A RUSSL^ FELLOW-TRAVELLER. 49 



any traveller. On a bed, scarcely strong 

 enough to make himself heard in a whisper, 

 was my old friend the Vice- Consul of Batoum, 

 knocked all to pieces by fever, throwing up 

 blood in quantities, and apparently already at 

 his last gasp. I never expected to see him 

 again, and it was Avith a heavy heart and no 

 very pleasant bodings for my own future that I 

 hurried away to make sure of the first train 

 which could convey me and mine from the 

 most uninvitmg looking spot on God's 

 earth. I am happy to be able to sav here 

 that my friend did recover, and when we next 

 met at Batoum was almost himself ao-am. 



c 



On our way to Kutais we had the luck to 

 interest a Russian fellow-traveller in ourselves 

 and the object of our journey ; and he there 

 and then offered us introductions to people 

 who could assist us to obtam sport, and 

 invited us to stay with him for a fortnight's 

 shooting on our way home, on the shores of 



VOL. I. E 



