottheBarracksnow，\'\'TheRatsaid。``Itisasubterraneancavern。Underthefloorofitthousandsofswordsandgunsareburied，anditispiledtotheroofwiththem。
Thereisonlyasmallplaceleftforustositandplotin。Wecrawlinthroughahole，andtheholeishiddenbybushes。\'\'
Totherestoftheboysthiswasonlyanexcitinggame，butMarcoknewthattoTheRatitwasmore。ThoughTheRatknewnoneofthethingsheknew，hesawthatthewholestoryseemedtohimarealthing。ThestrugglesofSamavia，ashehadheardandreadoftheminthenewspapers，hadtakenpossessionofhim。Hispassionforsoldieringandwarfareandhiscuriouslymaturebrainhadledhimintofollowingeverydetailhecouldlayholdof。Hehadlistenedtoallhehadheardwithremarkableresults。Herememberedthingsolderpeopleforgotaftertheyhadmentionedthem。Heforgotnothing。HehaddrawnontheflagstonesamapofSamaviawhichMarcosawwasactuallycorrect，andhehadmadearoughsketchofMelzarrandthebattlewhichhadhadsuchdisastrousresults。
``TheMaranovitchhadpossessionofMelzarr，\'\'heexplainedwithfeverisheagerness。``AndtheIarovitchattackedthemfromhere，\'\'pointingwithhisfinger。``Thatwasamistake。I
shouldhaveattackedthemfromaplacewheretheywouldnothavebeenexpectingit。Theyexpectedattackontheirfortifications，andtheywerereadytodefendthem。Ibelievetheenemycouldhavestolenupinthenightandrushedinhere，\'\'pointingagain。
Marcothoughthewasright。TheRathadargueditallout，andhadstudiedMelzarrashemighthavestudiedapuzzleoranarithmeticalproblem。Hewasveryclever，andassharpashisqueerfacelooked。
``Ibelieveyouwouldmakeagoodgeneralifyouweregrownup，\'\'
saidMarco。``I\'dliketoshowyourmapstomyfatherandaskhimifhedoesn\'tthinkyourstratagemwouldhavebeenagoodone。\'\'
``DoesheknowmuchaboutSamavia？\'\'askedTheRat。
``Hehastoreadthenewspapersbecausehewritesthings，\'\'Marcoanswered。``Andeveryoneisthinkingaboutthewar。Noonecanhelpit。\'\'
TheRatdrewadingy，foldedpaperoutofhispocketandlookeditoverwithanairofreflection。
``I\'llmakeacleanone，\'\'hesaid。``I\'dlikeagrown-upmantolookatitandseeifit\'sallright。Myfatherwasmorethanhalf-drunkwhenIwasdrawingthis，soIcouldn\'taskhimquestions。He\'llkillhimselfbeforelong。Hehadasortoffitlastnight。\'\'
``Tellus，Rat，wotyouan\'Marco\'ll\'aveterdo。Let\'s\'earwotyou\'vemadeup，\'\'suggestedCad。Hedrewcloser，andsodidtherestofthecircle，huggingtheirkneeswiththeirarms。
``Thisiswhatweshallhavetodo，\'\'beganTheRat，inthehollowwhisperofaSecretParty。``THEHOURHASCOME。ToalltheSecretOnesinSamavia，andtothefriendsoftheSecretPartyineverycountry，thesignmustbecarried。Itmustbecarriedbysomeonewhocouldnotbesuspected。Whowouldsuspecttwoboys——andoneofthemacripple？ThebestthingofallforusisthatIamacripple。Whowouldsuspectacripple？
Whenmyfatherisdrunkandbeatsme，hedoesitbecauseIwon\'tgooutandbeginthestreetsandbringhimthemoneyIget。Hesaysthatpeoplewillnearlyalwaysgivemoneytoacripple。I
won\'tbeabeggarforhim——theswine——butIwillbeoneforSamaviaandtheLostPrince。Marcoshallpretendtobemybrotherandtakecareofme。Isay，\'\'speakingtoMarcowithasuddenchangeofvoice，``canyousinganything？Itdoesn\'tmatterhowyoudoit。\'\'
``Yes，Icansing，\'\'Marcoreplied。
``ThenMarcowillpretendheissingingtomakepeoplegivehimmoney。I\'llgetapairofcrutchessomewhere，andpartofthetimeIwillgooncrutchesandpartofthetimeonmyplatform。
We\'lllivelikebeggarsandgowhereverwewantto。Icanwhizpastamanandgivethesignandnoonewillknow。SometimesMarcocangiveitwhenpeoplearedroppingmoneyintohiscap。
WecanpassfromonecountrytoanotherandrouseeverybodywhoisoftheSecretParty。We\'llworkourwayintoSamavia，andwe\'llbeonlytwoboys——andoneacripple——andnobodywillthinkwecouldbedoinganything。We\'llbegingreatcitiesandonthehighroad。\'\'
``Where\'llyougetthemoneytotravel？\'\'saidCad。
``TheSecretPartywillgiveittous，andwesha\'n\'tneedmuch。
Wecouldbegenough，forthatmatter。We\'llsleepunderthestars，orunderbridges，orarchways，orindarkcornersofstreets。I\'vedoneitmyselfmanyatimewhenmyfatherdrovemeoutofdoors。Ifit\'scoldweather，it\'sbadenoughbutifit\'sfineweather，it\'sbetterthansleepinginthekindofplaceI\'musedto。Comrade，\'\'toMarco，``areyouready？\'\'
Hesaid``Comrade\'\'asLoristandid，andsomehowMarcodidnotresentit，becausehewasreadytolaborforSamavia。Itwasonlyagame，butitmadethemcomrades——andwasitreallyonlyagame，afterall？Hisexcitedvoiceandhisstrange，linedfacemadeitsingularlyunlikeone。
``Yes，Comrade，Iamready，\'\'Marcoansweredhim。
``WeshallbeinSamaviawhenthefightingfortheLostPrincebegins。\'\'TheRatcarriedonhisstorywithfire。``Wemayseeabattle。Wemightdosomethingtohelp。Wemightcarrymessagesunderarainofbullets——arainofbullets！\'\'Thethoughtsoelatedhimthatheforgothiswhisperandhisvoicerangoutfiercely。``Boyshavebeeninbattlesbefore。WemightfindtheLostKing——no，theFoundKing——andaskhimtoletusbehisservants。Hecouldsenduswherehecouldn\'tsendbiggerpeople。Icouldsaytohim，`YourMajesty，Iamcalled``TheRat，\'\'becauseIcancreepthroughholesandintocornersanddartabout。OrdermeintoanydangerandIwillobeyyou。LetmedielikeasoldierifIcan\'tlivelikeone。\'\'\'
Suddenlyhethrewhisraggedcoatsleeveupacrosshiseyes。Hehadwroughthimselfuptremendouslywiththepictureoftherainofbullets。AndhefeltasifhesawtheKingwhohadatlastbeenfound。Thenextmomentheuncoveredhisface。
``That\'swhatwe\'vegottodo，\'\'hesaid。``Justthat，ifyouwanttoknow。Andalotmore。There\'snoendtoit！\'\'
Marco\'sthoughtswereinawhirl。Itoughtnottobenothingbutagame。Hegrewquitehotallover。IftheSecretPartywantedtosendmessengersnoonewouldthinkofsuspecting，whocouldbemoreharmless-lookingthantwovagabondboyswanderingaboutpickinguptheirlivingasbesttheycould，notseemingtobelongtoanyone？Andoneacripple。Itwastrue——yes，itwastrue，asTheRatsaid，thathisbeingacripplemadehimlooksaferthananyoneelse。Marcoactuallyputhisforeheadinhishandsandpressedhistemples。
``What\'sthematter？\'\'exclaimedTheRat。``Whatareyouthinkingabout？\'\'
``I\'mthinkingwhatageneralyouwouldmake。I\'mthinkingthatitmightallbereal——everywordofit。Itmightn\'tbeagameatall，\'\'saidMarco。
