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diff --git a/21986-h/21986-h.htm b/21986-h/21986-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..201b2f4 --- /dev/null +++ b/21986-h/21986-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,16748 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Dash for Khartoum, by G. A. Henty. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p { margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + hr { width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + } + + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + a img {border: none; } + + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + + .pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 1%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: left; + color: gray; + } /* page numbers */ + + .linenum {position: absolute; top: auto; left: 4%;} /* poetry number */ + .blockquot{margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 10%;} + .sidenote {width: 20%; padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; padding-right: .5em; margin-left: 1em; + float: right; clear: right; margin-top: 1em; + font-size: smaller; color: black; background: #eeeeee; border: dashed 1px;} + + .bb {border-bottom: solid 2px;} + .bl {border-left: solid 2px;} + .bt {border-top: solid 2px;} + .br {border-right: solid 2px;} + .bbox {border: solid 2px;} + + .center {text-align: center;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + .lowercase { text-transform:lowercase; } + .u {text-decoration: underline;} + + .caption {font-weight: bold;} + + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + + .figleft {float: left; clear: left; margin-left: 0; margin-bottom: 0em; margin-top: + 0em; margin-right: 0.5em; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .figright {float: right; clear: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; + margin-top: 1em; margin-right: 0; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .footnotes {border: dashed 1px;} + .footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} + .footnote .label {position: absolute; right: 84%; text-align: right;} + .fnanchor {vertical-align: super; font-size: .8em; text-decoration: none;} + + .poem {margin-left:10%; margin-right:10%; text-align: left;} + .poem br {display: none;} + .poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + .poem span.i0 {display: block; margin-left: 0em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i2 {display: block; margin-left: 2em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i4 {display: block; margin-left: 4em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Dash for Khartoum, by George Alfred Henty + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Dash for Khartoum + A Tale of Nile Expedition + +Author: George Alfred Henty + +Illustrator: Joseph Nash + John Schönberg + +Release Date: July 2, 2007 [EBook #21986] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE DASH FOR KHARTOUM *** + + + + +Produced by Taavi Kalju and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<div class="figcenter"> + <img src="images/cover.jpg" + alt="Cover" + title="Cover" /> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h3>THE</h3> + +<h1>DASH FOR KHARTOUM:</h1> + +<h2>A TALE OF<br /> +THE NILE EXPEDITION.</h2> + +<h3>BY</h3> + +<h2>G. A. HENTY,</h2> + +<p class="center">Author of "With Clive in India;" "True to the Old Flag;" "Bonnie Prince Charlie;" +"By Sheer Pluck;" "Facing Death;" "One of the 28th;" &c.</p> + + +<h4>WITH TEN PAGE ILLUSTRATIONS BY JOSEPH NASH, R.I.<br /> +AND JOHN SCHÖNBERG.</h4> + +<div class="figcenter"> + <img src="images/logo.jpg" + alt="Blackie's logo" + title="Blackie's logo" /> +</div> + +<h5>LONDON:</h5> + +<h5><span class="smcap">BLACKIE & SON, Limited, 49 OLD BAILEY, E.C.</span><br /> +<span class="smcap lowercase">GLASGOW, EDINBURGH, AND DUBLIN.</span> +</h5> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>MR. HENTY'S HISTORICAL TALES.</h2> + +<p class="center"><i>Crown 8vo, Cloth elegant, Olivine edges. Each Book is beautifully +Illustrated.</i></p> + + +<p style="margin-left: 15%;"> +<span class="smcap">The Cat of Bubastes</span>: A Story of Ancient Egypt. 5<i>s.</i><br /> +<span class="smcap">The Young Carthaginian</span>: A Story of the Times of Hannibal. 6<i>s.</i><br /> +<span class="smcap">For the Temple</span>: A Tale of the Fall of Jerusalem. 6<i>s.</i><br /> +<span class="smcap">Beric the Briton</span>: A Story of the Roman Invasion. 6<i>s.</i><br /> +<span class="smcap">The Lion of St. Mark</span>: A Story of Venice in the 14th Century. 6<i>s.</i><br /> +<span class="smcap">The Lion of the North</span>: A Tale of Gustavus Adolphus. 6<i>s.</i><br /> +<span class="smcap">The Dragon and the Raven</span>: Or, The Days of King Alfred. 5<i>s.</i><br /> +<span class="smcap">In Freedom's Cause</span>: A Story of Wallace and Bruce. 6<i>s.</i><br /> +<span class="smcap">St. George for England</span>: A Tale of Cressy and Poitiers. 5<i>s.</i><br /> +<span class="smcap">By Pike and Dyke</span>: A Tale of the Rise of the Dutch Republic. 6<i>s.</i><br /> +<span class="smcap">Under Drake's Flag</span>: A Tale of the Spanish Main. 6<i>s.</i><br /> +<span class="smcap">Orange and Green</span>: A Tale of the Boyne and Limerick. 5<i>s.</i><br /> +<span class="smcap">Bonnie Prince Charlie</span>: A Tale of Fontenoy and Culloden. 6<i>s.</i><br /> +<span class="smcap">The Bravest of the Brave</span>: Or, With Peterborough in Spain. 5<i>s.</i><br /> +<span class="smcap">In the Reign of Terror</span>: The French Revolution. 5<i>s.</i><br /> +<span class="smcap">With Wolfe in Canada</span>: Or, The Winning of a Continent. 6<i>s.</i><br /> +<span class="smcap">With Clive in India</span>: Or, The Beginnings of an Empire. 6<i>s.</i><br /> +<span class="smcap">True to the Old Flag</span>: The American War of Independence. 6<i>s.</i><br /> +<span class="smcap">Held Fast for England</span>: A Tale of the Siege of Gibraltar. 5<i>s.</i><br /> +<span class="smcap">One of the 28th</span>: A Story of Waterloo. 5<i>s.</i><br /> +<span class="smcap">In Greek Waters</span>: A Story of the Grecian War. 6<i>s.</i><br /> +<span class="smcap">Through the Fray</span>: A Story of the Luddite Riots. 6<i>s.</i><br /> +<span class="smcap">By Sheer Pluck</span>: A Tale of the Ashanti War. 5<i>s.</i><br /> +<span class="smcap">For Name and Fame</span>: Or, Through Afghan Passes. 5<i>s.</i><br /> +<span class="smcap">With Lee in Virginia</span>: A Story of the American Civil War. 6<i>s.</i><br /> +<span class="smcap">The Dash for Khartoum</span>: A Tale of the Nile Expedition. 6<i>s.</i><br /> +<span class="smcap">Condemned as a Nihilist</span>: A Story of Escape from Siberia. 5<i>s.</i><br /> +</p> + + +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">London: BLACKIE & SON, Limited; Glasgow and Edinburgh.</span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_v" id="Page_v">[Pg v]</a></span></p> +<h2>PREFACE.</h2> + + +<p><span class="smcap">My dear Lads,</span></p> + +<p>The story of the Nile Expedition is so recent that no word of +introduction is necessary to the historical portion of the tale. The +moral, such as it is, of the story of the two lads brought up as +brothers is—Never act in haste, for repentance is sure to follow. In +this case great anxiety and unhappiness were caused through a lad acting +as he believed for the best, but without consulting those who had every +right to a voice in the matter. That all came right in the end in no way +affects this excellent rule, for all might have gone wrong. We are often +misled by a generous impulse, more often perhaps than by an evil one, +but the consequences may be just as serious in the one case as the +other. When in trouble you should always go freely to your best friends +and natural advisers, and lay the case fully before them. It may be +that, if the trouble has arisen from your own fault, you will have to +bear their temporary displeasure, but this is a small thing in +comparison with the permanent injury that may arise from acting on your +own impulse. In most cases, cowardice lies at the bottom of concealment, +and cowardice is of all vices the most contemptible; while the fear of +the displeasure of a parent has ruined many a boy's life. Therefore, +when you are in serious trouble always go to your best friend, your +father, and lay the case<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_vi" id="Page_vi">[Pg vi]</a></span> frankly and honestly before him; for you may +be sure that present displeasure and even punishment are but small +things in comparison with the trouble that may arise from trying to get +out of the difficulty in other ways.</p> + +<p><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Yours sincerely,</span></p> + +<p><span style="margin-left: 4em;">G. A. HENTY</span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_vii" id="Page_vii">[Pg vii]</a></span></p> +<h2>CONTENTS.</h2> + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr> + <td align='right'><span class="smcap">Chap.</span></td> + <td align='right'></td> + <td align='right'>Page</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align='right'>I.</td> + <td align='left'><span class="smcap">Mixed!</span></td> + <td align='right'><a href='#Page_11'>11</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align='right'>II.</td> + <td align='left'><span class="smcap">At Cheltenham,</span></td> + <td align='right'><a href='#Page_27'>27</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align='right'>III.</td> + <td align='left'><span class="smcap">Gone,</span></td> + <td align='right'><a href='#Page_47'>47</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align='right'>IV.</td> + <td align='left'><span class="smcap">Back at School,</span></td> + <td align='right'><a href='#Page_65'>65</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align='right'>V.</td> + <td align='left'><span class="smcap">Enlisted,</span></td> + <td align='right'><a href='#Page_84'>84</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align='right'>VI.</td> + <td align='left'><span class="smcap">Egypt,</span></td> + <td align='right'><a href='#Page_97'>97</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align='right'>VII.</td> + <td align='left'><span class="smcap">El-Teb,</span></td> + <td align='right'><a href='#Page_116'>116</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align='right'>VIII.</td> + <td align='left'><span class="smcap">Tamanieb,</span></td> + <td align='right'><a href='#Page_134'>134</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align='right'>IX.</td> + <td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Camel Corps,</span></td> + <td align='right'><a href='#Page_144'>144</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align='right'>X.</td> + <td align='left'><span class="smcap">An Unexpected Meeting,</span></td> + <td align='right'><a href='#Page_165'>165</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align='right'>XI.</td> + <td align='left'><span class="smcap">Abu Klea,</span></td> + <td align='right'><a href='#Page_183'>183</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align='right'>XII.</td> + <td align='left'><span class="smcap">Metemmeh,</span></td> + <td align='right'><a href='#Page_201'>201</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align='right'>XIII.</td> + <td align='left'><span class="smcap">Abu Kru,</span></td> + <td align='right'><a href='#Page_218'>218</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align='right'>XIV.</td> + <td align='left'><span class="smcap">A Slave,</span></td> + <td align='right'><a href='#Page_235'>235</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align='right'>XV.</td> + <td align='left'><span class="smcap">Bad News,</span></td> + <td align='right'><a href='#Page_253'>253</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align='right'>XVI.</td> + <td align='left'><span class="smcap">In Disguise,</span></td> + <td align='right'><a href='#Page_270'>270</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align='right'>XVII.</td> + <td align='left'><span class="smcap">A Runaway Slave,</span></td> + <td align='right'><a href='#Page_288'>288</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align='right'>XVIII.</td> + <td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Zareba,</span></td> + <td align='right'><a href='#Page_306'>306</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align='right'>XIX.</td> + <td align='left'><span class="smcap">A Long Search,</span></td> + <td align='right'><a href='#Page_325'>325</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align='right'>XX.</td> + <td align='left'><span class="smcap">Found!</span></td> + <td align='right'><a href='#Page_340'>340</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align='right'>XXI.</td> + <td align='left'><span class="smcap">Home!</span></td> + <td align='right'><a href='#Page_359'>359</a></td> +</tr> +</table></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_ix" id="Page_ix">[Pg ix]</a></span></p> +<h2>ILLUSTRATIONS.</h2> + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr> + <td align='right'></td> + <td align='right'>Page</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align='left'><a href='#image01'>"<span class="smcap">The Woman placed herself in his Way</span>,"</a></td> + <td align='right'>50</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align='left'><a href='#image02'>"<span class="smcap">Edgar struck him with all his strength</span>,"</a></td> + <td align='right'>102</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align='left'><a href='#image03'>"<span class="smcap">With a desperate rush they reached the Sailors</span>,"</a></td> + <td align='right'>123</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align='left'><a href='#image04'><span class="smcap">Towing the Boats up the Nile</span>,</a></td> + <td align='right'>163</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align='left'><a href='#image05'><span class="smcap">At the Wells of Gakdul</span>,</a></td> + <td align='right'>184</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align='left'><a href='#image06'>"<span class="smcap">The Arabs with wild yells charged upon the Square</span>,"</a></td> + <td align='right'>196</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align='left'><a href='#image07'>"<span class="smcap">Good-bye, lad, and God bless you!</span>"</a></td> + <td align='right'>210</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align='left'><a href='#image08'>"<span class="smcap">A shot had passed through her boiler</span>,"</a></td> + <td align='right'>263</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align='left'><a href='#image09'><span class="smcap">The Army of Hicks Pasha on the March</span>,</a></td> + <td align='right'>342</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align='left'><a href='#image10'>"<span class="smcap">It is Rupert's voice, but it cannot be Rupert!</span>"</a></td> + <td align='right'>357</td> +</tr> +</table></div> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr> + <td align='left'>Plan—</td> + <td align='left'><a href='#map01'>Port of Suakim,</a></td> + <td align='right'>122</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align='center'>"</td> + <td align='left'><a href='#map02'>Battle of El-teb, 29th Feb. 1884,</a></td> + <td align='center'>"</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align='center'>"</td> + <td align='left'><a href='#map03'>Battle of Abu Klea, 17th Jan. 1885,</a></td> + <td align='right'>138</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align='center'>"</td> + <td align='left'><a href='#map04'>Battle of Tamai, 13th Mar. 1884,</a></td> + <td align='center'>"</td> +</tr> +</table></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span></p> +<div class="figcenter"> + <img src="images/decorative.jpg" + alt="Decorative header" + title="Decorative header" /> +</div> + +<h2>THE DASH FOR KHARTOUM: A TALE OF THE NILE EXPEDITION.</h2> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER I</h2> + +<h3>MIXED!</h3> + +<div class="figleft"> + <img src="images/dropcap.jpg" + alt="I" + title="I" /> +</div> + +<p>n a room in the married non-commissioned officers' quarters in the +cantonments at Agra, a young woman was sitting looking thoughtfully at +two infants, who lay sleeping together on the outside of a bed with a +shawl thrown lightly over them. Jane Humphreys had been married about a +year. She was the daughter of the regimental sergeant-major, and had +been a spoilt child. She was good looking, and had, so the wives and +daughters of the other non-commissioned officers said, laid herself out +to catch one of the young officers of the regiment, and was bitterly +disappointed at the failure of her efforts.</p> + +<p>The report may have been untrue, for Jane Farran was by no means popular +with the other women, taking far too much upon herself, as they +considered, upon the strength of her father's rank, and giving herself +airs as if she were better than those around her. There were girls in +the regiment just as good looking as she was without any of her airs and +tempers. Why should she set herself up above the rest?</p> + +<p>When, however, Sergeant-major Farran died suddenly of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span> sunstroke after a +heavy field-day, whatever plans and hopes his daughter may have +entertained came to an end. Her name and that of her mother were put +down among the women to be sent, with the next batch of invalids, home +to England, and she suddenly accepted the offer of marriage of young +Sergeant Humphreys, whose advances she had previously treated with +scorn. They were married six weeks later, on the day before her mother +was to go down by train with a party of invalids to Calcutta. The +universal opinion of the women in the regiment was that the sergeant had +got a bad bargain.</p> + +<p>"No man of spirit," one of them said, "would have taken up with a girl +who only accepted him because she could not do any better. She has got +her temper written in her face, and a nice time of it he is likely to +have."</p> + +<p>It may have been true that Jane Humphreys had during her father's +lifetime had her ambitions, but she was a clever woman and adapted +herself to her circumstances. If, as the sergeant-major's daughter, she +had given herself airs, and had thrown herself in the way of the young +officers, and had been light and flighty in her manner, all this was +changed as soon as she was married, and even the most censorious were +obliged to admit that she made Sergeant Humphreys a better wife than +they had expected. His home was admirably kept, the gay dresses that had +been somewhat beyond her station were cut up and altered, and she +dressed neatly and quietly.</p> + +<p>She was handy with her fingers, her things always fitted her well, and +she gained the approbation of the officers' wives, who had previously +looked upon her with some disfavour as a forward young person. She made +every effort to get on good terms with the wives of the other +non-commissioned officers, and succeeded at last in overcoming the +prejudice which, as Jane Farran, she had excited. There was no doubt +that she was a clever woman, and it was equally beyond doubt that she +completely managed her husband. She was much his superior in education, +and possessing far greater abilities could twist<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span> him round her little +finger, although she did it so cleverly that he never suspected that he +was the victim of such an operation.</p> + +<p>A month previous to the opening of the story she had been confined of a +boy, and two days later Mrs. Clinton, the wife of the captain of her +husband's company, also became a mother. Before the week was over Mrs. +Clinton was taken dangerously ill, and as it was impossible for her to +nurse her child, the surgeon of the regiment recommended that it should +be given into the charge of the sergeant's wife, as she, being a strong +and healthy young woman, could very well nurse it as well as her own. It +was a month after this that Sergeant Humphreys, returning to his +quarters, found his wife sitting by the side of the bed on which the two +infants were asleep.</p> + +<p>"They are as alike as two peas," he said as he looked at them. "I am +sure I wonder, Jane, that you know which is which!"</p> + +<p>Mrs. Humphreys' answer did not seem to the point. "Captain Clinton is a +rich man, is he not, John?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; they say he came into a grand estate two years ago when his father +died, and that like enough he will leave the regiment when it goes home +next year."</p> + +<p>"Then one of those babies will be a rich man, and the other—" and she +stopped.</p> + +<p>"The other will, I hope, be a non-commissioned officer in the 30th Foot +one of these days," the sergeant said. Jane looked up at her husband. +There was no touch of envy or discontent in his voice. She was about to +speak but checked herself.</p> + +<p>"Which is yours, John?" she asked a moment later, returning to his first +remark.</p> + +<p>"I am sure I could not tell," he said with a laugh. "Babies are mostly +pretty much alike, and as these two are just the same age, and just the +same size, and have both got gray eyes and light coloured hair—if you +can call it hair,—and no noses to speak of, I don't see a pin's point +of difference."</p> + +<p>A month later a small party were assembled in Captain<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span> Clinton's +bungalow. Mrs. Humphreys was standing with a baby in each arm. Mrs. +Clinton was lying upon a sofa crying bitterly. Captain Clinton was +walking up and down the room, hot and angry. The surgeon of the regiment +was standing grave and sympathetic by Mrs. Clinton. Sergeant Humphreys +was in the attitude of attention by the door, with an anxious troubled +expression on his face.</p> + +<p>"What in the world is to be done, doctor?" Captain Clinton asked. "I +never heard of such a thing, it is a most serious business."</p> + +<p>"I can quite see that," the doctor replied. "When Mrs. Humphreys came to +me and asked me to break the news to you, I told her at once that it was +a terrible business. I own that I do not see that she is altogether to +blame, but it is a most unfortunate occurrence. As I have just told you, +she had, when she put the children to bed, put your child in one of her +baby's night-gowns, as it happened there were none of your child's +clean. In the morning she took them out and laid them on a rug on the +ground before beginning to wash and dress them. She went out to the +canteen to get something for her husband's breakfast, and when she +returned she could not remember the order in which she had taken them +out of bed and laid them down, and could not distinguish her own child +from yours."