nife at the end of his visit quite won his
heart, and he seemed never weary of opening and shutting the blades,
pulling out the toothpick, tweezers, corkscrew, and lancet, with which
it was provided. After this he took his departure in the same style as
that in which he came.

"Well, we may as well pay him a barbarous compliment, boys," said Mr
Rogers. "Fire off all your barrels at once. Now, make ready! fire!"

Six shots went off in rapid succession, followed by six more from Mr
Rogers' revolver.

The result was different from what was intended, for, evidently under
the impression that they were being attacked in the rear, the royal
party made a rush to escape, the king heading the flight, and, like his
warriors, getting on pretty well; but the marimba players fell over
their instruments, and the drummers got into worse difficulties still.

All at once, as there was no more firing, the king found it was a false
alarm, and came back laughing, to bang his musicians about with his
cane, and call them cowards. After which he came back to the waggon and
asked to see the revolver let off, flinching very little, and then
strutting off before his people, as much as to say, "See what a fine
brave fellow I am!"

"Look at that now," said Dinny complacently. "Why of all the cowards I
ever see--"

"I say, Dinny," said Dick, "I wonder whether the king's afraid of
lions?"

"Shure an' I'd go an' ask him, Masther Dick, if I was you," said Dinny
sulkily; and the subject, a very sore one with Dinny, was dropped.

CHAPTER TWENTY NINE.

THE GENERAL IS OVERCOME BY GIN--A TRAP.

A very quiet-looking black came up directly after, to say that the king
had sent him to show the party where to camp: and he led the way to a
pleasant little grove, where there was a pool of water, and ample grass
for the cattle; and after the new arrivals were settled down--far too
near the "naygurs" to satisfy Dinny's sensitive nature, a return visit
was paid to the king, who readily gave his permission for the party to
hunt when and where they pleased in his dominions.

This was satisfactory, and it was determined that no time should be lost
in getting amongst the large game, but not until they had had a shot or
two at the large hippopotami, which were abundant in the marshes about
the river.

Still they would be obliged to remain for a few days at their present
camp out of civility to the king, who, they found, would be perfectly
willing