indeed. I think it is really the worst part about rogues that they are
so utterly selfish, and regardless of the misery they inflict upon other
people, even when they cannot benefit themselves by it. If Daireh had
had an ounce of good nature in his composition, he would have torn up
the old will and sent back the new one, now there was so poor a chance
of his making money out of his scheme.

But that idea never even occurred to him. I am glad to say, however,
that he had a bad voyage, and suffered much from sea-sickness.

CHAPTER FIVE.

IN PASSING.

The fierce sun was declining towards the west, and it was becoming
possible to breathe and move about with a little more comfort on board
the somewhat cumbrous vessel, fitted with huge lateen sails, which went
swinging down the Nile between the lofty black rocks near Samneh. I say
_fitted_ with the sails, not borne along by them, for the stream just
there took all the carrying power upon itself, rushing along its
narrowed channel like a mill race.

High above rose a hill, on the top of which was a temple, entire, with a
balcony round it, heedless of the lapse of ages. There is some little
difference between the ancient and modern ideas of substantial building.

They had no ninety-nine year leases in the time of the Pharaohs; if
there were such things at all, nine thousand would probably be nearer
the mark.

Harry Forsyth sat on the deck admiring the different points as they went
by, and delighting in the glorious pace at which they were going; a
great contrast to their sluggish progress earlier in the day, when the
river was broad, placid, and leisurely, and there was hardly a breath of
wind stirring to urge them on.

He had been entrusted with a trading expedition as far as Dongola,
carrying merchandise and exchanging it for gum, and ostrich and marabout
feathers. He had been allowed a little venture on his own account, and
had embarked it all in the latter article of commerce--marabout
feathers--and had been rather lucky in his bargain. On returning to
Cairo he expected to go back to England, and that made him none the less
glad to be spinning along so quickly.

"I wish we could go like this all the way, Hassib," he said to the
Nubian sitting by him; "we should soon get home then, eh?"

"We shall go faster than this when we come to the cataract," said
Hassib, with a grin; for there was a joke here. Harry on the way up had
not shown any liking for th