such
luxuriant vegetation.

But Helwan awoke sad recollections for Mr. Rawlinson, for there Nell's
mother had died. For this reason he preferred Medinet, and gazing at
present at the glowing countenance of the little girl, he promised to
himself in his soul soon to purchase here land with a garden; to erect
upon it a comfortable English house and spend in these blissful parts
all vacations which he could secure, and after finishing his service on
the Canal, perhaps even to reside here permanently.

But these were plans of the distant future and not yet wholly matured.
In the meantime the children from the moment of their arrival moved
about everywhere like flies, desiring even before dinner to see all the
tents as well as the donkeys and camels hired at the place by the Cook
Agency. It appeared that the animals were on a distant pasture and that
they could not see them until the morrow. However, near Mr. Rawlinson's
tent they observed with pleasure Chamis, the son of Chadigi, their good
acquaintance in Port Said. He was not in the employ of Cook, and Mr.
Rawlinson was somewhat surprised to meet him in Medinet, but as he had
previously employed him to carry his implements, he engaged him at
present to run errands and perform all other small services.

The evening dinner was excellent, as the old Copt, who for many years
was a cook in the employment of the Cook Agency, was anxious to display
his culinary skill. The children told about the acquaintance they made
with the two officers on the way, which was particularly interesting to
Mr. Rawlinson, whose brother Richard was married to Dr. Clary's sister
and had resided in India for many years. As it was a childless
marriage, this uncle greatly loved his little niece, whom he knew only
from photographs, and he had inquired about her in all his letters.
Both fathers were also amused at the invitation which Stas had received
from Captain Glenn to visit Mombasa. The boy took it seriously and
positively promised himself that sometime he must pay a visit to his
new friend beyond the equator. Pan Tarkowski then had to explain to him
that English officials never remain long in the same locality on
account of the deadly climate of Africa, and that before Stas grew up
the captain already would hold his tenth position in rotation or would
not be on earth at all.

After dinner the whole company went out in front of the tents, where
the servants placed the cloth folding-chairs, and