ttle stick, as you poetically call it, even if he
_does_ produce the will. I think a hundred on his feet, or any suitable
portion of his person, might have a good moral influence upon him," said
Kavanagh. "Oh, to have the handling of the bamboo!"

"We have got to catch the beggar first," said Harry.

"And are you going after him really?" said Kavanagh.

"Or are you only chaffing? It seems a wild goose chase."

"Yes, I am going," said Harry; "and I think better of our chances than
you seem to do. In the first place, I have picked up a smattering of
Arabic, and that is a help; and then I have friends who can give me
recommendations to the Egyptian authorities in any town which is held
for the Khedive on the Upper Nile, and I am pretty confident I can make
them help me."

"But suppose this fellow has not got the will, or has destroyed it, or
has hidden it somewhere, and won't tell?"

"That would be hard lines for you, Kavanagh, and I hope better things.
But even in that case it would not follow that my journey would be
useless to myself. I have got a crazy uncle, a brother of uncle
Richard, who is heir-at-law if a will is not forthcoming. He has turned
Mohammedan, and lives like an Arab, and I believe has considerable
authority amongst them. He was in England the last Christmas we were at
Harton, and I saw him in the holidays, and he gave me directions how to
find him if ever I wanted, for he took a fancy to me, and wanted me to
go and live as he does. With all his eccentricity, he has a strong love
for his sister--that is my mother, you know--and if he could be told
that his brother was dead, and that he had made a will in his sister's
favour which had been stolen, by which means he had become heir to the
Irish property, I am convinced he would try to do something to set
matters straight. Anyhow, it is worth trying."

"Rather!" said Kavanagh. "And if the country is in insurrection, and
barred against Egyptians and European travellers, your relative's pass
may enable you to get at Master Cream--Butter--what's his name?"

"Daireh."

"Ah, yes; I knew it had something to do with a dairy--to get at him,
after all."

"By Jove, what an enterprising chap you are, Forsyth!" cried Strachan.
"You deserve to succeed, I am sure."

"He does; and I heartily hope he will, for if he does not find the will,
I shall have to forego all the comforts of life, at least, all I know
of, for I daresay I shall find others. N