</p> + +<p>"You must remember, Mrs. Humphreys," Captain Clinton broke in; "think it +over, woman. You must remember how you laid them down."</p> + +<p>"Indeed, I do not, sir; I have been thinking all the morning. I had +nursed them two or three times during the night, and of course had +changed their position then. I never thought about their having the same +night-gowns on. If I had, of course I should have been more careful, for +I have said to my husband over and over again that it was only by their +clothes that I should know them apart, for if they had been twins they +could not be more alike.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span></p> + +<p>"This is downright maddening!" Captain Clinton exclaimed, pacing up and +down the room. "And is there no mark nor anything by which they can be +recognized? Why, bless me, woman, surely you as a mother ought to know +your own child!"</p> + +<p>Mrs. Humphreys shook her head. "I have nursed them both, sir, and which +is mine and which is yours I could not say to save my life."</p> + +<p>"Well, put the children down on that sofa," Captain Clinton said, "and +take yourself off for the present; you have done mischief enough for a +lifetime. I will let you know what we decide upon later on."</p> + +<p>"Well, doctor, what on earth is to be done?" he asked after the door had +closed upon the sergeant and his wife. "What do you think had best be +done, Lucy?"</p> + +<p>But Mrs. Clinton, who was but just recovering from her illness, was too +prostrated by this terrible blow to be able to offer any suggestion.</p> + +<p>"It is a terrible business indeed, Clinton," the doctor said, "and I +feel for you most deeply. Of course the possibility of such a thing +never entered my mind when I recommended you to let Mrs. Humphreys act +as its foster-mother. It seemed at the time quite a providential +circumstance that she too should be just confined, and in a position to +take to your baby. The only possible suggestion I can offer is that you +should for a time bring up both boys as your own. At present they are +certainly wonderfully alike, but it is probable that as they grow up you +will see in one or other of them a likeness to yourself or your wife, +and that the other will take after its own parents. Of course these +likenesses do not always exist, but in nine cases out of ten some +resemblance can be traced between a boy and one or other of his +parents."</p> + +<p>"That certainly seems feasible," Captain Clinton said in a tone of +relief. "What do you say, dear? It is only bringing up the two children +for a time till we are able to be certain<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span> which is our own. The other +will have had the advantage of a good education and so on, and of course +it will be our business to give him a good start in life."</p> + +<p>"It will be awful having the two children, and not knowing which is our +own."</p> + +<p>"It will be very unpleasant," Captain Clinton said soothingly; "but, you +see, in time you will come to care for them both just as if they had +been twins."</p> + +<p>"That will be almost as bad," Mrs. Clinton cried feebly. "And suppose +one gets to love the wrong one best?"</p> + +<p>"We won't suppose that, dear; but if we love them both equally, we will, +when we find out which is ours, treat the other as an adopted child and +complete his education, and start him in life as if he were so. +Fortunately the expense will be nothing to us."</p> + +<p>"But this woman has a right to one of them."</p> + +<p>"She does not deserve to have one," Captain Clinton said angrily; "but +of course we must make some arrangement with her. She is bound to do her +best to repair the terrible mischief her carelessness has caused. Well, +doctor, we will think it over for an hour or two, but certainly your +suggestion seems by far the best for us to adopt."</p> + +<p>"The hussy!" the doctor said as he walked away to his quarters. "I am +more than half inclined to believe that she has done it on purpose. I +never liked the jade before she married, though I own that she has +turned out better than I expected. But I always thought her a designing +and artful young woman, and gave her credit for plenty of brains, and +what could suit her purpose better than this change of children? She +would see that in the first place she would get her own boy well brought +up, and perhaps provided for, with all sorts of chances of making money +out of the affair. It may have been an accident, of course, but if so, +it was a wonderfully fortunate one for her."</p> + +<p>Such was the opinion among the women of the regiment<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span> when the news +became known, and Jane Humphreys was speedily made aware of the fact by +the change in their manner towards her. They had, however, but small +opportunity for demonstrating their opinion, for Mrs. Humphreys remained +shut up as much as possible in her room, and the one or two women who +were inclined to take a favourable view of the matter and so called upon +her, reported that she was completely prostrated by the occurrence. +Among the officers and their families the greatest commiseration was +felt for Captain Clinton and his wife, and the matter was discussed at +tiffin that day with great animation.</p> + +<p>"Don't you think, doctor, that a woman must know her own child?" a young +ensign asked.</p> + +<p>"Not at all, Arbuthnot; that is to say, not if you mean that she would +know it by any sort of maternal instinct. There is no such thing. She +has no more means of telling her own infant out of a dozen others of +similar complexion, age, and appearance, than she would have of picking +out her own pocket-handkerchief out of a dozen others of similar pattern +if they were all unmarked."</p> + +<p>"But a sheep can pick out his own lamb among a hundred, doctor, and I am +sure they are alike as so many peas. Surely that must be maternal +instinct?"</p> + +<p>"Not in the smallest degree, Arbuthnot. The sheep and other animals +possess in a very high degree a sense which is comparatively rudimentary +in human beings. I mean, of course, the sense of smell. A sheep knows +her lamb, and a cow knows her calf, neither by the sense of hearing or +by that of sight. She recognizes it solely and wholly by her sense of +smell, just as a dog can track its master's footsteps out of a thousand +by the same sense. The two babies are as alike as twins; and I am not +surprised that, if they really got mixed, this woman should not be able +to detect one from the other."</p> + +<p>"It is an awful thing for Clinton," the major said. "Here he has got a +splendid estate, and he will never be certain<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span> whether his own son or a +stranger is going to inherit it after him. It is enough to make a man go +out of his mind."</p> + +<p>"I don't see that that would be likely to mend matters," the doctor said +dryly; "in fact it would lessen the one chance that exists of ever +setting the matter straight. As I have told him, though these children +are very much alike at present—and indeed most babies are—it is +probable that as they grow up there will no longer be any resemblance +whatever, and that his own child will develop a likeness either to him +or Mrs. Clinton, while the other child will resemble the sergeant or his +wife."</p> + +<p>"We must hope it will be so," the major said, "though there are lots of +fellows who don't resemble in the least either of their parents. But +what is Clinton going to do about it?"</p> + +<p>"He has not settled yet. His wife was in no condition to discuss the +matter, poor lady! My suggestion was that he should bring up both the +children as if they were his own, until one or other of them develops +this likeness that I was speaking of."</p> + +<p>"I suppose that is the best thing they can do, doctor; but it will be an +awful business if, as they grow up, no likeness to anybody can be +detected in either of them."</p> + +<p>"Well, major, although at present it does seem an awful thing, it won't +seem so bad at the end, say, of twenty years. They will naturally by +that time be as fond of one as the other. The boys, in fact, will be +like twins; and I suppose the property can be divided in some such way +as it would be were they really in that relation to each other."</p> + +<p>"But, you see, doctor," one of the captains said, "Mrs. Humphreys has to +be considered to a certain extent too. It is hard on Mrs. Clinton; but +if she gets both boys she is certain at any rate that one of them is her +son, and Mrs. Humphreys will, by that arrangement, have to lose her +child altogether. That seems to me pretty rough on her."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Well, she brought it on herself," the doctor replied. "The whole thing +has arisen from her carelessness."</p> + +<p>"Do you think it was carelessness, doctor?" the major asked.</p> + +<p>"That is a matter on which I will give no opinion, major. It is one upon +which one man can form a judgment as well as another. The thing may very +well have happened in the way she describes; and again it may be a very +cunningly devised plot on her part. It is evident she had everything to +gain by such an accident. She would get her child taken off her hands, +educated, and provided for. She would calculate no doubt that she would +be their nurse, and would expect, in return for giving up her claim to +one or other of them, some very distinct monetary advantages. I do not +at all say that the affair was not an accident. Upon the contrary, I +admit that it was an accident which might very well happen under the +circumstances. What I do say is, nothing could have turned out better +for her."</p> + +<p>Just as tiffin was finished, Captain Clinton's soldier-servant came into +the mess-room with the request that Dr. Parker should go across to his +master's bungalow. "Well, doctor," Captain Clinton said as he entered, +"in the first place I want you to go up and see my wife, and give her a +sedative or something, for she is terribly upset over this affair; and +in the next place I want to tell you that we have agreed to take your +advice in the matter, and to bring up the two children as our own until +we can make out which of the two is our child; then I want your advice +as to whether they can be weaned without any damage to their health. My +wife is determined upon that point. They shall not be brought up by Mrs. +Humphreys. There is no other woman, is there, in the regiment with a +young baby?"</p> + +<p>The doctor shook his head. "There are one or two with babies, but not +with babies young enough for her to take to these. It would certainly be +far better that they should have<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span> the natural nourishment, but I do not +say that they would necessarily suffer from being weaned. Still, you +see, Clinton, there is a question whether this woman will consent to +part with both the children."</p> + +<p>"I quite see that, doctor, and of course I shall be ready to make any +money arrangements that will content her."</p> + +<p>"I would see the husband, if I were you," the doctor said. "He is a +steady, well-conducted young fellow, and however this matter has come +about, I quite acquit him of having any share in it. I think you will +find it more easy to deal with him than his wife. Unfortunately, you +see, there is always a difficulty with adopted children. A father cannot +sell away his rights; he may agree to do so, but if he changes his mind +afterwards he can back out of his agreement. However he may bind himself +never to interfere with it, the fact remains that he has a legal right +to the custody of his child. And though Sergeant Humphreys might keep +any agreement he might make, the mother might give you no end of trouble +afterwards."</p> + +<p>"I see all that, doctor, but of the two evils I think the one we propose +is the least. My wife says she could not bear to see this woman about +the children, and I have a good deal of the same feeling myself. At any +rate in her present state of health I wish to spare her all trouble and +anxiety as much as I can, and therefore it is better to buy this woman +off for the present, even though we may have to run the risk of trouble +with her afterwards. Anyhow, something must be done at once. The +children have both been squalling for the last hour, though I believe +that they have had some milk or something given to them. So I had better +send across for Humphreys, the sooner the matter is got over the +better."</p> + +<p>The young sergeant presently appeared.</p> + +<p>"Sit down, sergeant. I want to have a talk with you over this terribly +painful business. In one respect I quite understand that it is as +painful for you and Mrs. Humphreys as it is for us, but in other +respects you are much better off than I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span> am. Not only do I not know +which is my child, but I do not know which is heir to my estate; which +is, as you will understand, a most serious matter."</p> + +<p>"I can quite understand that, sir," the sergeant said quietly.</p> + +<p>"The only plan that I can see," Captain Clinton went on, "is that for +the present I shall adopt both children, and shall bring them up as my +own. Probably in time one of them will grow up with some resemblance to +myself or Mrs. Clinton, and the other will show a likeness to you or +your wife. In that case I should propose to finish the education of your +boy, and then to provide for him by putting him into the army, or such +other profession as he may choose; for it would be very unfair after +bringing him up and educating him as my own to turn him adrift. Thus, +you see, in any case my adoption of him would be greatly to his benefit. +I can, of course, thoroughly understand that it will be very hard for +you and Mrs. Humphreys to give up your child. Very hard. And I am quite +ready to make any pecuniary arrangement with you and her that you may +think right. I may say that I do not think that it would be desirable +that Mrs. Humphreys should continue as their nurse. I want to consider +the boys as my own, and her presence would be constantly bringing up +unpleasant remembrances. In the second place I think that it would be +better for her that she should not act as their nurse. She would know +that one of them is her own, and the separation when it came would be +very much more painful than it would be at present. Of course I do not +expect an answer from you just at this moment. You will naturally wish +to talk it over with her, but I shall be glad if you will let us have an +answer as soon as you can, as it is necessary that we should obtain +another nurse without loss of time."</p> + +<p>"What you say seems to me very fair, Captain Clinton," the sergeant +said. "I would give anything, sir, that this shouldn't have happened. I +would rather have shot myself first. I can answer for myself, sir, that +I accept your offer.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span> Of course, I am sorry to lose the child; but a +baby is not much to a man till it gets to know him and begins to talk, +and it will be a satisfaction to know that he is in good hands, with a +far better look-out than I could have given him. I will see my wife, +sir, and let you know in half an hour."</p> + +<p>"Do you think that she will consent, Humphreys?"</p> + +<p>"I am sure she will," the sergeant said briefly, and then added, "There +is nothing else she could do," and saluting he went out of the room.</p> + +<p>"He suspects his wife of having done it on purpose," Dr. Parker said, +speaking for the first time since the sergeant had entered the room. "I +don't say he knows it, but he suspects it. Did you notice how decidedly +he said that she would consent? And I fancy up to now she has had her +own way in everything."</p> + +<p>"Well, what do they say?" Mrs. Humphreys asked as her husband entered +the door. He told her shortly the offer that had been made. She laughed +scornfully. "A likely thing that! So they are to have both children, and +I am not to be allowed even to see them; and they are to pick and choose +as to which they like to say is theirs, and we are to be shouldered out +of it altogether! It is just as bad for me not to know which is my boy +as it is for that woman; but they are to take the whole settlement of +things in their hands, my feelings to go for nothing. Of course you told +them that you would not let them do such a thing?"</p> + +<p>"I did not tell them anything of the sort. I told them that I accepted +their proposal, and that I could answer for your accepting it too."</p> + +<p>"Then you were never more wrong in your life, John Humphreys!" she said +angrily; "I won't consent to anything of the sort. Luck has thrown a +good thing in our hands, and I mean to make the most of it. We ought to +get enough out of this to make us comfortable for life if we work it +well. I did not think that you were such a soft!"</p> + +<p>"Soft or not soft, it is going to be done as they propose,"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span> her husband +said doggedly. "It is burden enough as it is—we have lost our child. +Not that I care so very much about that; there will be time enough for +more, and children do not add to the comfort of close little quarters +like these. But whether we like it or not, we have lost the child. In +the next place we shall never hear the end of it in the regiment, and I +shall see if I cannot manage to get transferred to another. There will +be no standing the talk there will be."</p> + +<p>"Let them talk!" his wife said scornfully. "What do we care about their +talk!"</p> + +<p>"I care a great deal," he said. "And I tell you why, because I know what +they will say is true."</p> + +<p>"What do you mean?" she asked quickly.</p> + +<p>"I mean, Jane, that I know you mixed up those children on purpose."</p> + +<p>"How dare you say so!" she exclaimed making a step forward as if she +would strike him.</p> + +<p>"I will tell you why I say so. Because I went to the drawer this morning +before going to parade, and I saw some of Mrs. Clinton's baby's +night-gowns in it. Yes, I see they are all in the wash-tub now; but they +were there this morning, and when I heard you say you had put the child +into one of our baby's night-gowns because it had no clean ones of its +own, I knew that you were lying, and that you had done this on purpose."</p> + +<p>The woman was silent a moment and then burst out, "You are a greater +fool than ever I thought you! I did tell a lie when I gave that reason +for putting the child into our baby's gown. When I took the two clean +ones out of the drawer I did not notice until I put them on that they +were both ours, and then I thought it was not worth while changing again +just as the child had got quiet and comfortable. Then when I found what +had happened in the morning, I had to make some excuse or other, and +that occurred to me as the best. When I came back I did put them all +into the wash-tub, clean<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span> and dirty, in case any one should come here to +see about them. What harm was there in that, I should like to know?"</p> + +<p>"You have acknowledged you have told one lie over it; after that you may +say what you like, but you need not expect me to believe you."</p> + +<p>"Well, why don't you go at once and tell them that you believe that I +changed the children on purpose?"</p> + +<p>"Because in the first place I cannot prove it, and because in the second +case you are my wife, Jane. I took you for better or worse, and whatever +you have done it is not for me to round on you. Anyhow, I will do all I +can to set this matter straight, and the only way that I see it can be +set straight is by doing as Captain Clinton says—by letting him have +the two children until they grow up, and then see which of the two is +like them and which is like us. What do you want done? I suppose you +don't want to have the care of them both. I suppose you don't want to +get paid for letting them keep them both, and to have every man and +woman in the regiment asking the question, Who sold their child? What is +it you do want?"</p> + +<p>"I want to go as their nurse."</p> + +<p>"Well, then, you cannot do it. It is evident that Mrs. Clinton hates the +sight of you, and no wonder; and she won't have you at any price. You +had best be contented with what you have got."</p> + +<p>"What have I got?" she asked sullenly.</p> + +<p>"Well, you have got the trouble of the child off your hands, you have +got the knowledge that it will be well taken care of and provided for +and made a gentleman of. That ought to be a satisfaction to you anyhow."</p> + +<p>"What is that when we might make a nice little fortune out of it?"</p> + +<p>"I can see no way of making a fortune," he said, "unless you do know +which is which, and offer to tell them if they will pay you for it. In +which case, instead of making a fortune<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span> you would be likely to find +yourself inside a prison for years—and serve you right."</p> + +<p>The woman was silent for some time, then she said, "Very well, then, I +will agree to their terms; but mind you, I will make money out of it +yet." And so Sergeant Humphreys went across to Captain Clinton's +bungalow and told him that his wife agreed to give up both children.</p> + +<p>"It is by far the best thing for the little chap whichever he may be, +and you will be able to do a deal more for him than I ever could. My +wife did not quite see the matter at first, but she has come round to my +way of thinking. No, sir, we do not want to be paid," as Captain Clinton +was about to speak; "as long as I am fit for service we want nothing. +Some day, perhaps, when I get past service I may ask you to give me a +job as a lodge-keeper or some such post, where I can earn my living."</p> + +<p>And so the matter was settled. One of the other officers' wives had +already lent her ayah to take care of the children until one could be +found for them.