Among the Callavayas the period of youth is thirty years; a man is not held to be a man until he reaches fifty, and he only begins to be old at a hundred." "Was it among the Callavayas that you learned the secret of long life, Mr.
Fortescue ?" I asked.
"Perhaps," he answered, with one of his peculiar smiles; and then he started me by saying that he would never be a "lean and slippered pantaloon." When health and strength failed him he should cease to live.
"You surely don't mean that you will commit suicide ?" I exclaimed, in dismay.
"You may call it what you like.

I shall do as the Fiji Islanders and some tribes of Indians do, in similar circumstances--retire to a corner and still the beatings of my heart by an effort of will." "But is that possible ?" "I have seen it done, and I have done it myself--not, of course, to the point of death, but so far as to simulate death.

I once saved my life in that way." "Was that when you were hunted, Mr.Fortescue ?" "No, it was not.

Let us go to the stables.

I want to see you ride Regina over the jumps." Mr.Fortescue had caused to be arranged in the park a miniature steeple-chase course about a mile round, on which newly-acquired hunters were always tried, and the old ones regularly exercised.