``No，itmightn\'t，\'\'TheRatanswered。``IfIknewwheretheSecretPartywas，I\'dliketogoandtellthemaboutit。What\'sthat！\'\'hesaid，suddenlyturninghisheadtowardthestreet。
``Whataretheycallingout？\'\'
Somenewsboywithaparticularlyshrillvoicewasshoutingoutsomethingatthetopmostofhislungs。
Tenseandexcited，nomemberofthecirclestirredorspokeforafewseconds。TheRatlistened，Marcolistened，thewholeSquadlistened，prickinguptheirears。
``StartlingnewsfromSamavia，\'\'thenewsboywasshrillingout。
``Amazingstory！DescendantoftheLostPrincefound！
DescendantoftheLostPrincefound！\'\'
``Anychapgotapenny？\'\'snappedTheRat，beginningtoshuffletowardthearchedpassage。
``Ihave！\'\'answeredMarco，followinghim。
``Comeon！\'\'TheRatyelled。``Let\'sgoandgetapaper！\'\'Andhewhizzeddownthepassagewithhisswiftestrat-likedart，whiletheSquadfollowedhim，shoutingandtumblingovereachother。
IX
``ITISNOTAGAME\'\'
Loristanwalkedslowlyupanddownthebacksitting-roomandlistenedtoMarco，whosatbythesmallfireandtalked。
``Goon，\'\'hesaid，whenevertheboystopped。``Iwanttohearitall。He\'sastrangelad，andit\'sasplendidgame。\'\'
Marcowastellinghimthestoryofhissecondandthirdvisitstotheinclosurebehindthedesertedchurch-yard。Hehadbegunatthebeginning，andhisfatherhadlistenedwithadeepinterest。
Ayearlater，Marcorecalledthiseveningasathrillingmemory，andasonewhichwouldneverpassawayfromhimthroughouthislife。Hewouldalwaysbeabletocallitallback。Thesmallanddingybackroom，thedimnessoftheonepoorgas-burner，whichwasalltheycouldaffordtolight，theironboxpushedintothecornerwithitsmapsandplanslockedsafelyinit，theerectbearingandactualbeautyofthetallform，whichtheshabbinessofwornandmendedclothescouldnothideordim。NotevenragsandtatterscouldhavemadeLoristanseeminsignificantorundistinguished。Hewasalwaysthesame。Hiseyesseemeddarkerandmorewonderfulthaneverintheirremotethoughtfulnessandinterestashespoke。
``Goon，\'\'hesaid。``Itisasplendidgame。Anditiscurious。
Hehasthoughtitoutwell。Theladisabornsoldier。\'\'
``Itisnotagametohim，\'\'Marcosaid。``Anditisnotagametome。TheSquadisonlyplaying，butwithhimit\'squitedifferent。Heknowshe\'llneverreallygetwhathewants，buthefeelsasifthiswassomethingnearit。HesaidImightshowyouthemaphemade。Father，lookatit。\'\'
HegaveLoristanthecleancopyofTheRat\'smapofSamavia。ThecityofMelzarrwasmarkedwithcertainsigns。TheyweretoshowatwhatpointsTheRat——ifhehadbeenaSamaviangeneral——wouldhaveattackedthecapital。AsMarcopointedthemout，heexplainedTheRat\'sreasonsforhisplanning。
Loristanheldthepaperforsomeminutes。Hefixedhiseyesonitcuriously，andhisblackbrowsdrewthemselvestogether。
``Thisisverywonderful！\'\'hesaidatlast。``Heisquiteright。Theymighthavegotinthere，andfortheveryreasonshehiton。
Howdidhelearnallthis？\'\'
``Hethinksofnothingelsenow，\'\'answeredMarco。``Hehasalwaysthoughtofwarsandmadeplansforbattles。He\'snotliketherestoftheSquad。Hisfatherisnearlyalwaysdrunk，butheisverywelleducated，and，whenheisonlyhalfdrunk，helikestotalk。
TheRataskshimquestionsthen，andleadshimonuntilhefindsoutagreatdeal。Thenhebegsoldnewspapers，andhehideshimselfincornersandlistenstowhatpeoplearesaying。Hesaysheliesawakeatnightthinkingitout，andhethinksaboutitalltheday。ThatwaswhyhegotuptheSquad。\'\'
Loristanhadcontinuedexaminingthepaper。
``Tellhim，\'\'hesaid，whenherefoldedandhandeditback，``thatIstudiedhismap，andhemaybeproudofit。Youmayalsotellhim——\'\'andhesmiledquietlyashespoke——``thatinmyopinionheisright。TheIarovitchwouldhaveheldMelzarrto-dayifhehadledthem。\'\'
Marcowasfullofexultation。
``Ithoughtyouwouldsayhewasright。Ifeltsureyouwould。
Thatiswhatmakesmewanttotellyoutherest，\'\'hehurriedon。
``Ifyouthinkheisrightabouttheresttoo——\'\'Hestoppedawkwardlybecauseofasuddenwildthoughtwhichrusheduponhim。
``Idon\'tknowwhatyouwillthink，\'\'hestammered。``Perhapsitwillseemtoyouasifthegame——asifthatpartofitcould——couldonlybeagame。\'\'
HewassoferventinspiteofhishesitationthatLoristanbegantowatchhimwithsympatheticrespect，ashealwaysdidwhentheboywastryingtoexpresssomethinghewasnotsureof。OneofthegreatbondsbetweenthemwasthatLoristanwasalwaysinterestedinhisboyishmentalprocesses——inthewayinwhichhisthoughtsledhimtoanyconclusion。
``Goon，\'\'hesaidagain。``IamlikeTheRatandIamlikeyou。
Ithasnotseemedquitelikeagametome，sofar。\'\'
Hesatdownatthewriting-tableandMarco，inhiseagerness，drewnearerandleanedagainstit，restingonhisarmsandloweringhisvoice，thoughitwasalwaystheirhabittospeakatsuchapitchthatnooneoutsidetheroomtheywereincoulddistinguishwhattheysaid。
``ItisTheRat\'splanforgivingthesignalforaRising，\'\'hesaid。
Loristanmadeaslightmovement。
``DoeshethinktherewillbeaRising？\'\'heasked。
``HesaysthatmustbewhattheSecretPartyhasbeenpreparingforalltheseyears。Anditmustcomesoon。Theothernationsseethatthefightingmustbeputanendtoeveniftheyhavetostopitthemselves。AndiftherealKingisfound——butwhenTheRatboughtthenewspapertherewasnothinginitaboutwherehewas。
Itwasonlyasortofrumor。Nobodyseemedtoknowanything。\'\'
Hestoppedafewseconds，buthedidnotutterthewordswhichwereinhismind。Hedidnotsay：``ButYOUknow。\'\'
``AndTheRathasaplanforgivingthesignal？\'\'Loristansaid。
Marcoforgothisfirstfeelingofhesitation。HebegantoseetheplanagainashehadseenitwhenTheRattalked。HebegantospeakasTheRathadspoken，forgettingthatitwasagame。
HemadeevenaclearerpicturethanTheRathadmadeofthetwovagabondboys——oneofthemacripple——makingtheirwayfromoneplacetoanother，quitefreetocarrymessagesorwarningswheretheychose，becausetheyweresoinsignificantandpoor-lookingthatnoonecouldthinkofthemasanythingbutwaifsandstrays，belongingtonobodyandblownaboutbythewindofpovertyandchance。Hefeltasifhewantedtoconvincehisfatherthattheplanwasapossibleone。Hedidnotquiteknowwhyhefeltsoanxioustowinhisapprovalofthescheme——asifitwerereal——asifitcouldactuallybedone。Butthisfeelingwaswhatinspiredhimtoenterintonewdetailsandsuggestpossibilities。
``Aboywhowasacrippleandonewhowasonlyastreetsingerandasortofbeggarcouldgetalmostanywhere，\'\'hesaid。
