Presently there was a distant blare of military music; it came nearer, still nearer, and soon a noble
cavalcade wound into view, glorious with plumed helmets and flashing mail and flaunting banners and rich doublets and horse-cloths and gilded spear- heads; and through the muck and swine, and naked brats, and joyous dogs, and shabby huts, it took its gallant way, and in its wake we followed.
"But does your foolish old hen suppose that this entire
cavalcade, which is bound on an important adventure, is going to stand still while she lays her egg?" enquired the Tin Woodman, earnestly.
Sir Richard was advised of the
cavalcade's approach, and quickly recognized his royal master in the tall knight who rode in advance.
As the
cavalcade took up the line of march in single file, Sola dragged me into an empty chariot and we proceeded with the procession toward the point by which I had entered the city the day before.
Towards the middle of the month of May, in the year 1660, at nine o'clock in the morning, when the sun, already high in the heavens, was fast absorbing the dew from the ramparts of the castle of Blois a little
cavalcade, composed of three men and two pages, re-entered the city by the bridge, without producing any other effect upon the passengers of the quay beyond a first movement of the hand to the head, as a salute, and a second movement of the tongue to express, in the purest French then spoken in France: "There is Monsieur returning from hunting." And that was all.
"And now we're really off for Copan!" exclaimed Professor Bumper one morning, when the
cavalcade, led by Tolpec in the capacity of head guide, started off.
He had but four men remaining with him, and forty-six horses to take care of; with these he had to make his way over mountain and plain, through a marauding, horse-stealing region, full of peril for a numerous
cavalcade so slightly manned.
The major's first feeling was that of satisfaction in having left his
cavalcade behind; if this were an enemy and should escape he would have little to report.
Magnificent preparations were made to receive the illustrious statesman; a
cavalcade of horsemen set forth to meet him at the boundary line of the State, and all the people left their business and gathered along the wayside to see him pass.
Early the following morning a gay
cavalcade set out to visit the famous Sorceress, Glinda the Good.
The two soldiers mounted motor-cycles and the little
cavalcade turned away.
Another lay brother led a sumpter mule, loaded probably with his superior's baggage; and two monks of his own order, of inferior station, rode together in the rear, laughing and conversing with each other, without taking much notice of the other members of the
cavalcade.