183 



CHAPTER XXL 



SHARK- SHOOTING IX THE MAURITIUS. 



Over thirty years ago fate landed me in Port 

 Louis, the capital and port of the Island of 

 Mauritius. I was strolling along through the streets 

 when a cheery voice hailed me : 



"Bather different to the Grande Rue de Pera," 

 it said. 



I turned round, and there was an old acquaint- 

 ance, R of the Highlanders. We had 



last foregathered in Constantinople what time the 

 " clouds in the East," which resulted in the Russo- 

 Turkish war, were gathering blackly on the political 

 horizon. 



" Why, R , what are you doing here ? " I 



cried. 



" My good fellow, I am the Robinson of the 

 island — 



' My right there is none to dispute, 

 From the centre right down to the sea, 

 I am lord of the fowl and the brute.' 



In plain English, I am the commandant of Port 

 Louis. My detachment consists of a few sickly 

 Scotsmen and three British subalterns, of whom 