``Soldierswouldlistentoasingerifhesanggoodsongs——andtheymightnotbeafraidtotalkbeforehim。AstrollingsingerandacripplewouldperhapshearagreatmanythingsitmightbeusefulfortheSecretPartytoknow。Theymightevenhearimportantthings。Don\'tyouthinkso？\'\'
Beforehehadgonefarwithhisstory，thefarawaylookhadfallenuponLoristan\'sface——thelookMarcohadknownsowellallhislife。Hesatturnedalittlesidewisefromtheboy，hiselbowrestingonthetableandhisforeheadonhishand。Helookeddownattheworncarpetathisfeet，andsohelookedashelistenedtotheend。ItwasasifsomenewthoughtwereslowlygrowinginhismindasMarcowentontalkingandenlargingonTheRat\'splan。Hedidnotevenlookuporchangehispositionasheanswered，``Yes。Ithinkso。\'\'
But，becauseofthedeepandgrowingthoughtinhisface，Marco\'scourageincreased。Hisfirstfearthatthispartoftheplanningmightseemsoboldandrecklessthatitwouldonlyappeartobelongtoaboyishgame，graduallyfadedawayforsomestrangereason。HisfatherhadsaidthatthefirstpartofTheRat\'simaginingshadnotseemedquitelikeagametohim，andnow——evennow——hewasnotlisteningasifhewerelisteningtothedetailsofmereexaggeratedfancies。Itwasasifthethinghewashearingwasnotwildlyimpossible。Marco\'sknowledgeofContinentalcountriesandofmethodsofjourneyinghelpedhimtoenterintomuchdetailandgiverealismtohisplans。
``SometimeswecouldpretendweknewnothingbutEnglish，\'\'hesaid。``Then，thoughTheRatcouldnotunderstand，Icould。I
shouldalwaysunderstandineachcountry。Iknowthecitiesandtheplacesweshouldwanttogoto。Iknowhowboyslikeuslive，andsoweshouldnotdoanythingwhichwouldmakethepoliceangryormakepeoplenoticeus。Ifanyoneaskedquestions，IwouldletthembelievethatIhadmetTheRatbychance，andwehadmadeupourmindstotraveltogetherbecausepeoplegavemoremoneytoaboywhosangifhewaswithacripple。TherewasaboywhousedtoplaytheguitarinthestreetsofRome，andhealwayshadalamegirlwithhim，andeveryoneknewitwasforthatreason。Whenheplayed，peoplelookedatthegirlandweresorryforherandgavehersoldi。
Youremember。\'\'
``Yes，Iremember。Andwhatyousayistrue，\'\'Loristananswered。
Marcoleanedforwardacrossthetablesothathecameclosertohim。Thetoneinwhichthewordsweresaidmadehiscourageleaplikeaflame。Tobeallowedtogoonwiththisboldnesswastofeelthathewasbeingtreatedalmostasifhewereaman。Ifhisfatherhadwishedtostophim，hecouldhavedoneitwithonequietglance，withoututteringaword。Forsomewonderfulreasonhedidnotwishhimtoceasetalking。Hewaswillingtohearwhathehadtosay——hewaseveninterested。
``Youaregrowingolder，\'\'hehadsaidthenighthehadrevealedthemarveloussecret。``Silenceisstilltheorder，butyouaremanenoughtobetoldmore。\'\'
WashemanenoughtobethoughtworthytohelpSamaviainanysmallway——evenwithboyishfancieswhichmightcontainagermofsomethoughtwhicholderandwisermindsmightmakeuseful？Washebeinglistenedtobecausetheplan，madeaspartofagame，wasnotanimpossibleone——iftwoboyswhocouldbetrustedcouldbefound？Hecaughtadeepbreathashewenton，drawingstillnearerandspeakingsolowthathistonewasalmostawhisper。
``IfthemenoftheSecretPartyhavebeenworkingandthinkingforsomanyyears——theyhavepreparedeverything。Theyknowbythistimeexactlywhatmustbedonebythemessengerswhoaretogivethesignal。Theycantellthemwheretogoandhowtoknowthesecretfriendswhomustbewarned。Iftheorderscouldbewrittenandgivento——tosomeonewhohas——whohaslearnedtorememberthings！\'\'Hehadbeguntobreathesoquicklythathestoppedforamoment。
Loristanlookedup。Helookeddirectlyintohiseyes。
``SomeonewhohasbeenTRAINEDtorememberthings？\'\'hesaid。
``Someonewhohasbeentrained，\'\'Marcowenton，catchinghisbreathagain。``Someonewhodoesnotforget——whowouldneverforget——never！Thatone，evenifhewereonlytwelve——evenifhewereonlyten——couldgoanddoashewastold。\'\'Loristanputhishandonhisshoulder。
``Comrade，\'\'hesaid，``youarespeakingasifyouwerereadytogoyourself。\'\'
Marco\'seyeslookedbravelystraightintohis，buthesaidnotoneword。
``Doyouknowwhatitwouldmean，Comrade？\'\'hisfatherwenton。
``Youareright。Itisnotagame。Andyouarenotthinkingofitasone。Buthaveyouthoughthowitwouldbeifsomethingbetrayedyou——andyouweresetupagainstawalltobeSHOT？\'\'
Marcostoodupquitestraight。Hetriedtobelievehefeltthewallagainsthisback。
``IfIwereshot，IshouldbeshotforSamavia，\'\'hesaid。``AndforYOU，Father。\'\'
Evenashewasspeaking，thefrontdoor-bellrangandLazarusevidentlyopenedit。Hespoketosomeone，andthentheyheardhisfootstepsapproachingthebacksitting-room。
``Openthedoor，\'\'saidLoristan，andMarcoopenedit。
``Thereisaboywhoisacripplehere，sir，\'\'theoldsoldiersaid。``HeaskedtoseeMasterMarco。\'\'
``IfitisTheRat，\'\'saidLoristan，``bringhiminhere。Iwishtoseehim。\'\'
Marcowentdownthepassagetothefrontdoor。TheRatwasthere，buthewasnotuponhisplatform。Hewasleaninguponanoldpairofcrutches，andMarcothoughthelookedwildandstrange。Hewaswhite，andsomehowthelinesofhisfaceseemedtwistedinanewway。Marcowonderedifsomethinghadfrightenedhim，orifhefeltill。
``Rat，\'\'hebegan，``myfather——\'\'
``I\'vecometotellyouaboutMYfather，\'\'TheRatbrokeinwithoutwaitingtoheartherest，andhisvoicewasasstrangeashispaleface。``Idon\'tknowwhyI\'vecome，butI——Ijustwantedto。He\'sdead！\'\'
``Yourfather？\'\'Marcostammered。``He\'s——\'\'
``He\'sdead，\'\'TheRatansweredshakily。``Itoldyouhe\'dkillhimself。Hehadanotherfitandhediedinit。Iknewhewould，oneofthesedays。Itoldhimso。Heknewhewouldhimself。I
stayedwithhimtillhewasdead——andthenIgotaburstingheadacheandIfeltsick——andIthoughtaboutyou。\'\'
Marcomadeajumpathimbecausehesawhewassuddenlyshakingasifheweregoingtofall。Hewasjustintime，andLazarus，whohadbeenlookingonfromthebackofthepassage，cameforward。Togethertheyheldhimup。
``I\'mnotgoingtofaint，\'\'hesaidweakly，``butIfeltasifI
was。Itwasabadfit，andIhadtotryandholdhim。Iwasallbymyself。Thepeopleintheotheratticthoughthewasonlydrunk，andtheywouldn\'tcomein。He\'slyingonthefloorthere，dead。\'\'
``Comeandseemyfather，\'\'Marcosaid。``He\'lltelluswhatdodo。Lazarus，helphim。\'\'
