in' about 'ow nice our supper was last night, and only
'ope it will taste as well to-night again."

"We have learnt something new," said Terence, "new, at least, to me; and
I shall know how to live when I get where there is plenty. Heretofore I
have been like a child--eating and drinking half my time, not because I
required it, but because I knew no better. There is Colly, now, he don't
seem to appreciate the beauty of this Arabian style of living; or he may
understand it better than we. Perhaps he is waiting until he acquires a
better appetite, so that he may have all the more pleasure in gratifying
it. Where is he now?"

They all looked about. They saw that Colin had once more fallen behind;
and that the mother of the child was again waiting for him.

Harry and Terence walked on, expecting that they would soon see their
companion rudely driven up by the angry negress.

Sailor Bill stopped, as though he was interested in being a witness to
the scene thus anticipated.

In a few minutes after, the young Scotchman, with the child, was hurried
forward by the enraged hag--who once more seemed in a great rage at his
inability or unwillingness to keep up with the others.

"I ken it 'a noo," said Bill, after he had stood for some time
witnessing the ill-treatment heaped upon Colin.

"Our freen Colly's in luck. I've no langer any wonder at his taking a'
this tribble wi' the blackey bairn."

"What is it, Bill? what have you learnt now?" asked Terence and Harry in
a breath.

"I've larnt why Colly could not eat his dinner yesterday."

"Well, why was it?"

"I've larnt that the nager's anger with Colly is all a pretince, an'
that she's an old she schemer."

"Nonsense, Bill; that is all a fancy of yours," said Colin, who, with
the child on his shoulders, was now walking alongside his companions.

"It is no fancy of mine, mon," answered Bill, "but a fancy o' the woman
for a bra' fair luddie. What is it that she gives you to eat, Maister
Colly?"

Seeing that it was idle to conceal his good fortune any longer, Colin
now confessed it,--informing them that the woman, whenever she could do
so without being seen, had given him a handful of dried figs, with a
drink of camel's milk from a leathern bottle which she carried under her
cloak.

Notwithstanding the opinion they had just expressed, on the enjoyment
attending prolonged thirst and hunger, Colin's companions congratulated
him on his good fortune,--one and all declari