hich they set down before each of the guests.
Others then brought in wooden platters, huge pieces of beef, large
masses of which an attendant cut off with an assegai, and handed to the
king, who munched away at them with infinite satisfaction. The guests
were desired to help themselves with their knives which they carried in
their belts. There were, in addition, baskets of mealy cakes, which
Percy declared were more to the purpose than the tough half-roasted
beef. The king every now and then looked round the circle, exclaiming,
"Eat! eat!" The guests did their utmost, but were very soon satisfied.

"Pray tell him that I can do no more," said Crawford. "This hot day I
should prefer some cold lamb and a salad, but this coarse beef beats
me."

Hendricks apologised as best he could.

"Tell them to drink, then," said the king, "if they cannot eat. The
beer will slip down without any difficulty. Don't you like beer?" asked
the king, when he saw that after taking a few mouthfuls they stopped.

"Pray tell him that we like beer in moderation, but shall never be able
to finish off one of these bowls," exclaimed Crawford.

Hendricks assured the king that his young companions were anxious to
please him; but that Englishmen's insides were not of the same
magnificent capacity as His Majesty's, and that therefore it would be
impossible for them to do as he desired.

A frown gathered on the king's brow. "Drink, I say, drink! They must
drink," he exclaimed.

"Tell the king that I'll see him at Jericho first," said Denis; an
observation which set Percy off laughing.

"Command yourselves, lads," said Hendricks, turning to them. "This may
become no laughing matter. Although you cannot drink, and I don't wish
you to do so, you must show the king that you desire to please him."

"Sure I'll do that," said Denis, putting the bowl to his mouth, and
pretending to swallow a huge draught, and then placed it on the ground
and gasped for breath. "Please tell His Majesty, that unless he wishes
to kill me, he'll let me off this time," cried the irrepressible young
Irishman. "Poor Percy and Lionel will burst outright if they have to
swallow this stuff."

"That I shall," exclaimed Percy. "I'll not swallow another drop to
please him or all the nigger kings in Africa."

Lionel did not venture to make any remark, but looked as resolute as the
rest not to turn himself into a beer barrel.

Hendricks began to wish heartily that he