``Icangetonbymyself，\'\'saidTheRat。``Doyouseemycrutches？Ididsomethingforapawnbrokerlastnight，andhegavethemtomeforpay。\'\'
Butthoughhetriedtospeakcarelessly，hehadplainlybeenhorriblyshakenandoverwrought。Hisqueerfacewasyellowishwhitestill，andhewastremblingalittle。
Marcoledthewayintothebacksitting-room。InthemidstofitsshabbygloomandunderthedimlightLoristanwasstandinginoneofhisstill，attentiveattitudes。Hewaswaitingforthem。
``Father，thisisTheRat，\'\'theboybegan。TheRatstoppedshortandrestedonhiscrutches，staringatthetall，reposefulfigurewithwidenedeyes。
``Isthatyourfather？\'\'hesaidtoMarco。Andthenadded，withajerkyhalf-laugh，``He\'snotmuchlikemine，ishe？\'\'
X
THERAT——ANDSAMAVIA
WhatTheRatthoughtwhenLoristanbegantospeaktohim，Marcowondered。Suddenlyhestoodinanunknownworld，anditwasLoristanwhomadeitsobecauseitspovertyandshabbinesshadnopowertotouchhim。Helookedattheboywithcalmandcleareyes，heaskedhimpracticalquestionsgently，anditwasplainthatheunderstoodmanythingswithoutaskingquestionsatall。
Marcothoughtthatperhapshehad，atsometime，seendrunkenmendie，inhislifeinstrangeplaces。HeseemedtoknowtheterriblenessofthenightthroughwhichTheRathadpassed。Hemadehimsitdown，andheorderedLazarustobringhimsomehotcoffeeandsimplefood。
``Haven\'thadabitesinceyesterday，\'\'TheRatsaid，stillstaringathim。``HowdidyouknowIhadn\'t？\'\'
``Youhavenothadtime，\'\'Loristananswered。
Afterwardhemadehimliedownonthesofa。
``Lookatmyclothes，\'\'saidTheRat。
``Liedownandsleep，\'\'Loristanreplied，puttinghishandonhisshoulderandgentlyforcinghimtowardthesofa。``Youwillsleepalongtime。Youmusttellmehowtofindtheplacewhereyourfatherdied，andIwillseethattheproperauthoritiesarenotified。\'\'
``Whatareyoudoingitfor？\'\'TheRatasked，andthenheadded，``sir。\'\'
``BecauseIamamanandyouareaboy。Andthisisaterriblething，\'\'Loristanansweredhim。
Hewentawaywithoutsayingmore，andTheRatlayonthesofastaringatthewallandthinkingaboutituntilhefellasleep。
But，beforethishappened，Marcohadquietlylefthimalone。So，asLoristanhadtoldhimhewould，hesleptdeeplyandlong；infact，hesleptthroughallthenight。
Whenheawakeneditwasmorning，andLazaruswasstandingbythesideofthesofalookingdownathim。
``Youwillwanttomakeyourselfclean，\'\'hesaid。``Itmustbedone。\'\'
``Clean！\'\'saidTheRat，withhissqueakylaugh。``Icouldn\'tkeepcleanwhenIhadaroomtolivein，andnowwhereamItowashmyself？\'\'Hesatupandlookedabouthim。
``Givememycrutches，\'\'hesaid。``I\'vegottogo。They\'veletmesleephereallnight。Theydidn\'tturnmeintothestreet。I
don\'tknowwhytheydidn\'t。Marco\'sfather——he\'stherightsort。
Helookslikeaswell。\'\'
``TheMaster，\'\'saidLazarus，witharigidmanner，``theMasterisagreatgentleman。Hewouldturnnotiredcreatureintothestreet。Heandhissonarepoor，buttheyareofthosewhogive。
Hedesirestoseeandtalktoyouagain。YouaretohavebreadandcoffeewithhimandtheyoungMaster。ButitisIwhotellyouthatyoucannotsitattablewiththemuntilyouareclean。
Comewithme，\'\'andhehandedhimhiscrutches。Hismannerwasauthoritative，butitwasthemannerofasoldier；hissomewhatstiffanderectmovementswerethoseofasoldier，also，andTheRatlikedthembecausetheymadehimfeelasifhewereinbarracks。Hedidnotknowwhatwasgoingtohappen，buthegotupandfollowedhimonhiscrutches。
Lazarustookhimtoaclosetunderthestairswhereabatteredtinbathwasalreadyfullofhotwater，whichtheoldsoldierhimselfhadbroughtinpails。Thereweresoapandcoarse，cleantowelsonawoodenchair，andalsotherewasamuchwornbutcleanlysuitofclothes。
``Puttheseonwhenyouhavebathed，\'\'Lazarusordered，pointingtothem。``TheybelongtotheyoungMasterandwillbelargeforyou，buttheywillbebetterthanyourown。\'\'Andthenhewentoutoftheclosetandshutthedoor。
ItwasanewexperienceforTheRat。Solongasheremembered，hehadwashedhisfaceandhands——whenhehadwashedthematall——atanirontapsetinthewallofabackstreetorcourtinsomeslum。Hisfatherandhimselfhadlongagosunkintotheworldwheretowashone\'sselfisnotapartofevery-daylife。
Theyhadlivedamiddirtandfoulness，andwhenhisfatherhadbeeninamaudlinstate，hehadsometimescriedandtalkedofthelong-pastdayswhenhehadshavedeverymorningandputonacleanshirt。
Tostandeveninthemostbatteredoftinbathsfullofcleanhotwaterandtosplashandscrubwithabigpieceofflannelandplentyofsoapwasamarvelousthing。TheRat\'stiredbodyrespondedtothenoveltywithacuriousfeelingoffreshnessandcomfort。
``Idaresayswellsdothiseveryday，\'\'hemuttered。``I\'ddoitmyselfifIwasaswell。Soldiershavetokeepthemselvessocleantheyshine。\'\'
When，aftermakingthemostofhissoapandwater，hecameoutoftheclosetunderthestairs，hewasasfreshasMarcohimself；
and，thoughhisclotheshadbeenbuiltforamorestalwartbody，hisrecognitionoftheircleanlinessfilledhimwithpleasure。
Hewonderedifbyanyefforthecouldkeephimselfcleanwhenhewentoutintotheworldagainandhadtosleepinanyholethepolicedidnotorderhimoutof。
HewantedtoseeMarcoagain，buthewantedmoretoseethetallmanwiththesoftdarkeyesandthatqueerlookofbeingaswellinspiteofhisshabbyclothesandthedingyplacehelivedin。
Therewassomethingabouthimwhichmadeyoukeeponlookingathim，andwantingtoknowwhathewasthinkingof，andwhyyoufeltasifyou\'dtakeordersfromhimasyou\'dtakeordersfromyourgeneral，ifyouwereasoldier。Helooked，somehow，likeasoldier，butasifheweresomethingmore——asifpeoplehadtakenordersfromhimallhislife，andalwayswouldtakeordersfromhim。Andyethehadthatquietvoiceandthosefine，easymovements，andhewasnotasoldieratall，butonlyapoormanwhowrotethingsforpaperswhichdidnotpayhimwellenoughtogivehimandhissonacomfortableliving。Throughallthetimeofhisseclusionwiththebatteredbathandthesoapandwater，TheRatthoughtofhim，andlongedtohaveanotherlookathimandhearhimspeakagain。Hedidnotseeanyreasonwhyheshouldhavelethimsleeponhissofaorwhyheshouldgivehimabreakfastbeforeheturnedhimouttofacetheworld。Itwasfirst-rateofhimtodoit。TheRatfeltthatwhenhewasturnedout，afterhehadhadthecoffee，heshouldwanttohangabouttheneighborhoodjustonthechanceofseeinghimpassbysometimes。Hedidnotknowwhathewasgoingtodo。Theparishofficialswouldbythistimehavetakenhisdeadfather，andhewouldnotseehimagain。Hedidnotwanttoseehimagain。Hehadneverseemedlikeafather。Theyhadnevercaredanythingforeachother。Hehadonlybeenawretchedoutcastwhosebesthourshadbeenwhenhehaddrunktoomuchtobeviolentandbrutal。Perhaps，TheRatthought，hewouldbedriventogoingaboutonhisplatformonthepavementsandbegging，ashisfatherhadtriedtoforcehimtodo。Couldhesellnewspapers？Whatcouldacrippledladdounlesshebeggedorsoldpapers？
