"Yes, you can lick my boots, my noble sheikh of Manfaloot," he added, as Mahommed caught his feet and bent his head upon them.

"I wanted to do something like that myself.

Kiss 'em, honey; it'll do you good." After a moment, Mahommed drew back and squatted before him in an attitude of peace and satisfaction.

"The Saadat--you will help him?
You will give him money ?" "Let's put it in this way, Mahommed: I'll invest in an expedition out of which I expect to get something worth while--concessions for mines and railways, et cetera." He winked a round, blue eye.

"Business is business, and the way to get at the Saadat is to talk business; but you can make up your mind that, "'To-morrow, we are pulling stakes for Shendy! Are you coming to my party, O Nahoum ?'" "By the prophet Abraham, but the news is great news," said Mahommed with a grin.