s recent escapade with the guard, he felt
that it was not safe to venture forth again uncovered. He therefore
resolved to keep the boar's head exposed, and to venture boldly forth,
despite the attention it was sure to attract.

To his great relief Rais himself came in just as he was about to start,
and after relating his adventure, that worthy suggested that he should
join half a dozen of the French consul's own servants, who were about to
set out for the scene of festivities.

Agreeing to this plan, he passed through the streets without attracting
much more attention than did his somewhat wildly-habited companions, and
soon reached the French consul's residence, which was not more than half
a mile beyond the southern gate of the city.

The blaze of light and buzz of musical noise that reigned here
immediately swallowed them up, so that Ted felt himself, for the time at
least, to be safe. His grotesque figure did indeed attract some
attention at first, for he was an exceeding tall and sturdy boar, but
there were so many other notabilities from the forest and desert around
him that he quickly sank into comparative insignificance.

Some of the other creatures referred to gave him a little uneasiness by
their curiosity and desire to claim acquaintance, if not kindred, with
him, but by humouring some, frightening others, running away from
several, and tumbling a few into the bushes, he managed to push through
the crowd of domestics unrecognised, and made his way into the outer
lobby of the mansion.

Here, seated under the shadow of a Moorish arch way, drinking lemonade,
in default, as he said, of better tipple, Ted resolved to bide his time,
but his time seemed rather long of coming. He therefore boldly entered
the magnificent skiffa in search of Colonel Langley.

His appearance was greeted with a shout of delight by several children
who were present, and the French consul, willing to amuse them, went up,
and, shaking hands with the boar, begged of him to join in the dance.

Poor Ted would have given anything to have known what was said to him,
but, being utterly ignorant of French, shook his head and bowed with an
air of profound respect, which piece of politeness caused his short and
rather ill-fitting tail to stick straight up in the air for a moment,
and drew roars of laughter from the company.

"Dansez, dansez-vous," said the Frenchman, with more emphasis.

"Och! it's that ye want, is it?" said Ted, much re