Lazaruswaswaitingforhiminthepassage。TheRatheldbackalittle。
``Perhapsthey\'drathernoteattheirbreakfastwithme，\'\'hehesitated。``I\'mnot——I\'mnotthekindtheyare。Icouldswallowthecoffeeouthereandcarrythebreadawaywithme。
Andyoucouldthankhimforme。I\'dwanthimtoknowIthankedhim。\'\'
Lazarusalsohadasteadyeye。TheRatrealizedthathewaslookinghimoverasifheweresumminghimup。
``Youmaynotbethekindtheyare，butyoumaybeofakindtheMasterseesgoodin。Ifhedidnotseesomething，hewouldnotaskyoutositathistable。Youaretocomewithme。\'\'
TheSquadhadseengoodinTheRat，butnooneelsehad。
Policemenhadmovedhimonwhenevertheyseteyesonhim，thewretchedwomenoftheslumshadregardedhimastheyregardedhisdarting，thievingnamesake；loafingorbusymenhadseeninhimayoungnuisancetobekickedorpushedoutoftheway。TheSquadhadnotcalled``good\'\'whattheysawinhim。Theywouldhaveyelledwithlaughteriftheyhadheardanyoneelsecallitso。
``Goodness\'\'wasnotconsideredanattractionintheirworld。
TheRatgrinnedalittleandwonderedwhatwasmeant，ashefollowedLazarusintothebacksitting-room。
Itwasasdingyandgloomyasithadlookedthenightbefore，butbythedaylightTheRatsawhowrigidlyneatitwas，howwellsweptandfreefromanyspeckofdust，howthepoorwindowshadbeencleanedandpolished，andhoweverythingwassetinorder。
Thecoarselinenclothonthetablewasfreshandspotless，sowasthecheapcrockery，thespoonsshonewithbrightness。
LoristanwasstandingonthehearthandMarcowasnearhim。Theywerewaitingfortheirvagabondguestasifhehadbeenagentleman。
TheRathesitatedandshuffledatthedoorforamoment，andthenitsuddenlyoccurredtohimtostandasstraightashecouldandsalute。WhenhefoundhimselfinthepresenceofLoristan，hefeltasifheoughttodosomething，buthedidnotknowwhat。
Loristan\'srecognitionofhisgestureandhisexpressionashemovedforwardliftedfromTheRat\'sshouldersaloadwhichhehimselfhadnotknownlaythere。Somehowhefeltasifsomethingnewhadhappenedtohim，asifhewerenotmere``vermin，\'\'afterall，asifheneednotbeonthedefensive——evenasifheneednotfeelsomuchinthedark，andlikeathingtherewasnoplaceintheworldfor。Themerestraightandfar-seeinglookofthisman\'seyesseemedtomakeaplacesomewhereforwhathelookedat。Andyetwhathesaidwasquitesimple。
``Thisiswell，\'\'hesaid。``Youhaverested。Wewillhavesomefood，andthenwewilltalktogether。\'\'Hemadeaslightgestureinthedirectionofthechairattherighthandofhisownplace。
TheRathesitatedagain。Whataswellhewas！Withthatwaveofthehandhemadeyoufeelasifyouwereafellowlikehimself，andhewasdoingyousomehonor。
``I\'mnot——\'\'TheRatbrokeoffandjerkedhisheadtowardMarco。``Heknows——\'\'heended，``I\'veneversatatatablelikethisbefore。\'\'
``Thereisnotmuchonit。\'\'Loristanmadetheslightgesturetowardtheright-handseatagainandsmiled。``Letussitdown。\'\'
TheRatobeyedhimandthemealbegan。Therewereonlybreadandcoffeeandalittlebutterbeforethem。ButLazaruspresentedthecupsandplatesonasmalljapannedtrayasifitwereagoldensalver。Whenhewasnotserving，hestooduprightbehindhismaster\'schair，asthoughheworeroyalliveryofscarletandgold。Totheboywhohadgnawedaboneormunchedacrustwheresoeverhefoundthem，andwithnothoughtbutoftheappeasingofhisownwolfishhunger，towatchthetwowithwhomhesateattheirsimplefoodwasanewthing。Heknewnothingoftheevery-daydecenciesofcivilizedpeople。TheRatlikedtolookatthem，andhefoundhimselftryingtoholdhiscupasLoristandid，andtositandmoveasMarcowassittingandmoving——takinghisbreadorbutter，whenitwasheldathissidebyLazarus，asifitwereasimplethingtobewaitedupon。
Marcohadhadthingshandedtohimallhislife，anditdidnotmakehimfeelawkward。TheRatknewthathisownfatherhadoncelivedlikethis。Hehimselfwouldhavebeenateaseifchancehadtreatedhimfairly。Itmadehimscowltothinkofit。ButinafewminutesLoristanbegantotalkaboutthecopyofthemapofSamavia。ThenTheRatforgoteverythingelseandwasillateasenomore。HedidnotknowthatLoristanwasleadinghimontoexplainhistheoriesaboutthecountryandthepeopleandthewar。Hefoundhimselftellingallthathehadread，oroverheard，orTHOUGHTashelayawakeinhisgarret。Hehadthoughtoutagreatmanythingsinawaynotatalllikeaboy\'s。
Hisstrangelyconcentratedandover-maturemindhadbeenfullofmilitaryschemeswhichLoristanlistenedtowithcuriosityandalsowithamazement。Hehadbecomeextraordinarilycleverinonedirectionbecausehehadfixedallhismentalpowersononething。Itseemedscarcelynaturalthatanuntaughtvagabondladshouldknowsomuchandreasonsoclearly。Itwasatleastextraordinarilyinteresting。Therehadbeennoskirmish，noattack，nobattlewhichhehadnotledandfoughtinhisownimagination，andhehadmadescoresofroughqueerplansofallthathadbeenorshouldhavebeendone。Lazaruslistenedasattentivelyashismaster，andonceMarcosawhimexchangeastartled，rapidglancewithLoristan。ItwasatamomentwhenTheRatwassketchingwithhisfingerontheclothanattackwhichOUGHTtohavebeenmadebutwasnot。AndMarcoknewatoncethatthequicklyexchangedlookmeant``Heisright！Ifithadbeendone，therewouldhavebeenvictoryinsteadofdisaster！\'\'
Itwasawonderfulmeal，thoughitwasonlyofbreadandcoffee。
TheRatknewheshouldneverbeabletoforgetit。
Afterward，Loristantoldhimofwhathehaddonethenightbefore。Hehadseentheparishauthoritiesandallhadbeendonewhichacitygovernmentprovidesinthecaseofapauper\'sdeath。
Hisfatherwouldbeburiedintheusualmanner。``Wewillfollowhim，\'\'Loristansaidintheend。``YouandIandMarcoandLazarus。\'\'
TheRat\'smouthfellopen。
``You——andMarco——andLazarus！\'\'heexclaimed，staring。``Andme！Whyshouldanyofusgo？Idon\'twantto。Hewouldn\'thavefollowedmeifI\'dbeentheone。\'\'
Loristanremainedsilentforafewmoments。
