you are--you are--But never mind, here's your tea. I wonder if
this green, pasty stuff is good."

They found that it was, but so sweet that it made their tea taste
bitter. The watermelon rinds were flat to their Western palates,
but the dried almonds were a great success. Then Condy promptly
got the hiccoughs from drinking his tea too fast, and fretted up
and down the room like a chicken with the pip till Travis grew
faint and weak with laughter.

"Oh, well," he exclaimed aggrievedly--"laugh, that's right! I
don't laugh. It isn't such fun when you've got 'em yoursel'--
HULP."

"But sit down, for goodness' sake! You make me so nervous. You
can't walk them off. Sit down and hold your breath while you
count nine. Condy, I'm going to take off my gloves and veil.
What do you think?"

"Sure, of course; and I'll have a cigarette. Do you mind if I
smoke?"

"Well, what's that in your hand now?"

"By Jove, I have been smoking! I--I beg your pardon. I'm a
regular stable boy. I'll throw it away."

Travis caught his wrist. "What nonsense! I would have told you
before if I'd minded."