</p> + +<p>The ready manner in which Sergeant Humphreys had done the only thing in +his power to obviate the effects of his wife's carelessness restored him +at once to the good opinion of his fellow sergeants and the men, as it +was generally allowed that he had done the right thing, and that no one +could do more. Opinion, however, was less favourable as to his wife. It +was soon evident to all who lived in the non-commissioned officers' +quarters that things were not going on well between Sergeant Humphreys +and his wife. There were frequent and violent quarrels. The sergeant was +often down at the canteen drinking more than was good for him.</p> + +<p>One day Captain Clinton sent for him. "Sergeant, I am sorry to say that +I hear from the sergeant-major that you were drunk last night, and that +you have several times been the worse for liquor. It is not a formal +complaint, but I thought it better to talk to you. You have always been +a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span> very steady man, and I should be sorry in the extreme if any thing +should happen which would cause you to be brought before the colonel. I +have no doubt this affair has troubled you greatly, and that it is +entirely owing to that that you have become unsettled. Try to pull +yourself round, man. You know that nobody attributes the slightest +shadow of blame to you in the matter."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, sir. I was coming to see you if you hadn't sent for me, to +say that I wished to give up my stripes and return to the ranks. I know +I shall be degraded if I don't do it of my own free-will, and I would +rather go down than be sent down."</p> + +<p>"But what will your wife do? It would be a great change to her, +Humphreys."</p> + +<p>"My wife has made up her mind to go home, sir, and I think it is the +best thing she can do. She will never be comfortable in the regiment, +and to say the truth we are not comfortable together. She says that she +has friends in England she will go and stay with, and I think it is best +to let her go. I would rather cut my hand off than ask for any thing for +myself, but as I am sure that it is for the best that she should go, and +as I don't hear of any invalids or women going home at present, I should +be very much obliged if you would lend me twenty pounds. I have got +thirty laid by, and fifty will be enough to send her across by rail to +Bombay, pay her passage home, and leave her twenty pounds in hand when +she gets there. I will pay it off so much a month."</p> + +<p>"You are welcome to twenty pounds without any talk of repayment, +Humphreys. But I wouldn't take any hasty step if I were you. If your +wife and you have had a quarrel she may change her mind in a day or two, +and think better of it."</p> + +<p>"No, sir; I think we are pretty well agreed on the point that she had +best go home. People make mistakes sometimes, and I think we both made a +mistake when we got married.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span> Anyhow, we have both agreed that it is +best to part for a time."</p> + +<p>Accordingly three or four days later Mrs. Humphreys left Agra for +Bombay, and was seen no more in the regiment. Sergeant Humphreys gave up +his stripes and returned to the ranks, and for two years remained there. +After his wife had left him he gradually gave up the habit into which he +had fallen, and at the end of the two years again became a +non-commissioned officer. He was never heard to speak of his wife after +she left him, nor so far as his comrades knew did he ever receive a +letter from her. Soon after he had again got his stripes the regiment +returned to England, and a month later Captain Clinton sent in his +papers and retired from the service.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER II.</h2> + +<h3>AT CHELTENHAM.</h3> + + +<p>"Everything packed and ready, boys?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, father, I think so."</p> + +<p>"The dog-cart will be at the door at eleven. Be sure and be ready in +time. It won't do to miss your train, you know. Well, you have had a +pleasant holiday this time, haven't you?"</p> + +<p>"Very," both boys replied together.</p> + +<p>"It has been awfully jolly," one went on, "and that trip in Brittany was +certainly the best thing we have done, though we have always enjoyed our +holidays. It is ever so much nicer going to out-of-the-way sort of +places, and stopping at jolly little inns without any crowd and fuss, +than being in those great Swiss hotels as we were last year, where every +one was English, and one had to be in at regular times and almost fight +to get something to eat. I hope next year you will be able to take us to +Norway, as you were saying yesterday. I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span> should think it would be just +the same sort of thing as Brittany, only, of course, different sort of +scenery, and different language and different people. Madge, you will +have to set to and get up Norse to act as our interpreter."</p> + +<p>"You are very lazy boys. I had to do all the talking in Brittany. You +are supposed to have learnt French longer than I have."</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes; supposed. Nobody cares about their French lessons. They make +no difference in your place in the school, and so no one takes the +trouble to grind at them. Well, come along, let us take a turn round the +place for an hour before we start." And the two boys and Madge, who was +a year their junior, went out through the French window into the garden.</p> + +<p>Captain Clinton walked to the window and looked after them. They were +lads any father might be proud of, straight, well-built, handsome +English lads of about sixteen. Rupert was somewhat taller than Edgar, +while the latter had slightly the advantage in breadth of shoulders. +Beyond the fact that both had brown hair and gray eyes there was no +marked likeness between them, and their school-fellows often wondered +that there should not be more similarity between twins. Both had +pleasant open faces, and they were equally popular among their +school-fellows. As to which was the cleverest, there were no means of +ascertaining; for although both were at Cheltenham together, one was on +the modern and the other on the classical side, Captain Clinton having +made this arrangement purposely in order that there should be no rivalry +between them, and the unpleasantness that sometimes arises when two +brothers are at the same school, and one is more clever than the other, +was thereby obviated. Rupert was the more lively of the two, and +generally did the largest share of talking when they were together; but +Edgar, although he talked less, had the more lively sense of humour, and +the laughter that broke out in the garden was caused by some quiet +remark of his. Captain Clinton turned sharply round upon hearing a sigh +from his wife.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Well, Lucy, I know what you are thinking: another holiday over, and we +are no nearer to the truth. I own that our plan has failed so far, for I +can't see in either of the boys a shadow of resemblance either to you or +myself. Some people profess to see likenesses. Mr. Tomline remarked +yesterday that he should have known Rupert anywhere as my son, but then +Colonel Wilson said the day before that Edgar had got just your +expression. I don't see a scrap of likeness either way, and I begin to +think, dear, that I don't want to see it."</p> + +<p>"No, I don't want to see it either, Percy; I love one as well as the +other. Still I should like to know which is our own."</p> + +<p>"I used to think so too, Lucy; but I have been doubting for some time +about it, and now I am quite sure that I don't want to know. They are +both fine lads, and, as you say, we love one just as well as the other. +Parental instinct, you see, goes for nothing. I should like to know that +one of them was my son, but on the other hand I should be very sorry to +know that the other wasn't. I think, dear, that it is much better as it +is. We have got two sons instead of one; and after all, the idea that +there would be a great satisfaction in the real one inheriting all our +landed property has very little in it. There is plenty for them both, +and each of them will be just as happy on three thousand a year as he +would on six.</p> + +<p>"As matters stand now, I have divided the property as nearly as possible +equally between them. Madge, of course, will have her share; and I have +left it in my will that they shall draw lots which shall have the part +with the house and park on it, while the other is to have a sum of money +sufficient to build an equally good house on his share of the estate. We +can only hope that chance will be wiser than we, and will give the old +house to the right boy. However, whether our son or our adopted son, +whichever be which, gets it, does not concern me greatly. There is +enough for our son to hold a good position and be comfortable and happy. +Beyond this I do not trouble. At any rate the grievance, if there is a +grievance, is a sentimental<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span> one; while it would be a matter of real +grief to me should either of them, after having always looked upon us as +his parents, come to know that he does not belong to us, and that he has +been all along in a false position, and has been in fact but an +interloper here. That would be terribly hard for him—so hard that I +have ceased to wish that the matter should ever be cleared up, and to +dread rather than hope that I should discover an unmistakable likeness +to either of us in one or other of them."</p> + +<p>"You are right, Percy; and henceforth I will worry no more about it. It +would be hard, dreadfully hard, on either of them to know that he was +not our son; and henceforth I will, like you, try to give up wishing +that I could tell which is which. I hope they will never get to know +that there is any doubt about it."</p> + +<p>"I am afraid we can hardly hope that," Captain Clinton said. "There are +too many people who know the story. Of course it was talked about at +every station in India at the time, and I know that even about here it +is generally known. No, it will be better some day or other to tell it +them ourselves, making, of course, light of the matter, and letting them +see that we regard them equally as our sons, and love and care for them +alike, and that even if we now knew the truth it could make no +difference in our feelings towards them. It is much better they should +learn it from us than from anyone else."</p> + +<p>At eleven o'clock the dog-cart came to the door. The boys were ready. +Captain Clinton drove them to the station four miles away, and in two +hours after leaving home they arrived at Cheltenham with a large number +of their school-fellows, some of whom had been in the train when they +entered it, while others had joined them at Gloucester. At Cheltenham +there was a scramble for vehicles, and they were soon at the +boarding-house of Mr. River-Smith, which had the reputation of being the +most comfortable of the Cheltenham boarding-houses.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span></p> + +<p>There was a din of voices through the house, and in the pleasure of +meeting again and of exchanging accounts of how the holidays had been +spent, the few lingering regrets that school-time had come round again +completely vanished. Then there was a discussion as to the football +prospects and who would get their house colours in place of those who +had gone, and whether River-Smith's was likely to retain the position it +had won by its victories over other houses in the previous season; and +the general opinion was that their chances were not good.</p> + +<p>"You see," Skinner, the captain of the team, said to a party gathered in +the senior boys' study, "Harrison and White will be better than last +year, but Wade will of course be a great loss; his weight and strength +told tremendously in a scrimmage. Hart was a capital half-back too, and +there was no better goal-keeper in the college than Wilson. We have not +got any one to take their places, and there are four other vacancies in +the team, and in each case those who have left were a lot bigger and +stronger than any of the young ones we have got to choose from. I don't +know who they will be yet, and must wait for the trial matches before we +decide; but I think there is plenty of good material to choose from, and +we shall be nearly all up to last year's mark, except in point of +weight—there is a terrible falling off there, and we have no one who +can fill the place of Wade. He was as strong as a bull; yes, he is an +awful loss to us! There was not a fellow in the college who could go +through a grease as he could. You remember last year how he rolled those +fellows of Bishop's over and carried the ball right through them, and +then kicked the deciding goal? That was grand! Why don't some of you +fellows grow up like him?" And he looked round reproachfully at his +listeners. "Over thirteen stone Wade was, and there is not one of you +above eleven and a half—anyhow, not more than a few pounds."</p> + +<p>"Why don't you set us an example?" Edgar Clinton asked;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span> and there was a +laugh, for the captain of the team was all wire and muscle and could not +turn ten stone.</p> + +<p>"I am not one of that kind," he said; "but there is Wordsworth, who is +pretty near six feet in length, and who, if he gave his mind to it and +would but eat his food quietly instead of bolting it, might put some +flesh on those spindle-shanks of his and fill himself out till he got +pretty near to Wade's weight. A fellow ought to do something for his +house, and I call it a mere waste of bone when a fellow doesn't put some +flesh on him."</p> + +<p>"I can run," Wordsworth said apologetically.</p> + +<p>"Yes, you can run when you get the ball," Skinner said in a tone of +disgust; "but if a fellow half your height runs up against you, over you +go. You must lay yourself out for pudding, Wordsworth. With that, and +eating your food more slowly, you really might get to be of some use to +the house."</p> + +<p>Wordsworth grumbled something about his having done his share last year.</p> + +<p>"It all depends what you think your share is," Skinner said severely. +"You did your best, I have no doubt, and you certainly got a good many +goals, but that arose largely from the fact that there was nothing +tangible in you. You see, you were something like a jointed +walking-stick, and, naturally, it puzzled fellows. You have grown wider +a bit since then, and must therefore try to make yourself useful in some +other line. What we want is weight, and the sooner you put weight on the +better. I see Easton has not come yet."</p> + +<p>"He never comes until the evening train," another said. "He always +declares it has something to do with cross lines not fitting in."</p> + +<p>"It takes him so long," Skinner growled, "to fold up his things without +a crease, to scent his pocket-handkerchief, and to get his hair to his +satisfaction, that you may be quite sure he cannot make an early start. +As he is not here, and all the rest that are left out of last year's +team are, it is a good<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span> opportunity to talk him over. I did not like +having him in the team last year, though he certainly did better than +some. What do you think? Ought we to have him this year or not? I have +been thinking a lot about it."</p> + +<p>"I don't care for him," Scudamore said, "but I am bound to say he does +put off all that finicking nonsense when he gets his football jersey on, +and plays a good, hard game, and does not seem to mind in the least how +muddy or dirty he gets. I should certainly put him in again, Skinner, if +I were you."</p> + +<p>There was a murmur of assent from three or four of the others.</p> + +<p>"Well, I suppose he ought to play," Skinner said; "but it does rile me +to see him come sauntering up as if it was quite an accident that he was +there, and talk in that drawling, affected sort of way."</p> + +<p>"It is riling," another said; "but besides that I do not think there is +much to complain about him, and his making an ass of himself at other +times does not affect us so long as he plays well in the team."</p> + +<p>"No, I do not know that it does, but all the same it is a nuisance when +one fellow keeps himself to himself and never seems to go in for +anything. I do not suppose Easton means to give himself airs, but there +is nothing sociable about him."</p> + +<p>"I think he is a kind-hearted fellow," Edgar Clinton said, speaking, +however, with less decision than usual, as became one who was not yet in +the first form. "When young Jackson twisted his ankle so badly last term +at the junior high jump, I know he used to go up and sit with him, and +read with him for an hour at a time pretty near every day. I used often +to wish I could manage to get up to him, but somehow I never could spare +time; but Easton did, though he was in the college four and was working +pretty hard too. I have known two or three other things he has done on +the quiet. I don't care for his way of dressing nor for his drawling way +of talking, in fact, I don't care for him at all personally; but he is a +good-natured fellow in spite of his nonsense."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Well, then, we must try him again," Skinner said, "and see how he does +in the trial matches. There is no certainty about him, that is what I +hate; one day he plays up and does uncommonly well, then the next day he +does not seem to take a bit of interest in the game."</p> + +<p>"I have noticed several times," Scudamore said, "that Easton's play +depends very much on the state of the game: if we are getting the best +of it he seems to think that there is no occasion to exert himself, but +if the game is going against us he pulls himself together and goes into +it with all his might."</p> + +<p>"He does that," Skinner agreed; "that is what riles me in the fellow. He +can play a ripping good game when he likes, but then he does not always +like. However, as I said, we will give him another trial."</p> + +<p>Half an hour later the subject of the conversation arrived. He was in +the first form on the classical side, and was going up at the next +examination for Sandhurst. Easton was one of the monitors, but seldom +asserted his authority or put himself out in any way to perform the +duties of the office. He was dressed with scrupulous care, and no one +from his appearance would have said that he had just come off a railway +journey. He nodded all round in a careless way as he came in, and there +was none of the boisterous friendliness that had marked the meeting of +most of the others.</p> + +<p>"Affected ass!" Skinner growled to Rupert who was next to him.</p> + +<p>"You are a prejudiced beggar, Skinner," Rupert laughed. "You know very +well he is not an ass, and I am not at all sure he is affected. I +suppose it is the way he has been brought up. There is no saying what +you might have been yourself if you had had nurses and people about you +who always insisted on your turning out spick-and-span. Well, Easton, +what have you been doing with yourself since we saw you last?"</p> + +<p>"I have been on the Continent most of the time," Easton said, in the +quiet, deliberate tone that was so annoying to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span> Skinner. "Spent most of +the time in Germany: had a week at Munich, and the same time in Dresden +doing the picture-gallery."</p> + +<p>"That must have been a treat," Skinner said sarcastically.</p> + +<p>"Yes, it was very pleasant. The worst of it is, standing about so long +makes one's feet ache."</p> + +<p>"I wonder you did not have a bath-chair, Easton; delicate people go +about in them, you know."</p> + +<p>"It would be a very pleasant way, Skinner, only I don't think I could +bring myself to it."</p> + +<p>There was a laugh at his taking Skinner's suggestion seriously.</p> + +<p>"What have you been doing, Skinner?"</p> + +<p>"I have been up in Scotland climbing hills, and getting myself in good +condition for football," Skinner replied shortly.</p> + +<p>"Ah, football? Yes, I suppose we shall be playing football this term."</p> + +<p>There was another laugh, excited principally by the angry growl with +which Skinner greeted this indifference to what was to him the principal +feature of the year.</p> + +<p>"I shouldn't mind football," Easton went on, after looking round as if +unable to understand what the others were laughing at, "if it wasn't for +the dirt. Of course it is annoying to be kicked in the shins and to be +squeezed horribly in the greases, but it is the dirt I object to most. +If one could but get one's flannels and jerseys properly washed every +time it would not matter so much, but it is disgusting to have to put on +things that look as if they had been rolled in mud."</p> + +<p>"I wonder you play at all, Easton," Skinner said angrily.</p> + +<p>"Well, I wonder myself sometimes," Easton said placidly. "I suppose it +is a relic of our original savage nature, when men did not mind dirt, +and lived by hunting and fighting and that sort of thing."</p> + +<p>"And had never learned the nuisance of stiff shirts and collars, and +never heard of such a thing as a tailor, and did not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span> part their hair in +the middle, Easton, and had never used soap," Skinner broke in.</p> + +<p>"No; it must have been beastly," Easton said gravely. "I am very glad +that I did not live in those days."</p> + +<p>"Ah, you would have suffered horribly if you had, wouldn't you?"</p> + +<p>"Well, I don't know, Skinner; I suppose I should have done as other +people did. If one does not know the comfort of a wash and a clean +shirt, one would not miss it, you see. I have sometimes thought—"</p> + +<p>"Oh, never mind what you thought," Skinner broke in out of all patience. +"Come, let us go for a walk; it is no use stopping here all this fine +afternoon. Let us take a good long spin. I can see half you fellows are +out of condition altogether, and the sooner we begin work the better. +Will you come, Easton? After lolling about looking at pictures a +twelve-mile spin will do you good."