46 THE EASTEEN HTJNTEES, 



Old Mac, here, and I have had many an enjoyable 

 trip like this, and I hope we shall have many more. 

 Eh, old fellow 1" 



" I believe you, me boy," answered the Scotchman 

 in popular phrase. " The after-dinner cheroot of a 

 successful day is about as jolly a thing as I know 

 of, with good fellows to chat to and talk it over 

 with." 



" And what a lovely night it is," Norman re- 

 marked. " I declare, after the heat and excitement 

 of the day, it makes a man feel at peace with him- 

 self and with the world, to sit out and hear the 

 wind sighing through the trees. Were you ever in 

 love, Hawkes V he asked, as he turned abruptly to 

 that individual. " This is a nice night for spooning, 

 isn't it \ I believe I can see you blushing in the 

 moonlight. Were you thinking of Miss Verney just 

 now, when you looked at the moon ?" 



Hawkes laughed as he answered with some slight 

 confusion, " Come, Norman, no chaff. I think it 

 was you who were inclined to be sentimental." 



" Oh, hang the sentiment," said Mackenzie. " As 

 leader of the expedition, I positively forbid it." 



" Hark to the unromantic Highlander ! But I 

 say, Mac, we had better order the tiger's body to be 

 taken away : I see they have cut off the head." 



Mackenzie accordingly gave orders to that effect. 



