in your pocket-handkerchief started the horses."

The old gentleman looked round; then at the horses; then in his
handkerchief; and back at the horses again.

"I--er--I--er--I really cannot believe it possible, Preston; I blow my
nose so softly," he said quite seriously. "Would you--there--don't
think I slight your word--but--er--would you mind--I'm afraid, you see,
that you are mistaken--would you mind my trying the horses?"

"By no means," said the professor smiling.

"I will then," said the old gentleman eagerly; and going up to the
horses, yellow handkerchief in hand held loosely as if he were about to
use it, he slowly advanced it to each animal's nose.

They neither of them winced, Lawrence's cream colour going so far as to
reach out and try to take hold of it with his lips, evidently under the
impression that it was some delicate kind of Turkish dried hay.

"There," said Mr Burne triumphantly; "you see! They are not frightened
at the handkerchief."

"Walk behind," said the professor, "and blow your nose--blow gently."

The old gentleman hesitated for a moment, and then blew as was
suggested, not so loudly as before, but a fairly sonorous blow.

The horses all made a plunge, and had to be held in and patted before
they could be calmed down again.

"What ridiculous brutes!" exclaimed Mr Burne contemptuously. "How
absurd!"

"You are satisfied, then?" said the professor.

"I cannot help being," replied Mr Burne. "Bless my heart! It is
ridiculous."

"I am growing anxious, your excellencies," said Yussuf interrupting.
"The time is getting on, and I want to overtake the baggage-horses.
Will you please to mount, sir?"

"Bless me, Yussuf," cried Mr Burne testily; "anyone would think that
this was your excursion and not ours."

"Your pardon, effendi, but it will be bad if the night overtakes us and
we have not found our baggage. Perhaps we may have to sleep at a khan
where there is no food."

"When we have plenty with the baggage. To be sure. But must I mount
that animal again? I am shaken to pieces. There, hold his head."

The old gentleman uttered a sigh, but he placed his foot in the stirrup
and mounted slowly, not easily, for the horse was nervous now, and
seemed as if it half suspected his rider of being the cause of that
startling noise.

CHAPTER NINETEEN.

ADVENTURES IN THE HILLS.

"All the result of coming among savages," grumbled Mr Burne. "Anyone
would think that the Turks