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, Skinner; I don't know that I want any good done to me. I +should not mind a walk, if it is to be a walk; but a walk with you +generally means rushing across ploughed fields and jumping into ditches, +and getting one's self hot and uncomfortable, and splashing one's self +from head to foot. It is bad enough in flannels, but it is downright +misery in one's ordinary clothes. But I don't mind a game at rackets, if +anyone is disposed for it."</p> + +<p>"I will play you," Mossop said. "I want to get my hand in before the +racket matches come off."</p> + +<p>So they went and put on their flannels and racket shoes, while the rest +of the party started for a long walk with Skinner.</p> + +<p>"I am glad he has not come," the football captain said as they started; +"he drives me out of all patience."</p> + +<p>"I don't think you have much to drive out of you, Skinner," Rupert +Clinton laughed. "I believe Easton puts about half of it on, on purpose +to excite you. I am sure just now I saw a little amusement in his face +when he was talking so gravely."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span></p> + +<p>"He will find he has got in the wrong box," Skinner said angrily, "if he +tries to chaff me."</p> + +<p>A quiet smile was exchanged among the others, for Easton was tall and +well built and had the reputation of being the best boxer in the school; +and although Skinner was tough and wiry, he would have stood no chance +in an encounter with him.</p> + +<p>"Well, how did you get on, Mossop?" Scudamore asked as they sat down to +tea.</p> + +<p>"Easton beat me every game. I had no idea that he was so good. He says +he does not intend to play for the racket, but if he did he would have a +first-rate chance. I was in the last ties last year and I ought to have +a good chance this, but either I am altogether out of practice or he is +wonderfully good. I was asking him, and he said in his lazy way that +they had got a decent racket-court at his place, and that he had been +knocking the balls about a bit since he came home."</p> + +<p>"If he is good enough to win," Pinkerton, the captain of the house, +said, "he ought to play for the honour of the house. He has never played +in any matches here before. I did not know he played at all."</p> + +<p>"That is the way with Easton," Edgar Clinton said; "he is good all +round, only he never takes trouble to show it. He could have been in the +college cricket eleven last year if he liked, only he said he could not +spare the time. Though Skinner doesn't think so, I believe he is one of +the best in our football team; when he chooses to exert himself he is +out and out the best chess player in the house; and I suppose he is safe +to pass in high for Sandhurst."</p> + +<p>"He is a queer fellow," Pinkerton said, "one never knows what he can do +and what he can't. At the last exam Glover said that the papers he sent +in were far and away the best, but that he had only done the difficult +questions and hadn't sent in any answers at all to the easy ones, so +that instead of coming in first he was five or six down the list. I +believe myself he did not want to beat me, because if he had he would +have<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span> been head of the house, and that would have been altogether too +much trouble for him. Glover wanted him to go up for the last Indian +Civil, and told him he was sure that he could get in if he tried, but +Easton said he wasn't fond of heat and had no fancy for India."</p> + +<p>"I suppose he was afraid to take the starch out of his collars," Edgar +laughed. "Ah! here he is; late as usual."</p> + +<p>Easton strolled quietly in and took his place, looking annoyingly fresh +and clean by the side of those who had accompanied Skinner on his walk, +and who, in spite of vigorous use of clothes brushes, showed signs of +cross-country running.</p> + +<p>"Have you had a pleasant walk?" he asked calmly.</p> + +<p>"Very pleasant," Skinner said, in a tone that defied contradiction. "A +delightful walk; just the thing for getting a little into condition."</p> + +<p>There was a murmur of assent among the boys who had accompanied him, but +there was no great heartiness in the sound; for indeed Skinner had +pressed them all to a much higher rate of speed than was pleasant in +their ordinary clothes, although they would not have minded it in +flannels.</p> + +<p>"You all look as if you had enjoyed it," Easton said, regarding them one +by one with an air of innocent approval; "warmed yourselves up a bit, I +should say. I remark a general disappearance of collars, and Rupert +Clinton's face is scratched as if he had been having a contest with some +old lady's cat."</p> + +<p>"I went head-foremost into a hedge," Rupert laughed. "My foot slipped in +the mud just as I was taking off, and I took a regular header into it."</p> + +<p>"And what is the matter with your hand, Wordsworth?"</p> + +<p>"A beast of a dog bit me. We were going across a field, and the brute +came out from a farmhouse. My wind had gone, and I happened to be last +and he made at me. Some fool has written in a book that if you keep your +eyes fixed upon a dog he will never bite you. I fixed my eye on him like +a gimlet but it did not act, and he came right at me and sprang at<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span> me +and knocked me down and got my hand in his mouth, and I don't know what +would have happened if Skinner hadn't pulled a stick out of the hedge, +and rushed back and hit him such a lick across the back that he went off +yelping. Then the farmer let fly with a double-barrelled gun from his +garden; but luckily we were pretty well out of reach, though two or +three shots hit Scudamore on the cheek and ear and pretty nearly drew +blood. He wanted to go back to fight the farmer, but as the fellow would +have reloaded by the time he got there, and there was the dog into the +bargain, we lugged him off."</p> + +<p>"Quite an adventurous afternoon," Easton said in a tone of cordial +admiration, which elicited a growl from Skinner.</p> + +<p>"You wish you had been with us, don't you?" he said, with what was meant +to be a sneer.</p> + +<p>"No, rackets was quite hard work enough for me; and I don't see much fun +in either taking a header into a hedge, being bitten by a farmer's dog, +or being peppered by the man himself. Still, no doubt these things are +pleasant for those who like them. What has become of Templar?"</p> + +<p>"He fell into a ditch," Wordsworth said; "and he just was in a state. He +had to go up to the matron for a change of clothes. He will be here in a +minute, I expect."</p> + +<p>"Quite a catalogue of adventures. If I had known beforehand that there +was going to be so much excitement I might have been tempted to go with +you. I am afraid, Mossop, I have kept you out of quite a good thing."</p> + +<p>"There, shut up Easton!" Pinkerton said, for he saw that Skinner was at +the point of explosion; "let us have peace and quiet this first night. +You have got the best of it, there is no doubt. Skinner would admit +that."</p> + +<p>"No I wouldn't," Skinner interrupted.</p> + +<p>"Never mind whether you would or not, Skinner, it clearly is so. Now, +let us change the conversation. For my part I cannot make out why one +fellow cannot enjoy football and that sort of thing, and another like to +lie on his back in the shade,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span> without squabbling over it. If Skinner +had his own way he would never sit quiet a minute, if Easton had his he +would never exert himself to walk across the room. It is a matter of +taste. I like half and half, but I do not want to interfere with either +of your fancies. Now, it is about time to set to work. I expect there +are a good many holiday tasks not perfect."</p> + +<p>There was a chorus of assent, and the senior boys went off to their +private studies, and the juniors to the large study, where they worked +under the eye of the house-master.</p> + +<p>Skinner's mournful anticipations as to the effect of the want of weight +in the football team were speedily verified. The trial matches were +almost all lost, the team being fairly borne down by the superior weight +of their opponents. There was general exasperation at these disasters, +for River-Smith's House had for some years stood high, and to be beaten +in match after match was trying indeed. Skinner took the matter terribly +to heart, and was in a chronic state of disgust and fury. As Easton +observed to Edgar Clinton:</p> + +<p>"Skinner is becoming positively dangerous. He is like a Scotch terrier +with a sore ear, and snaps at every one who comes near him."</p> + +<p>"Still it is annoying," Edgar, who thoroughly sympathized with Skinner, +said.</p> + +<p>"Well, yes, it is annoying. I am annoyed myself, and it takes a good +deal to annoy me. I think we ought to do some thing."</p> + +<p>"Well, it seems to me that we have been doing all we can," Edgar said. +"I am sure you have, for it was only yesterday Skinner was holding you +up as an example to some of us. He said, 'You ought all to be ashamed of +yourselves. Why, look at that lazy beggar Easton, he works as hard as +the whole lot of you put together. If it was not for him I should say we +had better chuck it altogether.'"</p> + +<p>"I observe that Skinner has been a little more civil to me lately," +Easton said. "Yes, I do my best. I object to the whole<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span> thing, but if +one does play one does not like being beaten. I think we had better have +a talk over the matter together."</p> + +<p>"But we are always talking over the matter," Edgar objected. "All the +fellows who had a chance of turning out well have been tried, and I am +sure we play up well together. Every one says that we are beaten just +because we cannot stand their rushes."</p> + +<p>That afternoon the house was badly beaten by the Greenites in the trial +match, and as there was a special rivalry between Green's and +River-Smith's the disgust not only of the members of the team but of the +whole house was very great. Seven of the seniors met after tea in +Skinner's study to discuss the situation.</p> + +<p>"I don't see any thing to be done," Skinner said, after various possible +changes in the team had been discussed; "it is not play we want, it is +weight. The Greenites must average at least a stone and a half heavier +than we do. I have nothing to say against the playing. We simply cannot +stand against them; we go down like nine-pins. No, I suppose we shall +lose every match this season. But I don't see any use in talking any +more about it. I suppose no one has anything further to suggest."</p> + +<p>"Well, yes, I have a few words to say," Easton, who had been sitting on +the table and had hitherto not opened his lips, remarked in a quiet +voice.</p> + +<p>"Well, say away."</p> + +<p>"It seems to me," Easton went on without paying any regard to the +snappishness of Skinner's tone, "that though we cannot make ourselves +any heavier, weight is not after all the only thing. I think we might +make up for it by last. When fellows are going to row a race they don't +content themselves with practice, they set to and train hard. It seems +to me that if we were to go into strict training and get ourselves +thoroughly fit, it ought to make a lot of difference. We might lose +goals in the first half of the play, but if we were in good<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span> training we +ought to get a pull in the second half. By playing up all we knew at +first, and pumping them as much as possible, training ought to tell. I +know, Skinner, you always said we ought to keep ourselves in good +condition; but I mean more than that, I mean strict training—getting up +early and going for a three or four mile run every morning, taking +another run in the afternoon, cutting off pudding and all that sort of +thing, and going in for it heart and soul. It is no use training unless +one does a thing thoroughly."</p> + +<p>"Well, one could but try," Skinner said. "There is no reason why one +shouldn't train for football just as one does for rowing or running. You +are the last fellow I should have expected to hear such a proposal from, +Easton, but if you are ready to do it I am sure every one else will be."</p> + +<p>There was a cordial exclamation of assent from the others.</p> + +<p>"Well, of course it will be a horrible nuisance," Easton said +regretfully; "but if one does go in for a thing of this sort it seems to +me that it must be done thoroughly. And besides, it is very annoying +just at the ticklish point of a game, when you would give anything to be +able to catch the fellow ahead of you with the ball, to find that your +lungs have given out, and that you haven't a cupful of wind left."</p> + +<p>"I believe, Easton, that you are a downright humbug," Scudamore said; +"and that while you pretend to hate anything like exertion, you are just +as fond of it as Skinner is."</p> + +<p>"Well, at any rate," Skinner broke in, "we will try Easton's suggestion. +From to-night the team shall go into strict training. I will see +River-Smith now and get leave for us to go out at six o'clock every +morning. We will settle about the afternoon work afterwards. Of course +pudding must be given up, and there must be no buying cakes or things of +that sort. New bread and potatoes must be given up, and we must all +agree never to touch anything to drink between meals. We will try the +thing thoroughly. It will be a month before we play our next match with +Green's. If we can but beat them<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span> I do not care so much about the +others. There are two or three houses we should have no chance with if +we were to train as fine as a university eight."</p> + +<p>The rest of the team were at once informed of the determination that had +been arrived at. Had it emanated only from Skinner several of the +members might have protested against the hardship of going into training +for football, but the fact that Easton had proposed it weighed with them +all. If he was ready to take such trouble over the matter no one else +could reasonably object, and the consequence was that, although not +without a good deal of grumbling at being got up before daylight, the +whole team turned out in their flannels and two thick jerseys punctually +at six o'clock.</p> + +<p>"Here is an egg and half cupful of milk for each of you," Skinner said +as they gathered below. "Look sharp and beat up your egg with the milk. +Here is a mouthful of biscuit for each. River-Smith said he did not like +our going out without taking something before we started, and Cornish, +who rowed in the trials at Cambridge, told me that egg and milk was the +best thing to take."</p> + +<p>Five minutes later, comforted by the egg and milk, the party started.</p> + +<p>"We don't want to go at racing speed," Skinner said; "merely a good +steady trot to make the lungs play. We don't want to pull ourselves down +in weight. I don't think, after the last month's work, we have any fat +among us. What we want is wind and last. To-morrow we will turn out with +the heaviest boots we have got instead of running shoes. When we can run +four miles in them, we ought to be able to keep up pretty fairly through +the hardest game of football."</p> + +<p>There was a good deal of lagging behind towards the last part of the +run, a fact that Skinner pointed out triumphantly as a proof of want of +condition, but after a wash and change of clothes all the party agreed +that they felt better for the run.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span></p> + +<p>Mr. River-Smith was as much concerned as the boys at the defeats of the +house at football, and when they sat down to breakfast the members of +the team found that a mutton-chop was provided for each of them. Strict +orders had been issued that nothing was to be said outside the house of +the football team going into training; and as, for the afternoon's +exercise, it was only necessary that every member of the team should +take part in football practice, and play up to the utmost, the matter +remained a secret. In the first two or three matches played the training +made no apparent difference.</p> + +<p>"You must not be disheartened at that," Mr. Cornish, who was the +"housemaster," told them. "Fellows always get weak when they first begin +to train. You will find the benefit presently."</p> + +<p>And this was the case. They won the fourth match, which was against a +comparatively weak team. This, however, encouraged them, and they were +victorious in the next two contests, although in the second their +opponents were considered a strong team, and their victory had been +regarded as certain.</p> + +<p>The improvement in the River-Smithites' team became a topic of +conversation in the college, and there were rumours that they had put +themselves into regular training, and that some one had seen them come +in in a body at seven in the morning after having been for a run. The +challenge cup matches were now at hand, and as it happened they were +drawn to meet the Greenites, and the match was regarded with special +interest throughout the school. The rivalry between the two houses was +notorious, and although the Greenites scoffed at the idea of their being +defeated by a team they had before so easily beaten, the great +improvement the latter had made gave promise that the struggle would be +an exceptionally severe one. Skinner had for some days before looked +after the team with extreme vigilance, scarcely letting one of them out +of his sight, lest they might eat forbidden things, or in other ways +transgress the rules laid down.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span></p> + +<p>"We may not win," he admitted, as they talked over the prospect on the +evening before the match, "but at any rate they will have all their work +cut out to beat us. I know they are very confident, and of course their +weight is tremendously in their favour. Now, mind, we must press them as +hard as we can for the first half the game, and never leave them for a +single moment. They are sure to get savage when they find they have not +got it all their own way, and that will help to pump them. We shall have +more left in us the second half than they will, and then will be our +chance."</p> + +<p>These tactics were followed out, and from the first the game was played +with exceptional spirit on both sides; and as the Greenites failed, even +by the most determined rushes, to carry the ball into their opponents' +goal, the game became, as Skinner had predicted, more and more savage.</p> + +<p>The sympathies of the school were for the most part with River-Smith's, +and the loud shouts of applause and encouragement with which their +gallant defence of their goal was greeted, added to the irritation of +the Greenites. When the half-play was called neither party had scored a +point, and as they changed sides it was evident that the tremendous pace +had told upon both parties.</p> + +<p>"Now is our time," Skinner said to his team; "they are more done than we +are, and our training will tell more and more every minute. Keep it up +hard, and when we see a chance make a big rush and carry it down to +their end."</p> + +<p>But the Greenites were equally determined, and in spite of the efforts +of their opponents, kept the ball at their end of the field. Then +Skinner got it and made a rush. One of the heaviest of the Greenites +charged down upon them at full speed, but was encountered by Easton +before he reached him, and the two rolled over together. The +River-Smithites backed up their leader well, and he was more than +half-way down the ground before the Greenites had arrested his progress. +Then there was a close scrimmage, and for a time the mass swayed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span> +backwards and forwards. But here weight counted for more than wind, and +the Greenites were pushing their opponents back when the ball rolled out +from the mass.</p> + +<p>Edgar Clinton picked it up, and was off with it in a moment, dodging +through those who attempted to check his course. He was down near the +Greenites' goal before two of them threw themselves upon him together; +but his friends were close behind, and after a desperate scrimmage the +ball was driven behind the Greenite goal. Some loose play followed, and +a Greenite who had the ball threw it forward to one of his own team, who +caught it and started running. The River-Smithites shouted "Dead ball!" +"Dead ball!" and claimed the point; but the holder of the ball, without +heeding the shouts, ran right through followed by the rest of his team, +and touched down behind the River-Smith goal. The ball was then brought +out and a goal kicked. All this time the River-Smithites had not moved +from behind the Greenite goal, but had remained there awaiting the +result of their appeal to the umpire, who now at once decided in their +favour. Not satisfied with this the Greenites appealed to the referee, +who confirmed the decision of the umpire. Too angry to be reasonable, +the captain refused to continue the game, and called upon his team to +leave the field. They were going, when the derisive shouts of the +lookers-on caused them again to alter their intentions, and the game was +renewed.</p> + +<p>There were ten minutes yet remaining, and for that time the game was +played with a fury that caused it to be long memorable in the annals of +Cheltenham football. But weight and strength could not prevail over the +superior last and coolness of the defenders of the River-Smith goal. +Every attempt was beaten off, every rush met, and as no point had been +added to the score when time was called, the umpire decided that the +game had been won by the River-Smithites by one touch down to nothing. +The captain of the Greenites appealed from the umpire's and referee's +decision to the football committee of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span> the college, who gave it against +him, and he then appealed to the Rugby Union, who decided that the +umpire's decision was perfectly right, and the victory thus remained +beyond further contention with the River-Smithites.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER III.</h2> + +<h3>GONE.</h3> + + +<p>"Bravo, Clinton! Well done, indeed!" so shouted one of the big boys, and +a score of others joined in in chorus.</p> + +<p>"Which is Clinton?" a woman who was standing looking on at the game +asked one of the younger boys.</p> + +<p>The boy looked up at the questioner. She was a woman of about forty +years old, quietly dressed in black with a gloss of newness on it.</p> + +<p>"I will point him out to you directly. They are all mixed up again now."