es to _us_, the
discoverers and worshippers of ragtime.

But the greatest crush surged round two camels which walked
disdainfully through the throng, seemingly as oblivious of the excited
multitude as the one made herself out to be of the man who walked
beside her with a fantastic whip, and the other of the golden chains
which fastened her to the blackest eunuch of all Africa.

Upon the one of the golden chains, rested a golden palanquin, closed
with curtains of softest white satin, a-glitter with precious stones.

Around the brute's neck hung great garlands of flowers, from its
harness chimed golden bells of softest tone, whilst tassels of silver
swung from the jewel encrusted net covering her shining coat.

What or who was inside, no one seemed to be able to coherently explain,
though the setting alone told of some priceless treasure.

There was no doubt as to the rider of the other camel!

"Hahmed! Hahmed! Hahmed!" rose the unceasing cry from old and young,
whilst blessings ranging from the continued comfortable shape of his
shadow, to the welfare of his progeny unto the most far-reaching
generation, through a life perpetual of sun, sweetmeats, and shady
streams, rose and fell from the pavements, roofs, and balconies crowded
with the curious, upon the impassive man who held his camel harnessed
with native simplicity, just one pace behind its companion.

The crowning touch was added to this delirious moment of festival by
the simply scandalous distribution of golden coin, _golden_ mind you,
which attendants clothed in every colour of an Egyptian sunset, and
mounted upon diminutive, but pure bred donkeys, threw right and left
with no stinting hand, to the distribution of which largesse responded
shrill laughter, and still shriller cries, and thwack of stick on dark
brown pate and cries of pain upon the meeting of youthful ivories in
the aged ankle or wrist.

No doubt about it, Cairo, _real_ Cairo I mean, had been in an uproar
from the moment two special trains had chugged into the Central Station
a few hours back.

CHAPTER XXXIII

Crowned and uncrowned queens travel in comfort all the world over, a
comfort of over-heated special trains, the most stable part of the
boat, the most skilful chauffeur, allied to the most speedy car, an
elaboration of the luncheon basket, and the heartening effect of strips
of red baize; but the comfort of a church pew compared to the downy
recesses of a Chesterfield, aga