214 A Sportsman at Large 



" What Ba-sha link ? " 



" Well," said I, "I am always ready for a bit of sport. 

 If you whoever you may be can show us any, I'm game ! " 



The stately stranger drew himself up to his full height, 

 which was all of six feet and a bit over ! 



" My name Farag Hamedieh," he announced loftily. 

 " I known best Shikari, all Egypt. I take you what sport you 

 like : snipes, duckses, anyting ! If you like you go up Nile 

 in Dahabieh all way Assouan." 



" Well, let's shoot a snipe to begin with," put in Ted. 

 " Where can we find one ? " 



" Blenty snipe, En Chasse ; also blenty Tel-el-Kabir. You 

 come along ? " 



" What ! this instant minute ? " exclaimed my ponderous 

 pal, with well-feigned astonishment. 



" Ayouah ! (yes). If you like ! " 



" No, but I don't like," said I. " You are in too great a 

 hurry, Farag. Let us say the day after to-morrow." 



" Taeb ! (good). I have him all ready. Saida (good- 

 evening), Ba-sha ! " and away stalked the majestic one. 



He was as good as his word ; for he appeared at the station 

 on the appointed day, with a motley retinue of Fellaheen to 

 act as carriers, retrievers and beaters ; or to take up any other 

 old job that might come their way, at the price of two kroners 

 per head per diem. The aforesaid En Chasse was our ob- 

 jective that day, and here we had some fair sport with the 

 snipe, gathering about a dozen couples. I was much in- 

 terested in watching the vultures and Jalconidcz, which 

 were in great quantities, and as regards the latter birds 

 of many species. Also, I was greatly amused by watch- 

 ing the antics of a large Egyptian mongoose, which was sporting 

 with his inamorata outside a high bed of reeds, into which 

 the amorous ones retreated as soon as they became aware 

 of the presence of the dreaded human. The rag-tag and 

 bobtail of our following beat out the cover thoroughly, but 

 never a sign of the sinuous animals was seen again. 



A week later, Farag took us to Tel-el-Kebir, where the 

 great battle, which ended in the downfall of Arabi Pasha, 

 was fought. The marshes here had a bottom of very stiff 



