210 DAYS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT. 



that the probability was that he could not get 

 another pair within ten days' journey. 



Providence is an inscrutable thing, and not 

 always just ; for if the Scot had suffered the same 

 deprivation well, it would have but reduced him 

 to a state he, in all human probability, had been 

 accustomed to until the years he reached maturity. 

 At least, that was my own experience and that of 

 many others I could mention, who are exalted in the 

 Army List. In fact, I have often thought that 

 parents across the Tweed pursued this plan with 

 their offspring for the sake of economy. 



However, as we get older and travel, we get 

 squeamish. I could not have the immodest sight 

 about my camp no, not under any consideration 

 of a white man going about it with only one leg 

 to his trousers, so I gave him a brand-new pair of 

 hunting breeches of the latest pattern and colour, 

 which fitted him exactly, and were really very be- 

 coming, for they showed the development of his 

 limbs to perfection. If he had had top, or even 

 butcher boots to put on, and been spirited to the 

 grass countries, he would have been the admiration, 

 nay, envy of " the entire field " that attends the 

 meets of any of our crack and aristocratic packs 

 of foxhounds. 



In the morning, when we assembled to have our 

 "bitters," without impertinently staring, I took a 

 furtive glance at both my guests. He of "stern 



