194 THE EASTEEN HUNTEES. 



" Then what the devil is it ? " asked Norman. 

 " Why, here is a great long bit of stuff like a man's 

 finger in it." 



" Sahib, it is the European soup which my master 

 gave out." 



" Why, I am damned," ejaculated Mackenzie 

 profanely, " if he hasn't gone and made soup out 

 of our stewed eels. Why, Sheik Hussein, you old 

 rascal, those were fish eels to be served up in a 

 dish." 



" Sahib," replied the servant, with solemnity, " it 

 makes very good rich soup. Perhaps your honour 

 does not understand how to cook the English articles 

 in the tins. I have seen many cooked ; and Manuel 

 read out from the cover on another tin, that they 

 should be mixed with boiling water. That is what 

 I have done before." 



" Those were the soup-tins, you donkey, you ! 

 This is to eat not to drink. What a bore, isn't it, 

 you fellows ? " continued Mackenzie, turning to his 

 friends, and sniffing irresolutely at his tea-cup. 

 " Such a piece of stupidity. And I was looking 

 forward to the eels. Of course this is only fit to 

 be thrown away." But still he sniffed and tasted 

 without sending it from the table. 



After several experiments, each agreed that, after 

 all, it was not so bad. It would be a pity to 