</p> + +<p>"There are two of them, are there not?" the woman asked.</p> + +<p>"Yes, that's the other; there—that one who has just picked up the ball +and is running with it; there, that's the other, the one who is just +charging the fellow who is trying to stop his brother."</p> + +<p>"Well done!" he shouted, as Edgar's opponent rolled over.</p> + +<p>The woman asked no more questions until the match was over, but stood +looking on intently as the players came off the ground. Rupert and Edgar +were together, laughing and talking in high spirits; for each had kicked +a goal, and the town boys had been beaten by four goals to one. The boy +to whom she had been speaking had long before strolled away to another +part of the field, but she turned to another as the Clintons approached.</p> + +<p>"Those are the Clintons, are they not?" she asked.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Yes, and a good sort they are," the boy said heartily.</p> + +<p>She stood looking at them intently until they had passed her, then +walked away with her eyes bent on the ground, and made her way to a +small lodging she had taken in the town. For several days she placed +herself so that she could see the boys on their way to and fro between +River-Smith's and the college, and watched them at football.</p> + +<p>"I wonder who that woman is," Rupert said one day to his brother. "I +constantly see her about, and she always seems to be staring at me."</p> + +<p>"I thought she stared at me too," Edgar said. "I am sure I do not know +her. I don't think I have ever seen her face before."</p> + +<p>"She asked me whether you were Clinton the other day when you were +playing football. It was just after you had made a run with the ball, +and some one shouted, 'Well done, Clinton!' And she asked me which was +Clinton, and whether there were not two of them. And of course I pointed +you both out," a youngster said who was walking with them.</p> + +<p>"That is rum, too," Rupert said. "I wonder who the woman is, Edgar, and +what interest she can have in us."</p> + +<p>"If she has any interest, Rupert, I suppose she will stop staring some +day and speak. Perhaps it is some old servant, though I don't remember +her. Well, it is no odds any way."</p> + +<p>Jane Humphreys was much puzzled as to what step she should take first. +During all these years she had waited she had always expected that she +should have known which was her own child as soon as she set eyes on the +boys, and was surprised and disappointed to find that even after a +week's stay at Cheltenham, and examining their faces as closely as she +could, she had not the slightest idea which was which. She had imagined +that she should not only know, but feel an affection for the boy who was +her own, and she had fully intended to place him in the position of +Captain Clinton's heir, trusting<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span> to receive the promise of a large sum +from him when he should come into possession.</p> + +<p>Now it seemed to her that she cared no more for one than for the other, +and that her best plan therefore was to place in the position of heir +whichever of them was most likely to suit her purpose. But here, again, +she was in a difficulty. If they resembled each other in no other point, +they both looked thoroughly manly, straightforward, and honest lads, +neither of whom would be likely to entertain any dishonourable +proposition. Her intention had been to say to her son, "You are not +really the twin brother, as you suppose, of the other. Captain and Mrs. +Clinton do not know which of you two is their child." She wondered +whether they already knew as much as that. Probably they did. So many +people had known of that affair at Agra, that Captain Clinton had +probably told them himself. She would tell the boy, "I am the only +person in the world who can clear up the mystery. I have the key to it +in my hand, and can place either you or the other in the position of +sole heir to the estate. I shall expect to be paid a handsome sum from +the one I put into possession. Remember, on one hand I can give you a +splendid property, on the other I can show you to have been from the +first a usurper of things you had no right to—an interloper and a +fraud."</p> + +<p>It had seemed to her a simple matter before she came down to Cheltenham. +Surely no boy in his senses would hesitate a moment in accepting her +offer. It had always been a fixed thing in her mind that this would be +so, but now she felt that it was not so certain as she before imagined. +She hesitated whether she should not defer it until the boys came of +age, and the one she chose could sign a legal document; but she was +anxious to leave England, and go right away to America or Australia. +Besides, if she had the promise she could enforce its fulfilment. Which +boy should she select? She changed her mind several times, and at last +determined that she would leave it to chance, and would choose the one +whom she next met.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span></p> + +<p>It chanced that Edgar was the first she encountered after having taken +this resolution, and it happened that he was walking by himself, having +remained in the class-room a few minutes after the rest of the boys had +left, to speak to the master respecting a difficult passage in a lesson. +The woman placed herself in his way.</p> + +<p>"Well, what is it?" he said. "You have been hanging about for the last +week. What is it you want?"</p> + +<p>"I want to speak to you about something very important."</p> + +<p>"Oh, nonsense!" he said. "There is nothing important you can have to +tell me."</p> + +<p>"Yes, there is; something of the greatest importance. You do not suppose +that I should have been here for a week waiting to tell it to you, if it +was not."</p> + +<p>"Well, I suppose you think it important," he said; "so fire away."</p> + +<p>"I cannot tell you now," she said; "it is too long a story. Could you +spare me half an hour, young sir? You will not be sorry for it +afterwards, I promise you."</p> + +<p>Edgar looked impatiently at his watch. He had nothing particular to do +at the moment, and his curiosity was excited. "I can spare it you now," +he said.</p> + +<p>"I am staying at this address," she said, handing him a piece of paper. +"It is not five minutes' walk from here. I will go on, if you will +follow me."</p> + +<p>"All right," Edgar said, looking at the paper; "though I expect it is +some fooling or other." She walked away rapidly, and he sauntered after +her. She was standing with the door open when he arrived, and he +followed her into a small parlour. He threw himself down into a chair.</p> + +<p>"Now, fire away," he said; "and be as quick as you can."</p> + +<p>"Before I begin," she said quietly, "will you tell me if you know +anything relating to the circumstances of your birth?"</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> + <a id="image01" name="image01"> + <img src="images/01.jpg" + alt="THE WOMAN PLACED HERSELF IN HIS WAY." + title="THE WOMAN PLACED HERSELF IN HIS WAY." /></a><br /> + <span class="caption">"THE WOMAN PLACED HERSELF IN HIS WAY."</span> +</div> + +<p>He looked at her in astonishment. "No," he said. "What<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span> in the world +should I know about the circumstances of my birth?"</p> + +<p>"You know that you were born at Agra in India?"</p> + +<p>"Of course I know that."</p> + +<p>"And your father, Captain Clinton, has never spoken to you about the +circumstances?"</p> + +<p>Edgar shook his head. "No; I only know that I was born there."</p> + +<p>"I should have thought that he would have told you the story," she said; +"for there were many knew of it, and you would be sure to hear it sooner +or later."</p> + +<p>"I do not want to hear of it," he said, leaping to his feet. "If there +was anything my father wanted me to know he would tell it to me at once. +You do not suppose I want to hear it from anyone else?"</p> + +<p>He was making for the door, when she said, "Then you do not know that +you are not his son?"</p> + +<p>He stopped abruptly. "Don't know I am not his son!" he repeated. "You +must be mad."</p> + +<p>"I am not mad at all," she said. "You are not his son. Not any relation +in the world to him. Sit down again and I will tell you the story."</p> + +<p>He mechanically obeyed, feeling overwhelmed with the news he had heard. +Then as she told him how the children had become mixed, and how Captain +Clinton had decided to bring them up together until he should be able to +discover by some likeness to himself or wife which was his son, Edgar +listened to the story with a terrible feeling of oppression stealing +over him. He could not doubt that she was speaking the truth, for if it +were false it could be contradicted at once. There were circumstances +too which seemed to confirm it. He recalled now, that often in their +younger days his father and mother had asked casual visitors if they saw +any likeness between either of the children to them; and he specially +remembered how closely Colonel Winterbottom,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span> who had been major in his +father's regiment, had scrutinized them both, and how he had said, "No, +Clinton, for the life of me I cannot see that one is more like you and +your wife than the other." And now this woman had told him that he was +not their son; and he understood that she must be this sergeant's wife, +and that if he was not Captain Clinton's son she must be his mother.</p> + +<p>"You are Mrs. Humphreys, I suppose?" he said in a hard, dry voice when +she had ceased speaking.</p> + +<p>"I am your mother," she said. He moved as if struck with sudden pain as +she spoke, but said nothing.</p> + +<p>"I sacrificed myself for your sake," she went on after a pause. "I had +them both, and it seemed to me hard that my boy should grow up to be a +boy of the regiment, with nothing better to look forward to than to +enlist in it some day, while the other, no better in any respect than +him, should grow up to be a rich man, with everything the heart could +desire, and I determined that he should have an equal chance with the +other. I knew that perhaps some day they might find out which was which +by a likeness, but that was not certain, and at any rate you would get a +good education and be well brought up, and you were sure to be provided +for, and when the time should come, if there was still doubt, I could +give you the chance of either having the half or all just as you chose. +It was terrible for me to give you up altogether, but I did it for your +good. I suffered horribly, and the women of the regiment turned against +me. Your father treated me badly, and I had to leave him and come home +to England. But my comfort has all along been that I had succeeded; that +you were being brought up as a gentleman, and were happy and well cared +for."</p> + +<p>Edgar sat silent for some time. "How do you know," he asked suddenly, +"that it is Rupert and not I who is the real son?"</p> + +<p>"One of the infants," she said, "had a tiny mole no bigger<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span> than a pin's +head on his shoulder, and I was sure that I would always know them apart +from that."</p> + +<p>"Yes, Rupert has a mark like that," Edgar admitted, for he had noticed +it only a short time before.</p> + +<p>"Yes," the woman said quietly. "Mrs. Clinton's child had that mark. It +was very, very small and scarcely noticeable, but as I washed and +dressed them when babies, I noticed it."</p> + +<p>"Well, what next?" Edgar asked roughly.</p> + +<p>"As I said, my boy,"—Edgar winced as she spoke—"it is for you to +choose whether you will have half or all the property. If I hold my +tongue you will go on as you are now, and they will never know which is +their son. If you like to have it all, to be the heir of that grand +place and everything else, I have only to go and say that my boy had a +mole on his shoulder. There is nothing I would not do to make you +happy."</p> + +<p>"And I suppose," Edgar said quietly, "you will want some money for +yourself?"</p> + +<p>"I do not wish to make any bargain, if that is what you mean," she said +in an indignant tone. "I know, of course, that you can give me no money +now. I suppose that in either case you would wish to help a mother who +has done so much for you. I don't expect gratitude at present. Naturally +you are upset about what I have told you. Some day when you grow to be a +man you will appreciate better than you can now what I have done for +you, and what you have gained by it."</p> + +<p>Edgar sat silent for a minute or two, and then he rose quietly and said, +"I will think it all over. You shall have my answer in a day or two," +and without another word left the room and sauntered off.</p> + +<p>"What is the matter, Edgar?" Rupert asked two hours later. "I have been +looking for you everywhere, and young Johnson has only just said that +you told him to tell me you were feeling very seedy, and were going to +lie down for a bit."</p> + +<p>"I have got a frightful headache, Rupert," Edgar, who was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span> lying with +his face to the wall, said. "I am too bad to talk, old fellow; let me +alone. I daresay I shall be all right when I have had a night's sleep. +Tell River-Smith, will you, that I am seedy, and cannot come down to +tea. I do not want the doctor or anything of that sort, but if I am not +all right in the morning, I will see him."</p> + +<p>Rupert went out quietly. It was something new Edgar's being like this, +he never remembered him having a bad headache before. "I expect," he +said to himself, "he got hurt in one of those scrimmages yesterday, +although he did not say anything about it. I do hope that he is not +going to be ill. The examinations are on next week, it will be a +frightful nuisance for him to miss them." He went into Edgar's dormitory +again the last thing. He opened the door very quietly in case he should +be asleep.</p> + +<p>"I am not asleep," Edgar said; "I am rather better now. Good-night, +Rupert," and he held out his hand. Rupert was surprised at the action, +but took his hand and pressed it.</p> + +<p>"Good-night, Edgar. I do hope that you will be all right in the +morning."</p> + +<p>"Good-night, old fellow. God bless you!" and there was almost a sob in +the lad's voice.</p> + +<p>Rupert went out surprised and uneasy. "Edgar must be worse than he +says," he thought to himself. "It is rum of him saying good-night in +that way. I have never known him do such a thing before. I wish now that +I had asked River-Smith to send round for the doctor. I daresay Edgar +would not have liked it, but it would have been best; but he seemed so +anxious to be quiet and get off to sleep, that I did not think of it."</p> + +<p>The first thing in the morning Rupert went to his brother's dormitory to +see how he was. He tapped at the door, but there was no answer. Thinking +that his brother was asleep, he turned the handle and went in. An +exclamation of surprise broke from him. Edgar was not there and the bed +had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span> not been slept in, but was just as he had seen it when Edgar was +lying on the outside. On the table was a letter directed to himself. He +tore it open.</p> + +<p>"My dear Rupert," it began, "a horrible thing has happened, and I shall +be off to-night. I have learned that I am not your brother at all, but +that I was fraudulently put in that position. I have been writing this +afternoon to father and mother. Oh! Rupert, to think that it is the last +time I can call them so. They will tell you the whole business. I am +writing this by the light of the lamp in the passage, and you will all +be up in a few minutes, so I have no time to say more. I shall post the +other letter to-night. Good-bye, Rupert! Good-bye, dear old fellow! We +have been happy together, haven't we? and I hope you will always be so. +Perhaps some day when I have made myself a name—for I have no right to +call myself Clinton, and I won't call myself by my real name—I may see +you again. I have taken the note, but I know that you won't grudge it +me."</p> + +<p>Rupert read the letter through two or three times, then ran down as he +was, in his night-shirt and trousers, and passed in to the master's part +of the private house. "Robert," he said to the man-servant whom he met +in the passage, "is Mr. River-Smith dressed yet?"</p> + +<p>"He is not finished dressing yet, Master Clinton; at least he has not +come out of his room. But I expect he is pretty near dressed."</p> + +<p>"Will you ask him to come out to me at once, please?" Rupert said. "It +is a most serious business, or you may be sure I should not ask."</p> + +<p>The man asked no questions, for he saw by Rupert's face that this must +be something quite out of the ordinary way. "Just step into this room +and I will fetch him," he said.</p> + +<p>In a minute the master came in. "What is it, Clinton,—nothing serious +the matter, I hope?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir, I am afraid it is something very serious. My<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span> brother was not +well yesterday evening. He said that he had a frightful headache, but he +thought it would be all right in the morning, and he went and lay down +on his bed. I thought that he was strange in his manner when I went in +to say good-night to him; and when I went in this morning, sir, the bed +hadn't been slept in and he was gone, and he has left me this note, and +it is evident, as you will see, that he is altogether off his head. You +see, he fancies that he is not my brother."</p> + +<p>The master had listened with the gravest concern, and now glanced +hastily through the letter.</p> + +<p>"'Tis strange indeed," he said. "There is no possibility, of course, +that there is anything in this idea of his?"</p> + +<p>"No, sir, of course not. How could there be?"</p> + +<p>"That I cannot say, Clinton. Anyhow the matter is most serious. Of +course he could not have taken any clothes with him?"</p> + +<p>"No, sir; at least he cannot have got any beyond what he stands in. I +should think the matron would not have given him any out, especially as +he must have told her that he was ill, or he could not have got into the +dormitory."</p> + +<p>"I had better see her first, Clinton; it is always well to be quite sure +of one's ground. You go up and dress while I make the inquiries."</p> + +<p>Rupert returned to the dormitory, finished dressing, and then ran down +again. "He has taken no clothes with him, Clinton. The matron says that +he went to her in the afternoon and said that he had a splitting +headache, and wanted to be quite quiet and undisturbed. She offered to +send for the doctor, but he said that he expected that he should be all +right in the morning, but that if he wasn't of course the doctor could +see him then. So she unlocked the door of the dormitory and let him in. +I asked her if he had his boots on. She said no; he was going up in +them, contrary to rule, when she reminded him of it, and he took them +off and put them in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span> the rack in the wood-closet. I have seen the +boot-boy, and he says he noticed when he went there this morning early +to clean them, No. 6 rack was empty. So your brother must have come +down, after he had gone up to the dormitory, and got his boots.</p> + +<p>"Now let us ask a few questions of the servants." He rang the bell, and +sent for some of the servants. "Which of you were down first this +morning?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"I was down first, sir," one of the girls said.</p> + +<p>"Did you find anything unusual?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir. One of the windows downstairs, looking into the yard, was +open, though I know I closed it and put up the shutters last night; and +John says the door of the yard has been unbolted too, and that the lock +had been forced."</p> + +<p>The master went out, walked across the yard, and examined the lock.</p> + +<p>"There would be no difficulty in opening that on this side," he said to +Rupert; "it could be done with a strong pocket-knife easily enough."</p> + +<p>"What is to be done, sir?" Rupert asked anxiously. "Shall I telegraph to +my father?"</p> + +<p>"I think you had better go and see him, Clinton. Your brother probably +did not leave the house until twelve o'clock, though he may have gone at +eleven. But whether eleven or twelve it makes no difference. No doubt he +posted the letter he speaks of the first thing on leaving; but, you see, +it is a cross post to your place, and the letter could not anyhow have +got there for delivery this morning. You can hardly explain it all by +telegram; and I think, as I said, it is better that you should go +yourself. I will have breakfast put for you in my study, and I will have +a fly at the door. You will be able to catch the eight-o'clock train +into Gloucester, and you should be home by eleven."</p> + +<p>"You do not think anything could have happened to him?" Rupert asked +anxiously.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span></p> + +<p>"No, I do not think that there is any fear of that, Clinton. You see, he +has got a fixed idea in his head; he has evidently acted with +deliberation. Besides, you see in his letter to you he says he shall not +see you until he has made a name for himself. I tell you frankly, +Clinton, that my own impression is that your brother is not mad, but +that he has—of course I do not know how, or attempt to explain it—but +that he has in some way got the idea that he is not your brother. Has he +been quite himself lately?"</p> + +<p>"Quite, sir; I have seen nothing unusual about him at all."</p> + +<p>"Did he seem bright and well yesterday morning?"</p> + +<p>"Just the same as usual, sir. I was quite surprised when, just at +tea-time, I found that he had gone to lie down with the headache."</p> + +<p>"Did he get any letter yesterday?"</p> + +<p>"No, sir; we neither of us had any letter, in the morning anyhow. He may +have received one in the afternoon, for anything I know."</p> + +<p>"I will go and ask Robert," the master said; "he always takes the +letters from the letter-bag."</p> + +<p>"No, Clinton," he went on when he returned; "there were only three +letters for the boys in the afternoon mail, and neither of them was for +him. He cannot have seen anyone, can he, who could have told him any +story that would serve as a foundation for this idea?"