THROUGH WILD EUROPE 177 



but though the burrows extended four feet in length 

 there were no eggs. 



Having at last finished with the Herons it was 

 necessary to rush back to Dulcigno in order to catch 

 the steamer. There is no time to spare, as if I 

 missed it I should have to wait another week. 



At the little inn in Dulcigno I had left one big 

 box of luggage when I went to Scutari. At the 

 last moment, with the horses at the door to take 

 me to the Val de Noche landing-place, the landlord 

 presented me with a bill charging rent of my room 

 for the twenty days I had been away, on account 

 of the box left in his charge. Of course I refused 

 this demand and offered a napoleon in full payment 

 of everything. But there was no time to argue, or 

 I should have lost my passage, and I had to pay 

 under protest. 



Judge of my surprise when, on arrival at Antivari 

 about three hours afterwards, I received a telegram 

 that was waiting for me from Djouraschkovitch, 

 which said, ' Autorite judicial vous envoie 34 

 courronnes que la patron de l'hotel vous a fait 

 illegalement payer.' 



Three hours in which to bring an action, receive 



the money, and forward it by telegram in time to 



catch me at the next port strikes me as a smart bit 



of legal work, and a record for speed. 



I was very glad of this money, for I was running 

 12 