``Whenalifehascountedfornothing，theendofitisalonelything，\'\'hesaidatlast。``Ifithasforgottenallrespectforitself，pityisallthatonehaslefttogive。OnewouldliketogiveSOMETHINGtoanythingsolonely。\'\'Hesaidthelastbriefsentenceafterapause。
``Letusgo，\'\'Marcosaidsuddenly；andhecaughtTheRat\'shand。
TheRat\'sownmovementwassudden。Heslippedfromhiscrutchestoachair，andsatandgazedattheworncarpetasifhewerenotlookingatitatall，butatsomethingalongwayoff。AfterawhilehelookedupatLoristan。
``DoyouknowwhatIthoughtof，allatonce？\'\'hesaidinashakyvoice。``Ithoughtofthat`LostPrince\'one。Heonlylivedonce。Perhapshedidn\'tlivealongtime。Nobodyknows。
Butit\'sfivehundredyearsago，and，justbecausehewasthekindhewas，everyonethatremembershimthinksofsomethingfine。It\'squeer，butitdoesyougoodjusttohearhisname。
AndifhehasbeentrainingkingsforSamaviaallthesecenturies——theymayhavebeenpoorandnobodymayhaveknownaboutthem，butthey\'vebeenKINGS。That\'swhatHEdid——justbybeingaliveafewyears。WhenIthinkofhimandthenthinkof——theother——there\'ssuchanawfuldifferencethat——yes——I\'msorry。Forthefirsttime。I\'mhissonandIcan\'tcareabouthim；buthe\'stoolonely——Iwanttogo。\'\'
Soitwasthatwhentheforlornderelictwascarriedtothegraveyardwherenamelessburdensonthecityweregiventotheearth，acuriousfuneralprocessionfollowedhim。Thereweretwotallandsoldierlylookingmenandtwoboys，oneofwhomwalkedoncrutches，andbehindthemweretenotherboyswhowalkedtwobytwo。Thesetenwereaqueer，raggedlot；buttheyhadrespectfullysoberfaces，heldtheirheadsandtheirshoulderswell，andwalkedwitharemarkablyregularmarchingstep。
ItwastheSquad；buttheyhadlefttheir``rifles\'\'athome。
XI
``COMEWITHME\'\'
Whentheycamebackfromthegraveyard，TheRatwassilentalltheway。Hewasthinkingofwhathadhappenedandofwhatlaybeforehim。Hewas，infact，thinkingchieflythatnothinglaybeforehim——nothing。Thecertaintyofthatgavehissharp，linedfacenewlinesandsharpnesswhichmadeitlookpinchedandhard。
Hehadnothingbeforebutacornerinabaregarretinwhichhecouldfindlittlemorethanaleakingroofoverhishead——whenhewasnotturnedoutintothestreet。But，ifpolicemenaskedhimwherehelived，hecouldsayhelivedinBoneCourtwithhisfather。Nowhecouldn\'tsayit。
Hegotalongverywellonhiscrutches，buthewasrathertiredwhentheyreachedtheturninthestreetwhichledinthedirectionofhisoldhaunts。Atanyrate，theywerehauntsheknew，andhebelongedtothemmorethanhebelongedelsewhere。
TheSquadstoppedatthisparticularcornerbecauseitledtosuchhomesastheypossessed。TheystoppedinabodyandlookedatTheRat，andTheRatstoppedalso。HeswunghimselftoLoristan\'sside，touchinghishandtohisforehead。
``Thankyou，sir，\'\'hesaid。``Lineandsalute，youchaps！\'\'AndtheSquadstoodinlineandraisedtheirhandsalso。``Thankyou，sir。Thankyou，Marco。Good-by。\'\'
``Whereareyougoing？\'\'Loristanasked。
``Idon\'tknowyet，\'\'TheRatanswered，bitinghislips。
HeandLoristanlookedateachotherafewmomentsinsilence。
Bothofthemwerethinkingveryhard。InTheRat\'seyestherewasakindofdesperateadoration。Hedidnotknowwhatheshoulddowhenthismanturnedandwalkedawayfromhim。Itwouldbeasifthesunitselfhaddroppedoutoftheheavens——andTheRathadnotthoughtofwhatthesunmeantbefore。
ButLoristandidnotturnandwalkaway。Helookeddeepintothelad\'seyesasifheweresearchingtofindsomecertainty。Thenhesaidinalowvoice，``YouknowhowpoorIam。\'\'
``I——Idon\'tcare！\'\'saidTheRat。``You——you\'relikeakingtome。I\'dstandupandbeshottobitsifyoutoldmetodoit。\'\'
``IamsopoorthatIamnotsureIcangiveyouenoughdrybreadtoeat——always。MarcoandLazarusandIareoftenhungry。
Sometimesyoumighthavenothingtosleeponbutthefloor。ButIcanfindaPLACEforyouifItakeyouwithme，\'\'saidLoristan。``DoyouknowwhatImeanbyaPLACE？\'\'
``Yes，Ido，\'\'answeredTheRat。``It\'swhatI\'veneverhadbefore——sir。\'\'
Whatheknewwasthatitmeantsomebitofspace，outofalltheworld，wherehewouldhaveasortofrighttostand，howsoeverpoorandbareitmightbe。
``I\'mnotusedtobedsortofoodenough，\'\'hesaid。Buthedidnotdaretoinsisttoomuchonthat``place。\'\'Itseemedtoogreatathingtobetrue。
Loristantookhisarm。
``Comewithme，\'\'hesaid。``Wewon\'tpart。Ibelieveyouaretobetrusted。\'\'
TheRatturnedquitewhiteinasortofanguishofjoy。Hehadnevercaredforanyoneinhislife。HehadbeenasortofyoungCain，hishandagainsteverymanandeveryman\'shandagainsthim。Andduringthelasttwelvehourshehadplungedintoatumultuousoceanofboyishhero-worship。Thismanseemedlikeasortofgodtohim。Whathehadsaidanddonethedaybefore，inwhathadbeenreallyTheRat\'shoursofextremity，afterthatappallingnight——thewayhehadlookedintohisfaceandunderstooditall，thetalkatthetablewhenhehadlistenedtohimseriously，comprehendingandactuallyrespectinghisplansandroughmaps；hissilentcompanionshipastheyfollowedthepauperhearsetogether——thesethingswereenoughtomaketheladlonginglyreadytobeanysortofservantorslavetohimifhemightseeandbespokentobyhimevenonceortwiceaday。
TheSquadworealookofdismayforamoment，andLoristansawit。
``Iamgoingtotakeyourcaptainwithme，\'\'hesaid。``ButhewillcomebacktoBarracks。SowillMarco。\'\'
``Willyergoonwiththegame？\'\'askedCad，aseagerspokesman。
``Wewanttogoonbeingthe`SecretParty。\'\'\'
``Yes，I\'llgoon，\'\'TheRatanswered。``Iwon\'tgiveitup。
There\'salotinthepapersto-day。\'\'
Sotheywerepacifiedandwentontheirway，andLoristanandLazarusandMarcoandTheRatwentontheirsalso。
``Queerthingis，\'\'TheRatthoughtastheywalkedtogether，``I\'mabitafraidtospeaktohimunlesshespeakstomefirst。
Neverfeltthatwaybeforewithanyone。\'\'
Hehadjeeredatpolicemenandhadimpudentlychaffed``swells，\'\'
buthefeltasortofsecretaweofthisman，andactuallylikedthefeeling。
``It\'sasifIwasaprivateandhewascommander-in-chief，\'\'hethought。``That\'sit。\'\'
Loristantalkedtohimastheywent。Hewassimpleenoughinhisstatementsofthesituation。TherewasanoldsofainMarco\'sbedroom。Itwasnarrowandhard，asMarco\'sbeditselfwas，butTheRatcouldsleepuponit。Theywouldsharewhatfoodtheyhad。Therewerenewspapersandmagazinestoberead。Therewerepapersandpencilstodrawnewmapsandplansofbattles。
