began to think he had done something very fine indeed, and crowed and
clapped his hands in delight.

But the merriment did not last long, for there was a clatter of horses
and swords outside the tent.

"My husband!" cried Queen Humeeda in a flutter. "What news does my lord
bring?"




CHAPTER II

THE FIRST VICTORY


The next moment a tall, handsome man entered the tent; but one look at
his pale, anxious face was enough to tell those inside that the news was
bad. So for an instant there was silence; and in the silence, with a
deafening roar and a blinding blaze of blue light, came a terrific crash
of thunder followed by a sudden fierce pelt of hail upon the taut tent
roof.

It sent a shiver through the listeners. They felt that the storm had
broken indeed upon their heads, that danger was close beside them.

Then the King stepped to his wife's side and took her hand, and as he
spoke there was a sob in his breath as of an animal who after a long
chase finds himself at last driven to bay.