ing to one and saying,
"Shan," and to the other, saying, "Raba."

"Thanks," said Earle; "that will do nicely." Then, as Bahrim
respectfully bowed himself out, the American turned to his friend and
remarked:

"Say, Dick, how is this for high? Some lodging, this. What? I wonder
how long it is to lunch time? That ride has proved a fine appetiser in
my case. But those baths look good. Guess I'll have a dip now. I
suppose these two guys are to be our servants. Which one will you
have?"

"Oh," answered Dick, "either of them will do for me. They both look
reasonably decent chaps. Take your choice."

"Right!" said Earle. "Then I guess I'll have Shan, because I think his
name is the easiest to remember. Come along, Shan, and help me to get
out of these togs. I'm going to have a bath. See?"

Shan apparently saw, which indeed was not difficult, since Earle pointed
toward the bath as he spoke. The man bowed and turned to help Earle rid
himself of his clothes, while Dick, beckoning to Raba, retired to the
other sleeping-chamber, and a few minutes later was also luxuriating in
the coolness of the bath.

Refreshed by their dip and a delicious luncheon, the two friends were
seated in the deep embrasure of one of the unglazed windows of their
sitting-room, Earle lazily smoking as he and Dick discussed the
advisability of sallying forth, a little later, to learn the geography
of the town, when they were interrupted by the appearance of Bahrim, the
major-domo, accompanied by two other men, whom he introduced
respectively as Zorah and Kedah.

The former was a tall, thin, ascetic-looking man of probably sixty or
sixty-five years of age. He had doubtless been, in his prime, an
exceedingly handsome man, for, even now, his features were well modelled
and clean cut, but his sallow skin was deeply wrinkled about the
forehead, eyes, and the wings of his nostrils--his mouth and chin were
hidden by a thick moustache and long, straggling grey, almost white
beard. A few thin wisps of long white hair escaped from the back part
of the turban which covered his head, and fell to the level of his
shoulders. But perhaps the most striking feature of him after his thin,
hawk-like nose, was his eyes, which were large, black and piercing. He
was attired in a dress which was a replica in every respect of that
which had been provided for Earle, and his carriage, as he entered the
apartment, was assured, haughty, almost arrogant, that