of their land in consequence of your remarks. Therefore they ask you to
make promise no bad consequences following your visit."

Mr. Groombride held his breath and turned purple. Then he stamped his
foot.

"Tell them," he cried, "that if a hair of any one of their heads is
touched by any official on any account whatever, all England shall ring
with it. Good God! What callous oppression! The dark places of the
earth are full of cruelty." He wiped his face, and throwing out his arms
cried: "Tell them, oh! tell the poor, serfs not to be afraid of me. Tell
them I come to redress their wrongs--not, heaven knows, to add to their
burden."

The long-drawn gurgle of the practised public speaker pleased them much.

"That is how the new water-tap runs out in the kennel," said Farag. "The
Excellency Our Governor entertains him that he may make sport. Make him
say the mirth-moving speech."

"What did he say about my land-titles?" Farag's uncle was not to be
turned.

"He says," Farag interpreted, "that he desires, nothing better than that
you should live on your lands in peace. He talks as though he believed
himself to be Governor."

"Well. We here are all witnesses to what he has said. Now go forward
with the sport." Farag's uncle smoothed his garments. "How diversely
hath Allah made His creatures! On one He bestows strength to slay Emirs;
another He causes to go mad and wander in the sun, like the afflicted
sons of Melik-meid."

"Yes, and to emit spray from the mouth, as the Inspector told us. All
will happen as the Inspector foretold," said Farag. "I have never yet
seen the Inspector thrown out during any run."

"I think," Abdul plucked at Mr. Groombride's sleeves, "I think perhaps
it is better now, Sar, if you give your fine little native speech. They
not understanding English, but much pleased at your condescensions."

"Condescensions?" Mr. Groombride spun round. "If they only knew how
I felt towards them in my heart! If I could express a tithe of my
feelings! I must stay here and learn the language. Hold up the umbrella,
Abdull I think my little speech will show them I know something of their
vie intime."

It was a short, simple; carefully learned address, and the accent,
supervised by Abdul on the steamer, allowed the hearers to guess its
meaning, which was a request to see one of the Mudir's Cranes; since the
desire of the speaker's life, the object to which he would consecrate
his days, was to improve the con