112 SAM DAKLING'S REMINISCENCES 



top of the big Pyramid and back in eight minutes 

 for four shillings — no doubt he would have gone 

 for one shilling, but we had no time to haggle, 

 and it was well worth the money to see him do 

 it. I held the watch, and when it had ticked 

 5 min. 30 sec. by the time he stood on the top, 

 I certainly thought he was beaten ; but he came 

 down like an antelope, and landed in 7 min. 35 sec. 

 Moreover, when he came up to us for his money 

 he was hardly blowing at all. They are very fit, 

 these men. 



But the world is very small, and here, as we 

 are progressing up the Nile, watching the primitive 

 but very clever arrangements for pumping up the 

 water for irrigation, taking note of the strange 

 people and beasts of curious sorts that are grazing 

 on either side, and wondering how the feluccas — if 

 that be the correct name for countless vessels doing 

 work like our Hghters, but very differently rigged— 

 can ever be got up-stream at all, Mohammed came 

 up to me and said, " Mr. Darling, do you know 

 Mr. Ashley ? " 



Do I know Mr. Ashley ! 



I asked if he meant Mr. Ashley of the Sportsman. 



" Yes, that he. He have office in street near 

 Ludgate Hill. I always go see him when I am 

 in London.'' 



