.

PREPARATION.
Victory thus gained, the woman of Bulika began to speak about the city, and talked much of its defenceless condition, of the wickedness of its princess, of the cowardice of its inhabitants.

In a few days the children chattered of nothing but Bulika, although indeed they had not the least notion of what a city was.

Then first I became aware of the design of the woman, although not yet of its motive.
The idea of taking possession of the place, recommended itself greatly to Lona--and to me also.

The children were now so rapidly developing faculty, that I could see no serious obstacle to the success of the enterprise.