TherewasevenanoldmapofSamaviaofMarco\'swhichthetwoboyscouldstudytogetherasanaidtotheirgame。TheRat\'seyesbegantohavepointsoffireinthem。
``IfIcouldseethepaperseverymorning，Icouldfightthebattlesonpaperbynight，\'\'hesaid，quitepantingattheincrediblevisionofsplendor。Wereallthekingdomsoftheearthgoingtobegiventohim？Washegoingtosleepwithoutadrunkenfathernearhim？
Washegoingtohaveachancetowashhimselfandtositatatableandhearpeoplesay``Thankyou，\'\'and``Ibegpardon，\'\'asiftheywereusingthemostordinaryfashionofspeech？Hisownfather，beforehehadsunkintothedepths，hadlivedandspokeninthisway。
``WhenIhavetime，wewillseewhocandrawupthebestplans，\'\'
Loristansaid。
``Doyoumeanthatyou\'lllookatminethen——whenyouhavetime？\'\'askedTheRat，hesitatingly。``Iwasn\'texpectingthat。\'\'
``Yes，\'\'answeredLoristan，``I\'lllookatthem，andwe\'lltalkthemover。\'\'
Astheywenton，hetoldhimthatheandMarcocoulddomanythingstogether。Theycouldgotomuseumsandgalleries，andMarcocouldshowhimwhathehimselfwasfamiliarwith。
``Myfathersaidyouwouldn\'tlethimcomebacktoBarrackswhenyoufoundoutaboutit，\'\'TheRatsaid，hesitatingagainandgrowinghotbecauseherememberedsomanyuglypastdays。
``But——butIswearIwon\'tdohimanyharm，sir。Iwon\'t！\'\'
``WhenIsaidIbelievedyoucouldbetrusted，Imeantseveralthings，\'\'Loristanansweredhim。``Thatwasoneofthem。You\'reanewrecruit。YouandMarcoarebothunderacommandingofficer。\'\'Hesaidthewordsbecauseheknewtheywouldelatehimandstirhisblood。
XII
``ONLYTWOBOYS\'\'
Thewordsdidelatehim，andhisbloodwasstirredbythemeverytimetheyreturnedtohismind。Herememberedthemthroughthedaysandnightsthatfollowed。Hesometimes，indeed，awakenedfromhisdeepsleeponthehardandnarrowsofainMarco\'sroom，andfoundthathewassayingthemhalfaloudtohimself。Thehardnessofthesofadidnotpreventhisrestingashehadneverrestedbeforeinhislife。Bycontrastwiththepasthehadknown，thispoorexistencewascomfortwhichvergedonluxury。
Hegotintothebatteredtinbatheverymorning，hesatatthecleantable，andcouldlookatLoristanandspeaktohimandhearhisvoice。Hischieftroublewasthathecouldhardlykeephiseyesoffhim，andhewasalittleafraidhemightbeannoyed。
Buthecouldnotbeartolosealookoramovement。
Attheendofthesecondday，hefoundhisway，atsometrouble，toLazarus\'ssmallbackroomatthetopofthehouse。
``Willyouletmecomeinandtalkabit？\'\'hesaid。
Whenhewentin，hewasobligedtositonthetopofLazarus\'swoodenboxbecausetherewasnothingelseforhim。
``Iwanttoaskyou，\'\'heplungedintohistalkatonce，``doyouthinkhemindsmelookingathimsomuch？Ican\'thelpit——butifhehatesit——well——I\'lltryandkeepmyeyesonthetable。\'\'
``TheMasterisusedtobeinglookedat，\'\'Lazarusmadeanswer。
``Butitwouldbewelltoaskhimself。Helikesopenspeech。\'\'
``Iwanttofindouteverythinghelikesandeverythinghedoesn\'tlike，\'\'TheRatsaid。``Iwant——isn\'tthereanything——anythingyou\'dletmedoforhim？Itwouldn\'tmatterwhatitwas。Andheneedn\'tknowyouarenotdoingit。Iknowyouwouldn\'tbewillingtogiveupanythingparticular。Butyouwaitonhimnightandday。Couldn\'tyougiveupsomethingtome？\'\'
Lazaruspiercedhimwithkeeneyes。Hedidnotanswerforseveralseconds。
``Nowandthen，\'\'hesaidgrufflyatlast，``I\'llletyoubrushhisboots。Butnoteveryday——perhapsonceaweek。\'\'
``Whenwillyouletmehavemyfirstturn？\'\'TheRatasked。
Lazarusreflected。Hisshaggyeyebrowsdrewthemselvesdownoverhiseyesasifthiswereaquestionofstate。
``NextSaturday，\'\'heconceded。``Notbefore。I\'lltellhimwhenyoubrushthem。\'\'
``Youneedn\'t，\'\'saidTheRat。``It\'snotthatIwanthimtoknow。IwanttoknowmyselfthatI\'mdoingsomethingforhim。
I\'llfindoutthingsthatIcandowithoutinterferingwithyou。
I\'llthinkthemout。\'\'
``Anythinganyoneelsedidforhimwouldbeinterferingwithme，\'\'saidLazarus。
ItwasTheRat\'sturntoreflectnow，andhisfacetwisteditselfintonewlinesandwrinkles。
``I\'lltellyoubeforeIdoanything，\'\'hesaid，afterhehadthoughtitover。``Youservedhimfirst。\'\'
``Ihaveservedhimeversincehewasborn，\'\'saidLazarus。
``He\'s——he\'syours，\'\'saidTheRat，stillthinkingdeeply。
``Iamhis，\'\'wasLazarus\'ssternanswer。``Iamhis——andtheyoungMaster\'s。\'\'
``That\'sit，\'\'TheRatsaid。Thenasqueakofahalf-laughbrokefromhim。``I\'veneverbeenanybody\'s，\'\'headded。
HissharpeyescaughtapassinglookonLazarus\'sface。Suchaqueer，disturbed，suddenlook。Couldheberathersorryforhim？
Perhapsthelookmeantsomethinglikethat。
``Ifyoustaynearhimlongenough——anditneedn\'tbelong——youwillbehistoo。Everybodyis。\'\'
TheRatsatupasstraightashecould。``Whenitcomestothat，\'\'heblurtedout，``I\'mhisnow，inmyway。Iwashistwominutesafterhelookedatmewithhisqueer，handsomeeyes。
They\'requeerbecausetheygetyou，andyouwanttofollowhim。
I\'mgoingtofollow。\'\'
ThatnightLazarusrecountedtohismasterthestoryofthescene。Hesimplyrepeatedwordforwordwhathadbeensaid，andLoristanlistenedgravely。
``Wehavenothadtimetolearnmuchofhimyet，\'\'hecommented。
``Butthatisafaithfulsoul，Ithink。\'\'
Afewdayslater，MarcomissedTheRatsoonaftertheirbreakfasthour。Hehadgoneoutwithoutsayinganythingtothehousehold。
Hedidnotreturnforseveralhours，andwhenhecamebackhelookedtired。IntheafternoonhefellasleeponhissofainMarco\'sroomandsleptheavily。Nooneaskedhimanyquestionsashevolunteerednoexplanation。Thenextdayhewentoutagaininthesamemysteriousmanner，andthenextandthenext。Foranentireweekhewentoutandreturnedwiththetiredlook；buthedidnotexplainuntilonemorning，ashelayonhissofabeforegettingup，hesaidtoMarco：
``I\'mpracticingwalkingwithmycrutches。Idon\'twanttogoaboutlikearatanymore。ImeantobeasnearlikeotherpeopleasIcan。Iwalkfarthereverymorning。Ibeganwithtwomiles。IfIpracticeeveryday，mycrutcheswillbelikelegs。\'\'
``ShallIwalkwithyou？\'\'askedMarco。
``Wouldn\'tyoumindwalkingwithacripple？\'\'
``Don\'tcallyourselfthat，\'\'saidMarco。``Wecantalktogether，andtrytoremembereverythingweseeaswegoalong。\'\'
``Iwanttolearntorememberthings。I\'dliketotrainmyselfinthatwaytoo，\'\'TheRatanswered。``I\'dgiveanythingtoknowsomeofthethingsyourfathertaughtyou。I\'vegotagoodmemory。IrememberalotofthingsIdon\'twanttoremember。
