ned a
shade paler as he said it, "I do hope it won't be that hot-pot game."

"Nonsense," I broke in angrily, "nonsense!"

"Very well, sir," said Job, "it isn't my place to differ from you, sir,
but if you happen to be going anywhere, sir, I should be obliged if you
could manage to take me with you, seeing that I shall be glad to have a
friendly face to look at when the time comes, just to help one through,
as it were. And now, sir, I'll be getting the breakfast," and he went,
leaving me in a very uncomfortable state of mind. I was deeply attached
to old Job, who was one of the best and honestest men I have ever had
to do with in any class of life, and really more of a friend than a
servant, and the mere idea of anything happening to him brought a lump
into my throat. Beneath all his ludicrous talk I could see that he
himself was quite convinced that something was going to happen,
and though in most cases these convictions turn out to be utter
moonshine--and this particular one especially was to be amply accounted
for by the gloomy and unaccustomed surroundings in which its victim
was placed--still it did more or less carry a chill to my heart, as any
dread that is obviously a genuine object of belief is apt to do, however
absurd the belief may be. Presently the breakfast arrived, and with it
Leo, who had been taking a walk outside the cave--to clear his mind, he
said--and very glad I was to see both, for they gave me a respite
from my gloomy thoughts. After breakfast we went for another walk, and
watched some of the Amahagger sowing a plot of ground with the grain
from which they make their beer. This they did in scriptural fashion--a
man with a bag made of goat's hide fastened round his waist walking up
and down the plot and scattering the seed as he went. It was a positive
relief to see one of these dreadful people do anything so homely and
pleasant as sow a field, perhaps because it seemed to link them, as it
were, with the rest of humanity.

As we were returning Billali met us, and informed us that it was _She's_
pleasure that we should wait upon her, and accordingly we entered her
presence, not without trepidation, for Ayesha was certainly an exception
to the rule. Familiarity with her might and did breed passion and wonder
and horror, but it certainly did _not_ breed contempt.

We were as usual shown in by the mutes, and after these had
retired Ayesha unveiled, and once more bade Leo embrace her, which,
notwit