</p> + +<p>Then an idea flashed across Rupert. "Well, sir, a rather curious thing +has happened in the last few days. There has been a woman about here, +and it appears she asked one of the boys which were the Clintons; and we +have seen her every time we have been out, and we both noticed that she +has stared at us in a very strange way. I don't know that that can +possibly have anything to do with it. She may have spoken to Edgar +yesterday. Of course I cannot say."</p> + +<p>"Well, I must be going now. I have told Robert to put your breakfast in +my study, and to send the boy for a fly."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span></p> + +<p>"What will you say to the boys, sir?" Rupert asked anxiously.</p> + +<p>"There will be no occasion to say anything for a day or two beyond the +fact that you are obliged to go home suddenly. I shall only say Clinton, +but it will naturally be supposed that I mean both of you. If it gets +out that you have gone alone, which it may do, although I shall give +strict orders to the contrary, I shall of course mention that we fear +that your brother got his head hurt in that football match, and that he +has taken up some strange ideas and has gone off. But it is hardly +likely that the matter will leak out in any way until you return, or I +hear from you. I think you can make yourself quite easy on that score."</p> + +<p>It was half-past eleven when Rupert Clinton reached home. On the way he +had thought over how he had best break the news quietly to his father, +and he got out of the trap that had driven him from the station at the +lodge, and made a long circuit so as to reach the stable without being +seen from the front windows of the house. He went at once to the old +coachman, who was a great ally of the boys. The man uttered an +exclamation of astonishment at seeing him.</p> + +<p>"Why, Master Rupert, I thought that you were not coming home for another +fortnight. Well, you have given me a start!"</p> + +<p>"Look here, Fellows, I have come to see my father about a serious +matter, and I want to see him before I see my mother."</p> + +<p>"Nothing the matter with Master Edgar, I hope, sir?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, it is about him; but I will tell you presently, Fellows, I don't +want to lose a minute now. Please go into the house and get my father to +come out at once to the stables. Make any excuse you like to bring him +out, and as you come along you can tell him I am here."</p> + +<p>In five minutes Captain Clinton hurried into the saddle-room, where +Rupert was standing. He was pale and agitated.</p> + +<p>"What is the matter, Rupert,—has anything happened to Edgar? I know +that it must be something very serious or you would never come like +this."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span></p> + +<p>"It is serious, father, very serious;" and he told him what had +happened, and handed him the letter that Edgar had left. "You see he has +evidently gone out of his mind, father."</p> + +<p>Captain Clinton ran his eye over the letter and gave an exclamation of +surprise and grief, then he stood for a minute covering his face with +his hand. When he removed it Rupert saw that his eyes were filled with +tears. "Poor boy!" he murmured, "I see that we have made a terrible +mistake, although we did it for the best."</p> + +<p>"A mistake, father! Why, is it possible, can it be true that—"</p> + +<p>"That Edgar is not your brother, my boy? Yes, it is certain that he is +not your brother, though whether he or you is our son we know not."</p> + +<p>Rupert stood speechless with astonishment. "One of us not your son!" he +said at last in a broken voice. "Oh, father, how can that be?"</p> + +<p>"It happened thus, Rupert," Captain Clinton said, and then told him the +story of the confusion that had arisen between the children. He then +went on: "You see, Rupert, we hoped, your mother and I, at first that we +should find out as you grew up, by the likeness one of you might develop +to your mother or myself, which was our child; but for some years now, +my boy, I have feared rather than hoped to discover a likeness, and have +been glad that neither of you took after either of us, as far as we +could see. We loved you equally, and could not bear the thought of +losing either of you. We had two sons instead of one, that was all; and +had one been proved to be ours, we should have lost the other. We +intended to tell you in a short time how the matter stood, and that +while one was our adopted son and the other our own, we neither knew nor +cared which was which, loving you both equally and regarding you both as +our own. Indeed we should never have told you about it, had it not been +that as the story of the confusion at your birth was known to a great +many men who were at that time in India, it was almost sure to come to +your ears sooner or later. Had we<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span> ever dreamt that it would come like +this, of course we should have told you long ago. But how can Edgar have +learnt it? Still more, how can anyone have been able to tell him—what +even we do not know—that he is not our son?"</p> + +<p>"You will know when the letter arrives by the next post, father. But now +I have heard the story, I think it must have been told him by a woman;" +and he related how they had been watched by a woman who was a stranger +to them.</p> + +<p>"What was she like, Rupert?"</p> + +<p>Rupert described her as well as he was able.</p> + +<p>"I have no doubt that it was Mrs. Humphreys, Rupert; she would be about +the age you describe, and, allowing for the seventeen years that have +passed since I have seen her, like her in appearance. But we had better +go in to your mother now, she must be told. I will go in first and break +it to her. Of course there is nothing else that can be done until we get +Edgar's letter. I will send a man off on horseback to the post-office, +we shall get it an hour earlier than if we wait for the postman to bring +it."</p> + +<p>It was half an hour before Captain Clinton came out from the +drawing-room and called Rupert in. The boy had been telling the news to +Madge, having asked his father if he should do so. She had been terribly +distressed, and Rupert himself had completely broken down.</p> + +<p>"You can come in now, both of you," Captain Clinton said. "Of course, +your mother is dreadfully upset, so try and keep up for her sake."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Clinton embraced Rupert in silence, she was too affected for +speech.</p> + +<p>"Do you think," she said after a time in broken tones, "Edgar can have +gone with this woman?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know, mother; I have not been able to think about it. I should +not think he could. I know if it had been me I should have hated her +even if she was my mother, for coming after all this time to rob me of +your love and father's. I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span> should run away as he has done, I daresay, +though I don't know about that; but I would not have gone with her."</p> + +<p>"I cannot make out how she could have known which was which," Captain +Clinton said, walking up and down the room; "we have never seen any +likeness in either of you to ourselves, but it is possible she may have +seen a likeness in Edgar to her husband. By the way," he said suddenly, +"I must send off a telegram to River-Smith; he, of course, will be most +anxious." He took a telegram form from his desk, and after a minute's +hesitation wrote: "No anxiety as to Edgar's mind can account for his +conduct—will write fully to-morrow after I have received his +letter—shall keep Rupert here some days." Then putting it in an +envelope, he rang the bell and directed the servant to give it to one of +the grooms with orders to ride with it at once to the nearest telegraph +station.</p> + +<p>"Now, Rupert, the best thing you and Madge can do is to go out for a +walk. You can know nothing more until the letter arrives, and it will be +better for you to be moving about than to be sitting here quietly. Your +mother had best lie down until the letter comes; it cannot be here until +five o'clock."</p> + +<p>Madge and Rupert as they walked talked the matter over in every possible +light, the only conclusion at which they arrived being that whoever +might be Edgar's father and mother they would always regard him as their +brother, and should love him just the same as before.</p> + +<p>"I cannot think why he ran away!" Madge exclaimed over and over again. +"I am sure I should not run away if I found that I wasn't father and +mother's real daughter. They have been everything to me, and I could not +love them a bit less if I did know that I was their adopted child +instead of being their real one."</p> + +<p>"No, certainly not," Rupert agreed; "but then, you see, Madge, Edgar may +have thought that he had been adopted, not as childless people sometimes +adopt children, but because they could not help adopting him."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span></p> + +<p>"But that wasn't his fault, Rupert."</p> + +<p>"No, that wasn't his fault; but I can understand him feeling that it +made a great difference. Oh, I wonder what he is doing! I expect he went +up to London by the night mail; he would have caught that at Glo'ster. +But what could he do when he got there?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I am not thinking about that!" the girl said. "I am thinking what +he must feel when he knows father and mother are not his father and +mother, and that you and I are not his brother and sister. It must be +awful, Rupert."</p> + +<p>"It must be awful," Rupert agreed. "I do not know what I should have +done had it been me, and you know it might just as well have been me as +Edgar. I wish it were five o'clock!"</p> + +<p>The afternoon seemed indeed endless to them all. For the last half-hour +Rupert and Madge sat at the window gazing across the park for the first +sight of the horseman, and at last they exclaimed simultaneously, "There +he comes!"</p> + +<p>Captain Clinton, who had been sitting by the sofa holding his wife's +hand in his, rose. "I will go and meet him," he said. "Rupert and Madge, +you had better go into the library until I call you. I must read it over +first to your mother."</p> + +<p>Without a word they went into the other room, and from the window +watched Captain Clinton as he walked quickly down the drive to meet the +groom. They saw him take the letter, and, as the man rode on towards the +stables, open it and stand reading it.</p> + +<p>"It is very bad," Madge said almost in a whisper, as she saw her father +drop his hand despondently to his side, and then with bent head walk +towards the house. Not another word was spoken until Captain Clinton +opened the door and called them. Madge had been crying silently, and the +tears were running fast down Rupert's cheeks as he sat looking out on to +the park.</p> + +<p>"You had better read the letter here," Captain Clinton said. "I may tell +you what I did not mention before, that there was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span> a strong opinion +among many at the time, that the confusion between the children arose, +not from accident, as was said, but was deliberate, and this letter +confirms that view. This is what has hit Edgar so hard."</p> + +<p>The letter was as follows:—</p> + +<p>"My dearest father, for I cannot call you anything else, I have just +heard about my birth from a woman who calls herself my mother, and who, +I suppose, has a right to do so, though certainly I shall never call her +or think of her so. She has told me about her child and yours getting +mixed, and how you brought both up in hopes of finding out some day +which was which.</p> + +<p>"Rupert and I had noticed for some days a woman looking at us, and she +met me this afternoon and said she had some thing of extreme importance +to tell me. I went with her and she told me the story, and said that I +was her son and not yours. I asked her how she knew me from Rupert, and +she said that one of us had a small mole on the shoulder. I knew that +Rupert had a tiny mole there, and she said that that was the mark by +which she knew your son from hers.</p> + +<p>"Then, father, she told me that she had done it all on purpose, and had +sacrificed herself in order that I might benefit from it. This was all +horrible! And then she actually proposed that I should not only keep +silent about this, but offered to come forward and declare that it was +her son who had the mole on his shoulder, so that I might get the whole +and Rupert none. I don't want to say what I felt. I only told her I +would think it over. I have been thinking it over, and I am going away. +My dear father and mother, for I shall always think of you so, I thank +you for all your love and kindness, which I have received through a +horrible fraud. If it had all been an accident, and you had found out +for yourselves by the likeness that Rupert was your son, I do not think +that I should have minded, at least nothing like so much. I should, of +course, have been very grieved that you were not my father and mother,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span> +and that Rupert and Madge were not my brother and sister; but it would +have been nobody's fault, and I am sure that you would all still have +loved me. But to know that it has been a wicked fraud, that I have been +an impostor palmed upon you, that there has been a plot and conspiracy +to rob you, and that I have a mother who not only did this, but who +could propose to me to go on deceiving you, and even to join in a fresh +fraud and to swindle Rupert, is so awful that there is nothing for me to +do but to go away.</p> + +<p>"I feel sure you will all be sorry, and that though I am not your son +you would go on treating me as if I were a younger brother of Rupert's. +But I could not bear it, father. I could not accept anything from you, +for I should feel that it was the result of this wicked fraud, that it +was what this woman, I cannot call her mother, had schemed for me to +get. Some day when I have made my way, and when all this may not hurt me +so horribly as it seems to do now, I will come and see you all if you +will let me, to thank you all for the love and kindness that should +never have been mine. But that will not be till I am in a position when +I can want nothing, for I feel now that were I dying of hunger I could +not accept a crust from your hands, for if I did so I should feel I was +a party to this abominable fraud. God bless you, dearest father and +mother and Rupert and Madge!—Your unhappy Edgar."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER IV.</h2> + +<h3>BACK AT SCHOOL.</h3> + + +<p>It was a long time after they had, with many breaks, read Edgar's letter +to the end before Rupert and Madge could compose themselves sufficiently +to accompany their father into the drawing-room. They again broke down +when they met<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span> their mother; and it was not until Captain Clinton said, +"Come, we must all pull ourselves together and see what is to be done, +and talk the whole matter over calmly," that by a great effort they +recovered their composure. "Now, in the first place, we must try to find +Edgar. He has got twenty-four hours' start of us, but that is not very +much. I suppose you think, Rupert, that there is no doubt that he went +up to town by the night train."</p> + +<p>"I have no doubt that he got away in time to do so, father; but of +course he might have gone by the down train, which passes through +Gloucester somewhere about the same time."</p> + +<p>"I do not think it likely that he did that, Rupert. I should say he was +sure to go to London; that is almost always the goal people make for, +unless it is in the case of boys who want to go to sea, when they would +make for Liverpool or some other port. But I don't think Edgar was +likely to do that. I don't think he had any special fancy for the sea; +so we may assume that he has gone to London. What money had he?"</p> + +<p>"He had that five-pound note you sent three days ago, father, to clear +off any ticks we had, and to pay our journey home. That is what he meant +when he said, 'I have taken the note, but I know you won't grudge it +me.' I think he had about a pound left—that is about what I had—and I +know when the note came he said that the money he had was enough to last +him to the end of the term. So he would have the five-pound note +untouched when he got to London, and if driven to it he could get, I +should think, six or seven pounds for his watch and chain."</p> + +<p>"That would give him enough to keep him some little time. If he had been +a couple of years older I should say that he would probably enlist at +once, as you had both made up your minds to go into the army. But +although lads do enlist under the proper age, no recruiting officer or +doctor would pass him as being eighteen. The first thing to do will be +to advertise for him—in the first place to advertise offering<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span> a reward +for information as to his whereabouts, and in the second place +advertising to him direct, begging him to come home."</p> + +<p>"But he would never come, father," Rupert said, looking at the letter, +which Captain Clinton still held in his hand.</p> + +<p>"It would depend how we advertised. Suppose I were to say, 'Statement of +woman not believed; we are in as much doubt as before.'"</p> + +<p>The others looked up in intense surprise.</p> + +<p>"Oh, father, how could you say that?" Rupert exclaimed. "Oh, if we could +but say so! I should be quite, quite content to know that either of us +might be her son—that would not matter so much if we felt that you +loved us both equally; but how could you say so?"</p> + +<p>"Because, Rupert," Captain Clinton said gravely, "I still think there is +great ground for doubt."</p> + +<p>"Do you really, father? Oh, I am pleased! I think—yes, I am sure that I +could bear now to know that Edgar is your real son, and not I. It would +be so different to learn it from your lips, to know that you all love me +still, instead of hearing it in the dreadful way Edgar did. But how do +you doubt, father? It seemed to me from reading the letter so certain."</p> + +<p>"Do you really doubt, Percy?" Mrs. Clinton asked.</p> + +<p>"I do indeed, Lucy; and I will give you my reasons. In the first place, +this woman left India a few weeks after the affair. She certainly could +not have seen the children until we returned to England, and, so far as +we know, has never seen them since. If she has seen them, she never can +have spoken to them or come in any sort of contact with them, therefore +she cannot possibly have known which is which. When she saw them at +Cheltenham, and Rupert says that she was there more than a week, she met +them upon every possible occasion and stared hard at them. It is +evident, therefore, that she was for all that time doubtful. No doubt +she was doing what we used to do, trying to detect a resemblance. Now, +if we in all these years<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span> with the boys, constantly watching their ways +and listening to their voices, could detect no resemblance, it is +extremely improbable that she was able to do so from merely seeing them +a score of times walking in the streets. I do not say that it is +impossible she could have done so; I only say it is extremely +improbable; and I think it much more likely that, finding she could see +no resemblance whatever, she determined to speak to the first whom she +might happen to find alone."</p> + +<p>"But there is the mark, father," Rupert said.</p> + +<p>"Yes, there is the mark," Mrs. Clinton repeated.</p> + +<p>"I did not know you had a mark, Rupert. I wonder we never noticed it, +Lucy."</p> + +<p>"It is a very tiny one, father. I never noticed it myself—indeed I can +hardly see it before a glass, for it is rather at the back of the +shoulder—until Edgar noticed it one day. It is not larger than the head +of a good-sized pin. It is a little dark-brown mole. Perhaps it was +smaller and lighter when I was a baby; but it must have been there then, +or she would not have known about it."</p> + +<p>"That is so, Rupert; but the mere fact that it is there does not in any +way prove that you are our son. Just see what Edgar says about it in his +letter. Remember the woman could not have known which of you boys had +the mark; and that she did not know, that is to say, that she had not +recognized the likeness, appears from Edgar's letter. This is what he +says: 'She said that one of us had a small mole on the shoulder. I knew +that Rupert had a tiny mole there; and she said that was the mark by +which she knew your son from hers.' Suppose Edgar had replied, 'Yes, I +have such a mark on my shoulder,' might she not have said, that is the +mark by which I can distinguish my son from that of Captain Clinton?"</p> + +<p>The others were silent. Then Mrs. Clinton said, "You know, Percy, I do +not wish to prove that one more than the other of the boys is ours; but +naturally the woman would wish to benefit her own boy, and if it had +been her own boy<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span> who had the mark, why should she not have told Edgar +that she had made a mistake, and that it was Rupert who was her son?"</p> + +<p>"I do not suppose, Lucy, that she cared in the slightest which was her +son; her main object, of course, was to extort money. Edgar does not say +anything at all about that; and of course at first she would try and +make out that she was ready to sacrifice herself for him, and would +scarcely say that she expected him to make her a handsome allowance when +he came into the property, but I have no doubt that was her motive. +Well, you see, she had already begun with Edgar. Suppose she said that +she had made a mistake, and Rupert was her son. Edgar would have gone in +and told him, and would probably have telegraphed to me, so that I could +get to Rupert before this woman saw him, and she would have known then +that her story would have been upset altogether. No court of law would +attach any weight to what she might say. She would have to stand +confessed as having been concerned in a gross fraud, and with having +lied at first; and unless she was in a position to produce corroborative +evidence to prove that her child had this mark, her word would go for +nothing.