And when he had consecrated it a few hill tribes had risen and trampled it like mire.

One or two other things about the same time, less important in themselves, struck in the Prussian's ear the same new note of warning and doubt.

He sought to obtain a small advantage on the north-west coast of Africa; and England seemed to show a certain strange stiffness in insisting on its abandonment.

In the councils over Morocco, England agreed with France with what did not seem altogether an accidental agreement.

But we shall not be wrong if we put the crucial point of the German surprise and anger at the attack from the Balkans and the fall of Adrianople.