66 THE HUNTING GROUNDS 



of excitement that he jumped up, gave his thigh a 

 tremendous slap with the palm of his hand, and ex- 

 claimed, "Dom, but this child will gang wi' ye in 

 the morn just to ha' a crack at the bluid-thirsty auld 

 cannibal ! " 



" Bravo, doctor ! We shall be most happy to have 

 your company," answered I ; " but, old Sly Boots, 

 what about the visit to the begum ? How fared you 

 there ? Eh?" continued I, giving him a sharp dig in 

 the ribs with my forefinger, which made him grunt 

 again. 



" Yes ; out with it, doctor ! " cried W . " Don't 



mince matters, but give us a full account." 



"Husht your whisht, and I'll tell ye all about it," 

 replied the doctor. "You must know that I went 

 to the bungalow about two hours after you left camp, 

 and that black gentleman of no sex, who had evidently 

 previously received his instructions, conducted mc 

 at once into the centre room, where I saw a figure, 

 closely veiled in a chedder (cloth) which concealed 

 everything but a pair of sparkling eyes, sitting tailor- 

 fashion on a carpet, wi* two or three decent-looking 

 lasses attending her. 



" "When I entered, and she saw who it was, she 

 waved her hand, inviting me very graciously to seat 

 myself near her, which I did. She sent the other 

 women away, and then, with a knowing wink, pull- 

 ing the cloth away from her face, passed me the 

 hubble-bubble she was smoking when I first went 

 in. I found her to be a guid ' auld has-been,' that 