</p> + +<p>"Now, I feel sure that she could produce no such evidence. The mark was +almost an invisible one, for it was never afterwards noticed. Had she +shown it to any of the women of her acquaintance, they would have come +forward when the change of children took place, and have pointed out +that the children could be easily distinguished, inasmuch as my child +had a peculiar mark. I feel sure that even her husband knew nothing +about this mark, for I don't believe he was a party to the fraud. He was +terribly upset by the whole business, and took to drink afterwards. +There were continual quarrels between his wife and himself, and she left +him and went to England. I believe if he could have pointed out which +was my child and which was his own, he would have done so.</p> + +<p>"Certainly, I myself should have attached little or no weight<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span> to this +woman's story if she had come here with it. I should have turned her out +of the house, and have told her to go to a court if she dare and claim +the custody of her son. She must have known the weakness of her own +position, and as I say, having once opened the matter to Edgar, she +determined to stick to it, knowing that a boy taken thus on a sudden +would be likely to believe her, whereas if she said that you were her +son she would find you already prepared and probably have to confront me +too. So you see, Rupert, I can truthfully advertise—'Woman's story not +believed; we are in as much doubt as before; both are regarded by us as +our sons.'"</p> + +<p>"I am glad, father!" Rupert exclaimed excitedly. "Oh! if Edgar had but +written to you first, instead of going straight away."</p> + +<p>"It would have been better," Captain Clinton said, "but I cannot blame +him. I think it was natural that he should go as he did. He would have +thought that had he written to me it would have seemed as if he wanted +something from me, and anything would have seemed better to him than +that. However, we must set about doing something at once. I shall go by +the nine o'clock local to Swindon, and on by the night mail to town. +Then I shall set a detective at work. He may find out from the porters +if anyone noticed a lad arrive by the night mail this morning, and shall +draw up carefully-worded advertisements. I shall write to Mr. +River-Smith before I start. What would you like, Rupert—to go back +to-morrow, or to stay away until the end of the term? If you take my +advice, you will go back; it would be a pity for you to miss your +examinations."</p> + +<p>"I don't think I could get through the examinations, father, with this +on my mind; besides, what should I say to the fellows about Edgar's +going away? You see, if we find him before next term begins, we need say +nothing about it."</p> + +<p>"You would have to account for his having run away, Rupert, anyhow. I +think you had better go back, my boy,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span> and tell the facts of the story. +There is not the slightest discredit in it, and it would be better for +Edgar himself that it should be known that he went under the influence +of a mistake than that all sorts of reasons should be assigned for his +absence. There will, of course, be no occasion to go into full details. +You would tell the story of the confusion that arose as to the children, +and say that Edgar had received some information which led him +erroneously to conclude that the problem was solved, and that he was not +my son, and that therefore he had run away so as to avoid receiving any +further benefits from the mistake that had been made."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps that would be best, father. Indeed I don't know what I should +do if I were to stop here now with nothing to do but to worry about +him."</p> + +<p>"I am sure it will be best, Rupert. I will tell your master you will +return to-morrow afternoon."</p> + +<p>Captain Clinton went up to town by the night mail, and in the morning +went to a private detective's office. After giving particulars of +Edgar's age and appearance he went on: "As he had no luggage with him, +and there was nothing particular about his personal appearance, I +consider it altogether useless to search for him in London; but I think +it possible that he may try to enlist."</p> + +<p>"Sixteen is too young for them to take him, unless he looks a good deal +older than he is."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I quite see that. At the same time that is the only thing that +occurs to us as likely for him to try."</p> + +<p>"Not likely to take to the sea, sir?"</p> + +<p>"Not at all likely from what we know of his fancies. Still he might do +that for a couple of years with a view to enlisting afterwards."</p> + +<p>"How about going to the States or Canada?"</p> + +<p>"That again is quite possible."</p> + +<p>"Had he money with him, sir?"</p> + +<p>"He had about five pounds in his pocket, and a gold watch<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span> and chain +that he had only had a few months, and could, I should think, get seven +or eight pounds for; but I do not see what he could do to get his living +if he went abroad."</p> + +<p>"No, sir; but then young gents always have a sort of fancy that they can +get on well out there, and if they do not mind what they turn to I fancy +that most of them can. Is he in any trouble, sir? You will excuse my +asking, but a young chap who gets into trouble generally acts in a +different sort of way to one who has gone out what we may call +venturesome."</p> + +<p>"No, he has got into no trouble," Captain Clinton said. "He has gone +away under a misunderstanding, but there is nothing whatever to make him +wish to conceal himself beyond the fact that he will do all he can to +prevent my tracing him at present. Here are half a dozen of his photos. +If you want more I can get them struck off."</p> + +<p>"I could do with another half-dozen," the man said. "I will send them +down to men who act with me at Southampton, Hull, Liverpool, Glasgow, +and Plymouth, and will send two or three abroad. He might cross over to +Bremen or Hamburg, a good many go that way now. I will look after the +recruiting offices here myself; but as he is only sixteen, and as you +say does not look older, I do not think there is a chance of his trying +that. No recruiting sergeant would take him up. No, sir; I should say +that if he has no friends he can go to, the chances are he will try to +ship for the States or Canada. But what are we to do if we find him?"</p> + +<p>Captain Clinton had not thought of this.</p> + +<p>"Of course," the man went on, "if you gave an authority for me to send +down to each of my agents, they could take steps to stop him."</p> + +<p>"No," Captain Clinton said after a pause, during which he had been +thinking that as he could not swear that Edgar was his son, he was in +fact powerless in the matter. "No, I do not wish that done. I have no +idea whatever of coercing him. I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span> want, if possible, to see him and +converse with him before he goes. If that is not possible, and if he is +not found until just as the ship is sailing, then I want your agent to +wire to me the name of the steamer in which he goes and the port to +which it sails. Then if there is a faster steamer going, I might be +there as soon as he is; if not, I should wish you to telegraph to a +private detective firm across the water, which I suppose you could do, +to have somebody to meet the steamer as she came in, and without his +knowing it to keep him under his eye until I arrive."</p> + +<p>"I could manage all that, sir, easily enough. I will send off four of +the photographs at once to the ports and the others as soon as I get +them, and will go down with the other photograph to the recruiting +office and arrange with one of the sergeants engaged there to let me +know if he turns up, and will send a man down to the docks to watch the +ships there. I will send off the other photos directly I get them."</p> + +<p>There was nothing else for Captain Clinton to do, but before he returned +home he wrote out a series of advertisements and left them at the +offices of the principal papers. They ran as follows:—"If E.C., who +left Cheltenham suddenly, will return home he will find that he has +acted under a misapprehension. The woman's story was untrustworthy. He +is still regarded as a son by P.C. and L.C." Having done this he drove +to Paddington, and went down by an afternoon train.</p> + +<p>Rupert arrived at Cheltenham just as the others had sat down to tea.</p> + +<p>"Hullo, Clinton! Back again, eh? Glad to see you."</p> + +<p>Rupert nodded a reply to the greeting. His heart was too full to speak, +and he dropped into the seat he was accustomed to use, the others moving +up closely to make room for him. A significant glance passed between the +boys. They saw that Edgar was not with him, and guessed that there was +something wrong. There had been a good deal of wonder among them at the +Clintons' sudden disappearance, and although several of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span> the boys had +seen Rupert go into his brother's dormitory none had seen Edgar, and +somehow or other it leaked out that Rupert had started in a cab to the +station alone. There had been a good deal of quiet talk among the +seniors about it. All agreed that there was something strange about the +matter, especially as Robert, when questioned on the subject, had +replied that Mr. River-Smith's orders were that he was to say nothing +about it. As a precautionary measure orders were given to the juniors +that no word about the Clintons' absence was to be said outside the +house.</p> + +<p>After tea was over Rupert went up to Pinkerton.</p> + +<p>"Pinkerton, I should like to have a talk with you and Easton and two or +three others—Skinner, and Mossop, and Templer—yes, and Scudamore."</p> + +<p>"Just as you like, Clinton. Of course if you like to tell us anything we +shall be glad to hear it, but we all know that your brother was not the +sort of fellow to get into any dishonourable sort of scrape, and I can +promise you we shall ask no questions if you would rather keep the +matter altogether to yourself."</p> + +<p>"No, I would rather tell you," Rupert said. "I know none of you would +think that Edgar would have done anything wrong, but all sorts of +stories are certain to go about, and I would rather that the truth of +the matter were known. You are the six head fellows of the house, and +when I have told you the story you can do as you like about its going +further."</p> + +<p>"Well, if you go up to my study," Pinkerton said, "I will bring the +others up."</p> + +<p>In three or four minutes the party were gathered there.</p> + +<p>"Look here, Clinton," Easton said, "Pinkerton says he has told you that +we are all sure that, whatever this is all about, your brother has done +nothing he or you need be ashamed about. I should like to say the same +thing, and if it is painful for you to tell it do not say anything about +it. We shall be quite content to know that he has left, if he has +left—although<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span> I hope we shall see him again next term for some good +reason or other."</p> + +<p>"No, I would rather tell it," Rupert said. "It is a curious story, and a +very unpleasant one for us, but there is nothing at all for us to be +ashamed about." And he went on to tell them the whole story, ending with +"You see, whether Edgar or I am the son of Captain Clinton, or of this +sergeant and his scheming wife, is more than we can say."</p> + +<p>"It does not matter a bit to us," Easton said, breaking the silence of +surprise with which they had listened to the story. "We like you and +your brother for yourselves, and it does not matter a rap to us, nor as +far as I can see to anyone else, who your fathers and mothers were."</p> + +<p>"I call it horribly hard lines for you both," Skinner put in; "deuced +hard lines, especially for your brother."</p> + +<p>Pinkerton said: "By what you say Captain Clinton and his wife don't care +now which is their real son; one is real and the other adopted, and as +they regard you in the same light they don't even want to know which is +which. Well, now you know that, it seems to me you are all right anyhow. +You see your brother didn't know that, and when this woman told him she +was his mother, and that the whole thing had been a preconcerted plot on +her part, I can quite understand his going straight away. I think we +should all have done the same if we had had the same story told to us, +and had seen we were intended to be parties to a fraud of that sort. +Well, I am glad you told us, but I do not think there is any occasion +for the story to go further."</p> + +<p>"Certainly not," Easton agreed, "it would do no good whatever; and of +course it would never be kept in the house, but would come to be the +talk of the whole school. All that need be said is that Clinton has told +us the reason of his brother leaving so suddenly, that we are all of +opinion that he acted perfectly rightly in doing so, and that nothing +more is to be said about the matter. We will each give Clinton our word<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span> +of honour not to give the slightest hint to anyone about it, or to say +that it is a curious story or anything of that sort, but just to stick +to it that we have heard all about it and are perfectly satisfied."</p> + +<p>"That will certainly be the best plan," Pinkerton agreed; "but I think +it would be as well for us to say he has left for family reasons, and +that it is nothing in any way connected with himself, and that we hope +that he will be back again next term."</p> + +<p>"Yes, we might say that," Easton agreed; "family reasons mean all sorts +of things, and anyone can take their choice out of them. Well, Clinton, +I shouldn't worry over this more than you can help. I daresay Edgar will +be found in a day or two. At any rate you may be sure that no harm has +come to him, or is likely to come to him. If he emigrates, or anything +of that sort, he is pretty safe to make his way, and I am sure that +whatever he is doing he will always be a gentleman and a good fellow."</p> + +<p>"That he will," Mossop said cordially. "I hope we should all have done +as he has under the same circumstances, but it would be a big temptation +to some fellows to have the alternative of a good fortune and a nice +estate on one side, and of going out into the world and making your own +living how you can on the other."</p> + +<p>There was a chorus of assent.</p> + +<p>"Yes," Easton said, "it is very easy to say 'Do what is right and never +mind what comes of it;' but we should all find it very hard to follow it +in practice if we had a choice like that before us. Well, you tell your +brother when you hear of him, Clinton, that we all think better of him +than before, and that whether he is a sergeant's son or a captain's we +shall welcome him heartily back, and be proud to shake his hand."</p> + +<p>And so it was settled, and to the great disappointment of the rest of +the house no clue was forthcoming as to the cause of Edgar Clinton +leaving so suddenly; but as the monitors and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span> seniors all seemed +perfectly satisfied with what they had heard, it was evident to the +others that whatever the cause might be he was not to blame in the +matter.</p> + +<p>During the short time that remained of the term Rupert got on better +than he had expected. While the examination was going on Easton invited +him to do his work in his private study, gave him his advice as to the +passages likely to be set, and coached him up in difficult points, and +he came out higher in his form than he had expected to do.</p> + +<p>Three days before the school broke up Easton said: "Clinton, I have had +a letter from my father this morning, and he will be very glad if you +will come down to spend the holidays at our place. And so shall I. There +is very good hunting round us. My father has plenty of horses in his +stables, and I expect we shall be rather gay, for my brother comes of +age in the week after Christmas, and there is going to be a ball and so +on. I don't know how you feel about it, but I should say that it would +be better for you than being at home where everything will call your +brother to your mind, and your being there will make it worse for the +others."</p> + +<p>"I am very much obliged to you, Easton; I should like it very much. I +will write off to the governor at once and hear what he says. They might +like to have me home, and possibly I might be useful in the search for +Edgar. As I have told you, I feel sure that he has enlisted. He would be +certain to change his name, and it would be no use anyone who did not +know him going to look at the recruits."</p> + +<p>"But we agreed, Clinton, that no one would enlist him at his age, and he +is altogether too old to go as a band-boy."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I know that; and that is what worries me more than anything. Still +I cannot help thinking that he will try some how to get into the army. +If he can't, I believe he will do anything he can to get a living until +they enlist him."</p> + +<p>"I don't think he can anyhow pass as eighteen, Clinton. If it was for +anything else he might get up with false moustache or<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span> something; but +you see he has got to pass a strict examination by a surgeon. I have +heard that lots of fellows do enlist under age, but then some fellows +look a good bit older than they are. I don't believe any doctor would be +humbugged into believing that Edgar is anything like eighteen."</p> + +<p>"Well, I will write to my father this afternoon and hear what he says. +If he thinks I cannot do any good and they don't want me at home, I +shall be very pleased to come to you."</p> + +<p>Captain Clinton's letter came by return of post. He said that he was +very pleased Rupert had had an invitation that would keep him away. "We +have received no news whatever of Edgar, and I don't think that it would +be of any use for you to join in the search for him. There is no saying +where he may have gone or what he may be doing. I agree with you that he +will most likely take any job that offers to keep him until he can +enlist. Arrangements have been made with one of the staff sergeants at +the head-quarters of recruiting in London to let us know if any young +fellow answering to Edgar's description comes up to be medically +examined. So we shall catch him if he presents himself there. +Unfortunately there are such a number of recruiting depôts all over the +country, that there is no saying where he may try to enlist—that is, if +he does try. However, at present there is certainly nothing you can do. +I should like to have you home, and your mother says she should like you +too, but I do think that for her sake it is better you should not come. +As long as you are away there is nothing to recall at every moment the +fact that Edgar has gone, whereas if you were here his absence would be +constantly be before her. She is quite ill with anxiety, and Dr. +Wilkinson agrees with me that change is most desirable. I am sure she +would not hear of going away if you were at home; it would give her a +good excuse for staying here; but when she hears that you are not coming +I think I may be able to persuade her to listen to Wilkinson's opinion, +and in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span> that case I shall take her and Madge down to Nice at once. If I +can get her there by Christmas so much the better, for Christmas at home +would be terribly trying to us all. Once we are there, we can wander +about for two or three months in Italy or Spain, or across to Algeria or +Egypt—anything to distract her mind."</p> + +<p>Accordingly Rupert accepted Easton's invitation, and went with him to +his father's in Leicestershire. Had it not been for the uncertainty +about Edgar he would have enjoyed his holidays greatly. Although he had +always joined to a certain extent in the chaff of his school-fellows at +Easton's care about his dress and little peculiarities of manner, he had +never shared in Skinner's prejudices against him, and always said that +he could do anything well that he chose to turn his hand to, and had +appreciated his readiness to do a kindness to anyone who really needed +it. It had been his turn now, and the friendly companionship of the +elder boy had been of the greatest value to him. Easton had never said +much in the way of sympathy, which indeed would have jarred Rupert's +feelings, but his kindness had said more than words could do; and +Rupert, as he looked back, felt ashamed at the thought that he had often +joined in a laugh about him.</p> + +<p>At home the points that had seemed peculiar at school were unnoticeable. +The scrupulous attention to dress that had there been in strong contrast +to the general carelessness of the others in that respect, seemed but +natural in his own house, where there were a good many guests staying. +Rupert and Edgar had always been more particular at home than at school; +but Easton was the same, indeed Rupert thought that he was if anything +less particular now than he had been at River-Smith's.</p> + +<p>A week after Christmas Rupert received a letter from his father, written +at Nice, saying that a letter from Edgar had been forwarded on from +home, and giving the brief words in which the lad said that he was well, +and that they might be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span> under no uneasiness respecting him. "This does +not tell us much," Captain Clinton went on, "but we are very pleased, +inasmuch as it seems that Edgar does not mean altogether to drop out of +our sight, but will, we hope, write from time to time to let us know +that at any rate he is well. The letter has the London post-mark, but of +course that shows nothing; it may have been written anywhere and sent to +anyone—perhaps to a waiter at an hotel at which he stopped in London, +and with whom he had arranged to post any letters that he might inclose +to him. The letter has greatly cheered your mother, who, in spite of all +I could say, has hitherto had a dread that Edgar in his distress might +have done something rash. I have never thought so for an instant. I +trust that my two boys are not only too well principled, but too brave +to act a coward's part, whatever might befall them. Your mother, of +course, agreed with me in theory; but while she admitted that Edgar +would never if in his senses do such a thing, urged that his distress +might be so great that he would not be responsible for what he was +doing. Happily this morbid idea has been dissipated by the arrival of +the letter, and I have great hopes now that she will rouse herself, and +will shake off the state of silent brooding which has been causing me so +much anxiety. It was but this morning that we received the letter, and +already she looks brighter and more like herself than she has done since +you brought us the news of Edgar's disappearance."