PRKPATUTTOXS FOR A XATTVK VTSTT. :H>. r i 



Mackenzie would willingly have waived his se- 

 niority for the occasion, and delegated to Norman 

 the duties attached to it ; but the latter would not 

 hear of such a thing, expecting, indeed, to derive 

 some amusement from the rough Scotchman's man- 

 ner of conducting the formal and punctilious pro- 

 ceedings. 



They had ascertained from the herald how many 

 of the. expected visitors were entitled to the recog- 

 nition of chairs ; it being found that three were 

 " eligibles " the chief himself, a brother, and a son. 

 As but three light chairs could be mustered, it 

 became necessary to improvise seats, so that all the 

 party could be accommodatec}. A table was first 

 proposed, but rejected in favour of a deal box, which, 

 with a gay-coloured rug over it, formed a seat of 

 inviting appearance. It was found, too, on inquiry, 

 that the luxurious Sheik Hussein was in possession 

 of a stool. This it was decided should receive the 

 capacious form of Mackenzie, the converted box 

 being detailed for the accommodation of Norman 

 and Hawkes. 



Everything being cleared out of Mackenzie's tent 

 the Bechoba a small piece of carpet was spread, 

 and the seats arranged ; there being just room 

 enough to contain them. 



Soon after these matters were satisfactorily con- 



