80 SPORT, TRAVEL, AND ADVENTURE 



There was nothing else but hold I that bundle at the 

 bottom? The minister's frock-coat, of broadcloth, with 

 wide silk-faced lapels ! What kind fairy had gainsaid 

 my reiterated threats to throw away the useless gar- 

 ment? Eagerly I slipped into it. The very thing 1 

 With my unshaven face and bleached legs in the 

 shadow, I could rival Beau Brummel himself. Many 

 an English lord touring the East wears a cap after 

 nightfall. 



' Scrape that stuff together for me ! ' I bawled, 

 springing past the Maltese youth. ' If I don't turn 

 up within a week, give 'em to the beachcombers.' 



The Worcestershire was still at anchor. Two Arab 

 boatmen squatted under a torch on one corner of the 

 landing-stage. The legal fare was six pence. I had 

 three. It cost me some precious moments to beat down 

 one of the watermen. He stepped into his felucca at 

 last and pushed off cautiously towards the rows of 

 lighted portholes. 



As we neared the steamer I made out a figure in 

 uniform on the lowest step of the ship's ladder. The 

 game was lost ! I might have talked my way by a 

 quartermaster, but I certainly could not pass this bridge 

 officer. 



The boatman swung his craft against the ladder with 

 the oar. I held up the note, 



* Will you kindly deliver this to the chief steward? 

 The writer wants an answer before the ship leaves.' 



' I really haven't time/ apologized the mate. ' I've 

 an errand ashore, and we leave in fifteen minutes. You 

 can run up with it yourself, though. Here, boatman, 

 row me over to the custom wharf.' 



I sprang up the ladder. Except for several sahib- 



