MAHAYGUN FRATERNISES WITH THE HUNTER. 139 



and having no flour, and, greatest hardship of all, a 

 very small allowance of tea. 



The Hunter and "The Wolf" recognised each 

 other as old friends who had not met for many years, 

 and they immediately fraternised tremendously. 

 The former at once put in a claim for half a pint of 

 rum which Cheadle had promised him as a reward 

 if he made the rapid journey when carrying back 

 the provisions for Milton at the time of emergency. 

 This was duly allowed, and the two friends proceeded 

 to make very merry indeed, breaking forth into 

 singing ; and every now and then coming round to 

 shake hands with us, and proclaim what first-rate 

 '' Okey Mows " we were. Keenamontiayoo shared 

 his Hquor fairly with his comrade, and when this 

 was finished, Mahaygun got up and made a 

 speech to us, setting forth, in the most flattering 

 terms, the great obligations under which he felt 

 towards us for the hospitable manner in which we 

 had treated him, and stating that he really felt 

 ashamed to ask any further favour. Still, on the 

 other hand, here was his dear friend Keenamontiayoo 

 — his bosom friend and sworn comrade — whom he 

 had not met for so many years. He had wath great 

 generosity treated him to rum,- and how could the 

 kindness be properly acknowledged? There was 

 but one way — by treating him to rum in return, and 

 to do that he must beg some from us. He felt sure 

 we should excuse him, and comply with his request, 

 seeing there was no other solution to the difficulty 

 in which he felt himself to be placed. 