Willyougothismorning？\'\'
Thatmorningtheywent，andLoristanwastoldthereasonfortheirwalk。Butthoughheknewonereason，hedidnotknowallaboutit。WhenTheRatwasallowedhis``turn\'\'oftheboot-brushing，hetoldmoretoLazarus。
``WhatIwanttodo，\'\'hesaid，``isnotonlywalkasfastasotherpeopledo，butfaster。Acrobatstrainthemselvestodoanything。It\'strainingthatdoesit。Theremightcomeatimewhenhemightneedsomeonetogoonanerrandquickly，andI\'mgoingtobeready。I\'mgoingtotrainmyselfuntilheneedn\'tthinkofmeasifIwereonlyacripplewhocan\'tdothingsandhastobetakencareof。IwanthimtoknowthatI\'mreallyasstrongasMarco，andwhereMarcocangoIcango。\'\'
``He\'\'waswhathealwayssaid，andLazarusalwaysunderstoodwithoutexplanation。
```TheMaster\'isyournameforhim，\'\'hehadexplainedatthebeginning。``AndIcan\'tcallhimjust`Mister\'Loristan。Itsoundslikecheek。Ifhewascalled`General\'or`Colonel\'I
couldstandit——thoughitwouldn\'tbequiteright。SomedayI
shallfindaname。WhenIspeaktohim，Isay`Sir。\'\'\'
Thewalksweretakeneveryday，andeachdaywerelonger。MarcofoundhimselfsilentlywatchingTheRatwithamazementathisdeterminationandendurance。Heknewthathemustnotspeakofwhathecouldnotfailtoseeastheywalked。Hemustnottellhimthathelookedtiredandpaleandsometimesdesperatelyfatigued。Hehadinheritedfromhisfatherthetactwhichseeswhatpeopledonotwishtoberemindedof。HeknewthatforsomereasonofhisownTheRathaddeterminedtodothisthingatanycosttohimself。Sometimeshisfacegrewwhiteandwornandhebreathedhard，butheneverrestedmorethanafewminutes，andneverturnedbackorshortenedawalktheyhadplanned。
``TellmesomethingaboutSamavia，somethingtoremember，\'\'hewouldsay，whenhelookedhisworst。``WhenIbegintotrytoremember，Iforget——otherthings。\'\'
So，astheywentontheirway，theytalked，andTheRatcommittedthingstomemory。Hewasquickatit，andgrewquickereveryday。Theyinventedagameofrememberingfacestheypassed。
Bothwouldlearnthembyheart，andontheirreturnhomeMarcowoulddrawthem。Theywenttothemuseumsandgalleriesandlearnedthingsthere，makingfrommemorylistsanddescriptionswhichatnighttheyshowedtoLoristan，whenhewasnottoobusytotalktothem。
Asthedayspassed，MarcosawthatTheRatwasgainingstrength。
Thisexhilaratedhimgreatly。TheyoftenwenttoHampsteadHeathandwalkedinthewindandsun。ThereTheRatwouldgothroughcuriousexerciseswhichhebelievedwoulddevelophismuscles。
Hebegantolooklesstiredduringandafterhisjourney。Therewereevenfewerwrinklesonhisface，andhissharpeyeslookedlessfierce。Thetalksbetweenthetwoboyswerelongandcurious。MarcosoonrealizedthatTheRatwantedtolearn——learn——learn。
``Yourfathercantalktoyoualmostasifyouweretwentyyearsold，\'\'hesaidonce。``Heknowsyoucanunderstandwhathe\'ssaying。Ifheweretotalktome，he\'dalwayshavetorememberthatIwasonlyaratthathadlivedinguttersandseennothingelse。\'\'
Theyweretalkingintheirroom，astheynearlyalwaysdidaftertheywenttobedandthestreetlampshoneinandlightedtheirbarelittleroom。Theyoftensatupclaspingtheirknees，Marcoonhispoorbed，TheRatonhishardsofa，butneitherofthemconsciouseitherofthepoornessorhardness，becausetoeachonethelongunknownsenseofcompanionshipwassuchasatisfyingthing。Neitherofthemhadevertalkedintimatelytoanotherboy，andnowtheyweretogetherdayandnight。Theyrevealedtheirthoughtstoeachother；theytoldeachotherthingsithadneverbeforeoccurredtoeithertothinkoftellinganyone。Infact，theyfoundoutaboutthemselves，astheytalked，thingstheyhadnotquiteknownbefore。MarcohadgraduallydiscoveredthattheadmirationTheRathadforhisfatherwasanimpassionedandcuriousfeelingwhichpossessedhimentirely。ItseemedtoMarcothatitwasbeginningtobelikeasortofreligion。Heevidentlythoughtofhimeverymoment。SowhenhespokeofLoristan\'sknowinghimtobeonlyaratofthegutter，Marcofelthehimselfwasfortunateinrememberingsomethinghecouldsay。
``Myfathersaidyesterdaythatyouhadabigbrainandastrongwill，\'\'heansweredfromhisbed。``Hesaidthatyouhadawonderfulmemorywhichonlyneededexercising。HesaiditafterhelookedoverthelistyoumadeofthethingsyouhadseenintheTower。\'\'
TheRatshuffledonhissofaandclaspedhiskneestighter。
``Didhe？Didhe？\'\'hesaid。
Herestedhischinuponhiskneesforafewminutesandstaredstraightbeforehim。Thenheturnedtothebed。
``Marco，\'\'hesaid，inaratherhoarsevoice，aqueervoice；
``areyoujealous？\'\'
``Jealous，\'\'saidMarco；``why？\'\'
``Imean，haveyoueverbeenjealous？Doyouknowwhatitislike？\'\'
``Idon\'tthinkIdo，\'\'answeredMarco，staringalittle。
``AreyoueverjealousofLazarusbecausehe\'salwayswithyourfather——becausehe\'swithhimoftenerthanyouare——andknowsabouthiswork——andcandothingsforhimyoucan\'t？Imean，areyoujealousof——yourfather？\'\'
Marcoloosedhisarmsfromhiskneesandlaydownflatonhispillow。
``No，I\'mnot。Themorepeopleloveandservehim，thebetter，\'\'
hesaid。``TheonlythingIcareforis——ishim。IjustcareforHIM。Lazarusdoestoo。Don\'tyou？\'\'
TheRatwasgreatlyexcitedinternally。Hehadbeenthinkingofthisthingagreatdeal。Thethoughthadsometimesterrifiedhim。Hemightaswellhaveitoutnowifhecould。Ifhecouldgetatthetruth，everythingwouldbeeasier。ButwouldMarcoreallytellhim？
``Don\'tyoumind？\'\'hesaid，stillhoarseandeager——``don\'tyoumindhowmuchIcareforhim？Coulditevermakeyoufeelsavage？CoulditeversetyouthinkingIwasnothingbut——whatI
am——andthatitwascheekofmetopushmyselfinandfastenontoagentlemanwhoonlytookmeupforcharity？Here\'sthelivingtruth，\'\'heendedinanoutburst；``ifIwereyouandyouwereme，that\'swhatIshouldbethinking。Iknowitis。I
couldn\'thelpit。Ishouldseeeverylowthingtherewasinyou，inyourmannersandyourvoiceandyourlooks。Ishouldseenothingbutthecontrastbetweenyouandmeandbetweenyouandhim。IshouldbesojealousthatIshouldjustrage。IshouldHATEyou——andIshouldDESPISEyou！\'\'
HehadwroughthimselfuptosuchapassionoffeelingthathesetMarcothinkingthatwhathewashearingmeantstrangeandstrongemotionssuchashehimselfhadneverexperienced。TheRathadbeenthinkingoverallthisinsecretforsometime，itwasevident。Marcolaystillafewminutesandthoughtitover。
Thenhefoundsomethingtosay，justashehadfoundsomethingbefore。