THE FIRST BBEAKFAST. 19 



morning also. That quiet roll and lounge in the 

 water, after a hard day's sport in the hot season, is 

 surely to be numbered among the greatest of ani- 

 mal pleasures. But it requires to be enjoyed in a 

 tropical climate to be thoroughly appreciated. 



Breakfast was laid in Mackenzie's little tent. 

 That gentleman, who was the senior of the three, 

 and had attained to the rank of Captain, was also 

 treasurer and general finance minister and manager 

 of the expenses of the expedition. A certain sum 

 had been lodged in his hands by each of the others, 

 which, with his own contribution, formed a fund for 

 the payment of beaters, rewards, messing, and other 

 public expenses, in which all equally shared. 



" Sahib," said Mackenzie's grey-headed, paunchy 

 old butler, as, with a jerk, he whisked the cover off 

 a dish placed before his master " Sahib, the head 

 man of the village sent a good fish for the gentle- 

 men's eating. I have had some cooked for break- 

 fast." 



"And a very fine fish too, to judge by these 

 slices," said Mackenzie. "What sort is it, Sheik 

 Hassein \ " 



" It is the murrel, your honour ; they say they 

 are very large in the river," was the reply, in Hin- 

 dustani. 



" And how do they catch them ? We might, 



c 2 



