36 AFOOT THROUGH THE 



wrapped in its own dreams and thoughts forgot the past, 

 grew careless of the future, and was lost to all but 

 present interests and enjoyment. 



Morning brought stirring events; the pleasant lap- 

 lap of the water against the boat told me we were 

 moving before I had looked out of my straw shutters, but 

 I had hardly passed to full consciousness when a violent 

 bump and a fierce altercation, followed by the sound of 

 bleating protest, told me that something unusual had 

 occurred. I dressed quickly to ascertain the cause of 

 such early excitement, and found myself the proud but 

 unpleased possessor of a whole sheep. I sternly 

 demanded reason, and was informed that the prow of 

 my ark had been run into the bank, thereby breaking 

 the leg of the aforesaid sheep, the owner of which had 

 instantly demanded compensation. Reason was 

 plausible, but I had my doubts. A sheep is a visible 

 thing, and a boat cannot run into it unknown of the 

 four propellers. Moreover, there was in Assiza's eye 

 a look I had begun to understand, a look that said, " To 

 what extent may the Sahib be victimised ? " ' The 

 sheep is but small," he urged in extenuation, " mutton 

 is good, the price is but one rupee." That clinched the 

 matter. One rupee was not too much to pay for the 

 feasting of my crew, if I also had a portion. Nominally, 

 of course, the entire sheep was eaten at the Sahib's 

 table. No more sheep were run into for many days, 

 and the hours seemed likely to pass without mark or 

 event, a mere floating between blue waters and blue 

 banks, blue skies overhead, blue hills on every side, 

 when a tremendous shout startled me, and there was a 

 great snake crossing the stream, head held high, a 

 curious object, and quite harmless. Assiza seized it 

 as it landed, throwing it over his head and back into 



