A FIERY DRAUGHT. 349 



" It is fire," he exclaimed, as soon as he could 

 speak. " Oh ! how it burns. I never tasted any- 

 thing so hot and utterly damnable in my life. 

 Brandy and cayenne-pepper is a joke to it." 



"The young Sahib finds it strong?" said the old 

 chief interrogatively, after tossing down his glassful 

 without much apparent inconvenience. 



" Yes, it is rather strong," said Norman. " I 

 think it is too much for me after riding in the sun." 

 Saying thus, he put down his glass an example 

 quickly followed by Mackenzie. 



"Their throats and stomachs must be made of 

 cast-iron," the latter said. " They never even 

 winked as they took it." 



The chiefs were profuse in their regrets that the 

 liquor was not to the taste of their guests, and 

 urged them to try it again ; but this they declined 

 to do, and the entrance of a couple of nautch girls 

 enabled them to change the subject.. 



Attended by three musicians behind them, the 

 girls took up a position at the end of the room 

 opposite the party seated. Again, however, the 

 chief entreated Mackenzie to imbibe of the potent 

 spirit. 



" There was doubt in my heart," he said, " that 

 you would not find it so pleasant as your ' berandy.' 

 But my hope is that you will take a little more. 