</p> + +<p>This news enabled Rupert to enjoy the remainder of the holidays much +more than he had done the first fortnight. He and Edgar had both been +accustomed to ride since they had been children, and had in their +Christmas holidays for years accompanied their father to the hunting +field, at first upon ponies, but the previous winter on two light-weight +carrying horses he had bought specially for them. Mr. Easton had several +hunters, and Rupert, who was well mounted, thoroughly enjoyed the +hunting, and returned to school with his nerves braced up, ready for +work.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I won't say anything against Easton again," Skinner said when he heard +from Rupert how pleasant his holidays had been made for him. "I noticed +how he took to you and made things smooth for you the last ten days of +the term, and I fully meant to tell him that I was sorry I had not +understood him better before; only, in the first place, I never happened +to have a good opportunity, and in the second place I don't know that I +ever tried to make one. However, I shall tell him now. It is not a +pleasant thing to be obliged to own that you have behaved badly, but it +is a good deal more unpleasant to feel it and not have the pluck to say +so."</p> + +<p>Accordingly the next time Easton came into the senior study, Skinner +went up to him and said:</p> + +<p>"Easton, I want to tell you that I am uncommonly sorry that I have set +myself against you because you have been more particular about your +dress and things than the rest of us, and because you did not seem as +keen as we were about football and things. I know that I have behaved +like an ass, and I should like to be friends now if you will let me."</p> + +<p>"Certainly I will, Skinner," Easton said, taking the hand he held out. +"I don't know that it was altogether your fault. My people at home are +rather particular about our being tidy and that sort of thing, and when +I came here and some of you rather made fun of me about it, I think that +I stuck to it all the more because it annoyed you. I shall be going up +for Sandhurst this term, and I am very glad to be on good terms with all +you fellows before I leave; so don't let us say anything more about it."</p> + +<p>And with another shake of the hands their agreement to be friends was +ratified.</p> + +<p>The term between Christmas and Easter was always the dullest of the +year. The house matches at football were over. Although a game was +sometimes played, there was but a languid interest in it. Paper-chases +were the leading incident in the term, and there was a general looking +forward to spring<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span> weather, when cricket could begin and the teams +commence practice for the matches of the following term.</p> + +<p>Easton was going up in the summer for the examination for the line. He +was not troubling himself specially about it; and indeed his getting in +was regarded as a certainty, for Mr. Southley had said that he would be +safe for the Indian Civil if he chose to try, and considered it a great +pity that he was going up for so comparatively an easy competition as +that for the line. He occasionally went for a walk with Rupert, and +while chatting with him frequently about Edgar, was continually urging +him not to let his thoughts dwell too much upon it, but to stick to his +work.</p> + +<p>The watch at the various ports had long since been given up, for had +Edgar intended to emigrate he would certainly have done so very shortly +after his arrival in London, as his means would not have permitted him +to make any stay there.</p> + +<p>"I think it is very thoughtful of Edgar," Easton said one day when +Rupert told him that he had heard from his father that another letter +had arrived. "So many fellows when they run away or emigrate, or +anything of that sort, drop writing altogether, and do not seem to give +a thought to the anxiety those at home are feeling for them. He is +evidently determined that he will go his own way and accept no help from +your people, and under the circumstances I can quite enter into his +feelings; but, you see, he does not wish them to be anxious or troubled +about him, and I don't think there is anything for you to worry about, +Clinton. He may be having a hardish time of it; still he is no doubt +getting his living somehow or other, and I don't know that it will do +him any harm.</p> + +<p>"I think he is the sort of fellow to make his way in whatever line he +takes up, and though what he has learnt here may not be of much use to +him at the start, his having had a good education is sure to be of +advantage to him afterwards. A fellow who could hold his own in a tussle +such as we had with the Greenites last term can be trusted to make a +good fight in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span> anything. At any rate it is of no use your worrying +yourself about him. You see, you will be going up in a year's time for +your examination for the line, and you will have to stick to it pretty +steadily if you are to get through at the first trial. It won't help +matters your worrying about him, and wherever he is and whatever he is +doing he is sure to keep his eye on the lists, and he will feel just as +much pleasure in seeing your name there as he would have done if he had +been here with you. So I should say, work steadily and play steadily. +You have a good chance of being in the college boat next term; that and +shooting will give you enough to do.</p> + +<p>"It is no use sticking to it too hard. I was telling Skinner yesterday +he will regularly addle his brain if he keeps on grinding as he is doing +now. But it is of no use talking to Skinner; when his mind is set on a +thing he can think of nothing else. Last term it was football, now it is +reading. It must be an awful nuisance to be as energetic as he is. I +cannot see why he should not take life comfortably."</p> + +<p>"He would say," Rupert laughed, "he cannot see why he should do things +by fits and starts as you do, Easton."</p> + +<p>"Ah! but I do not do it on principle," Easton argued. "I am all for +taking it quietly, only sometimes one gets stirred up and has to throw +one's self into a thing. One does it, you know, but one feels it a +nuisance—an unfair wear and tear of the system."</p> + +<p>"Your system does not seem to suffer seriously, Easton."</p> + +<p>"No; but it might if one were called upon to do these things often. But +it is time for us to turn back, or we shall be late for tea."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER V.</h2> + +<h3>ENLISTED.</h3> + + +<p>Edgar had found but little difficulty in getting out from the house. He +had timed himself so as to arrive at the station just before the train +left for Gloucester, and taking his ticket, had slipped into an empty +carriage. At Gloucester there was half an hour to wait before the +up-train came in. This time he got into a carriage with several other +people. He did not want to spend the night thinking, and as long as his +fellow-passengers talked he resolutely kept his attention fixed on what +they were saying. Then when one after the other composed themselves for +a sleep, he sat with his eyes closed, thinking over his school-days. He +had already, while he lay tossing on his bed, thought over the +revelation he had heard from every point of view. He had exhausted the +subject, and would not allow his thoughts to return to it.</p> + +<p>He now fought the football match of the Greenites over again in fancy. +It seemed to him that it was an event that had taken place a long time +back, quite in the dim distance, and he was wondering vaguely over this +when he too fell asleep, and did not wake up until the train arrived at +Paddington. It was with a feeling of satisfaction that he stepped out on +to the platform. Now there was something to do. It was too early yet to +see about lodgings. He went to a little coffee-house that was already +open for the use of the workmen, had some breakfast there, and then +walked about for two or three hours until London was astir, leaving his +things at the coffee-house. Then he went to a pawnbroker's and pawned +his watch and chain. Then, having fetched his things from the +coffee-house, he went into the Edgware Road and took an omnibus down to +Victoria and then walked on across Vauxhall Bridge, and set to work to +look for lodgings.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span></p> + +<p>He was not long in finding a bed-room to let, and here he installed +himself. He was convinced Captain Clinton would have a vigilant search +made for him, but he thought that he was now fairly safe, however sharp +the detectives might be in their hunt for him. He felt deeply the sorrow +there would be at home, for he knew that up to now he and Rupert had +been loved equally, and that even the discovery that he had had no right +to the care and kindness he had received would make no great difference +in their feeling towards him. Had the change of children been really the +result of accident, he would not have acted as he had done.</p> + +<p>He himself had had no hand in the fraud, but were he to accept anything +now from Captain Clinton he felt that he would be an accessary to it. +Had not his mother, his own mother, proposed that he should take part in +the plot, that he should go on deceiving them, and even that he should +rob Rupert altogether of his inheritance? It was too horrible to think +of. There was nothing for it that he could see but for him to go out +utterly from their lives, and to fight his way alone until he could, at +any rate, show them that he needed nothing and would accept nothing. He +was dimly conscious himself that he was acting unkindly and unfairly to +them, and that after all they had done for him they had a right to have +a say as to his future; but at present his pride was too hurt, he was +too sore and humiliated to listen to the whisper of conscience, and his +sole thought was to hide himself and to make his own way in the world.</p> + +<p>Lest his resolution should be shaken he carefully abstained from a +perusal of the papers, lest his eye might fall upon an advertisement +begging him to return. His mind was made up that he would enlist. He +knew that at present he could not do so as a private, but he thought +that he might be accepted as a trumpeter. He thought it probable that +they would guess that such was his intention, and would have given a +description of him at the recruiting offices. It was for this reason +that he determined to live as long as he could upon his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span> money before +trying to enlist, as if some time elapsed he would be less likely to be +recognized as answering the description that might be given by Captain +Clinton than if he made the attempt at once. From Vauxhall he often +crossed to Westminster, and soon struck up an acquaintance with some of +the recruiting sergeants.</p> + +<p>"Want to enlist, eh?" one of them said.</p> + +<p>"I am thinking of entering as a trumpeter."</p> + +<p>"Well, you might do that. There are plenty of younger lads than you are +trumpeters in the cavalry. I will look at the list and see what +regiments have vacancies; but I doubt whether they will take you without +a letter from your father saying that you are enlisting with his +consent."</p> + +<p>"I have no father that I know of," Edgar said.</p> + +<p>"Well, then, it is likely they will want a certificate from a clergyman +or your schoolmaster as to character; and I expect," the sergeant said +shrewdly, "you would have a difficulty in getting such a paper."</p> + +<p>Edgar nodded.</p> + +<p>"Well, lad, if you have quite made up your mind about it, my advice +would be, do not try here. In London they are a lot more particular than +they are down in the country, and I should say you are a good deal more +likely to rub through at Aldershot or Canterbury than you would be here. +They are more particular here. You see, they have no great interest in +filling up the ranks of a regiment, while when you go to the regiment +itself, the doctors and officers and all of them like seeing it up to +its full strength, so their interest is to pass a recruit if they can. I +have known scores and hundreds of men rejected here tramp down to +Aldershot, or take the train if they had money enough in their pockets +to pay the fare, and get passed without a shadow of difficulty."</p> + +<p>"I would rather not enlist for the next month or two," Edgar said; +"there might be somebody asking after me."</p> + +<p>"If you will take my advice, lad, you will go back to your<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span> friends. +There are many young fellows run away from home, but most of them are +precious sorry for it afterwards."</p> + +<p>"I am not likely to be sorry for it, sergeant, and if I am I shall not +go back. Do you think I could find anyone who would give me lessons on +the trumpet?"</p> + +<p>"I should say that there would not be any difficulty about that. There +is nothing you cannot have in London if you have got money to pay for +it. If you were to go up to the Albany Barracks and get hold of the +trumpet-major, he would tell you who would teach you. He would not do it +himself, I daresay, but some of the trumpeters would be glad to give you +an hour a day if you can pay for it. Of course it would save you a lot +of trouble afterwards if you could sound the trumpet before you joined."</p> + +<p>Edgar took the advice, and found a trumpeter in the Blues who agreed to +go out with him for an hour every day on to Primrose Hill, and there +teach him to sound the trumpet. He accordingly gave up his room at +Vauxhall, and moved across to the north side of Regent's Park. For six +weeks he worked for an hour a day with his instructor, who, upon his +depositing a pound with him as a guarantee for its return, borrowed a +trumpet for him, and with this Edgar would start of a morning, and +walking seven or eight miles into the country, spend hours in eliciting +the most mournful and startling sounds from the instrument.</p> + +<p>At the end of the six weeks his money was nearly gone, although he had +lived most economically, and accordingly, after returning the trumpet to +his instructor, who, although he had been by no means chary of abuse +while the lessons were going on, now admitted that he had got on +first-rate, he went down to Aldershot, where his friend the recruiting +sergeant had told him that they were short of a trumpeter or two in the +1st Hussars.</p> + +<p>It was as well that Edgar had allowed the two months to pass before +endeavouring to enlist, for after a month had been<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span> vainly spent in the +search for him, Rupert had suggested to his father that although too +young to enlist in the ranks Edgar might have tried to go in as a +trumpeter, and inquiries had been made at all the recruiting depôts +whether a lad answering to his description had so enlisted. The sergeant +had given him a note to a sergeant of his acquaintance in the Hussars.</p> + +<p>"I put it pretty strong, young un," his friend had said when he gave him +the note; "mind you stick to what I say."</p> + +<p>The sergeant had indeed—incited partly perhaps by a liking for the lad, +partly by a desire to return an equivalent for the sovereign with which +Edgar had presented him—drawn somewhat upon his imagination. "I have +known the young chap for a very long time," he said; "his father and +mother died years ago, and though I am no relation to him he looks upon +me as his guardian as it were. He has learned the trumpet a bit, and +will soon be able to sound all the calls. He will make a smart young +soldier, and will, I expect, take his place in the ranks as soon as he +is old enough. Do the best you can for him, and keep an eye on him."</p> + +<p>"I will take you round to the trumpet-major," the sergeant said; "he had +better go with you to the adjutant. You know what Sergeant M'Bride says +in this letter?"</p> + +<p>"No, I don't know exactly what he says. He told me he would introduce me +to you, and that you would, he was sure, do your best to put me +through."</p> + +<p>"Well, you had better hear what he does say. It is always awkward to +have misunderstandings. He says you have lost your father and mother; +you understand that?"</p> + +<p>"That's right," Edgar said quietly.</p> + +<p>"And that he has known you for a very long time?"</p> + +<p>Edgar nodded.</p> + +<p>"It seems to me a very long time," he added.</p> + +<p>"And that though he is no actual relation of yours he considers he +stands in the light of your guardian. That is important, you know."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I will remember that," Edgar said. "There is certainly no one as far as +I know who has a better right than Sergeant M'Bride to advise me, or +give me permission to enlist."</p> + +<p>"Well, you stick to that and you are all right. Now, come along."</p> + +<p>"I wonder who the young chap is," the sergeant said to himself as they +crossed the barrack yard. "As to what M'Bride said, we know all about +that; I have been on the recruiting staff myself. But I think the young +un was speaking the truth. He has lost his father and mother, he has +known M'Bride for some time, and he has got no one who has any right to +interfere with him. Rum, too. The boy is a gentleman all over, though he +has rigged himself out in those clothes. Well, we are short of +trumpeters, and I don't suppose the adjutant will inquire very closely."</p> + +<p>The trumpet-major was quite willing to do his share of the business. He +was glad to fill up one of the vacancies, especially as it seemed that +the new-comer would soon be able to take his place in the ranks; and +after asking a few questions he went across with him to the adjutant. +The latter looked at Edgar critically.</p> + +<p>"Smart young fellow," he said to himself. "Got into some scrape at home, +I suppose, and run away. Of course he has some got-up lie ready. Well, +sergeant, what is it?"</p> + +<p>"Lad wishes to enlist as a trumpeter, sir. Here is a letter from his +next friend, Sergeant M'Bride of the 18th Hussars. Lad's father and +mother dead. M'Bride stands in place of guardian."</p> + +<p>"A likely story," the adjutant muttered to himself. "What is your name, +lad?"</p> + +<p>"I enlist as Edward Smith," Edgar said, "age sixteen."</p> + +<p>"Parents dead?"</p> + +<p>"I lost them when I was a child, sir."</p> + +<p>"Who were they?"</p> + +<p>"My father was a sergeant in the 30th Foot, sir."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span></p> + +<p>The adjutant was watching him narrowly.</p> + +<p>"Either he is telling the truth," he said to himself, "or he is one of +the calmest young liars I have ever come across."</p> + +<p>"And there is no one who has any legal right to control you or to object +to your enlisting?"</p> + +<p>"No one, sir."</p> + +<p>"You cannot play, I suppose?"</p> + +<p>"I have been learning the trumpet for some little time, sir, and can +sound a few of the calls."</p> + +<p>"Well, I suppose that will do, sergeant. You had better take him across +to the doctor. If he passes him put him up for the night, and bring him +here to-morrow at twelve o'clock to be sworn in."</p> + +<p>"Rather a tough case that," he said to himself as the trumpet-major left +with the young recruit. "There is not a doubt the boy is lying, and yet +I could have declared he was speaking the truth. Of course he may be the +son of a non-commissioned officer, and have been brought up and educated +by someone. He looks a gentleman all over, and speaks like one. Well, it +is no business of mine;" and the adjutant gave the matter no further +thought.</p> + +<p>The next day Edgar was sworn in. The colonel, hearing from the adjutant +that he had questioned the boy, and that there was no impediment to his +enlisting, passed him without a remark, and Edgar was at once taken to +the regimental tailor and measured for his uniform, and half an hour +later was marched out with four or five of the other trumpeters beyond +the confines of the camp, and was there set to work at the calls. His +work was by no means light. He was at once sent into the riding-school, +and he found it a very different thing to satisfy the riding-master and +his sergeants than it had been to learn to sit a horse at home. However, +his previous practice in that way rendered the work much easier for him +than it would otherwise have been, and he was not very long in passing +out from the squad of recruits. Then he had two or three<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span> hours a day of +practice with the trumpet, an hour a day at gymnastics, and in the +afternoon two hours of school. The last item was, however, but child's +play, and as soon as the instructor saw that the lad could without +difficulty take a first-class, he employed him in aiding to teach +others.</p> + +<p>The evening was the only time he had to himself; then, if he chose to +take the trouble to dress, he could go out into the town or stroll +through the camp or take a walk. If disinclined for this there was the +cavalry canteen, with a large concert-room attached, where +entertainments were given by music-hall singers brought down from +London. The trumpeters and bandsmen had a barrack-room to themselves. +Edgar, who had a healthy appetite, found the food of a very different +description to that to which he had been accustomed. Although up at six +o'clock in the morning, even in the winter, as it was, there was nothing +to eat until eight. Then there was a mug of a weak fluid called tea, and +an allowance of bread. The dinner, which was at one, consisted of an +amount of meat scarcely sufficient for a growing boy; for although had +the allowance consisted entirely of flesh, it would have been ample, it +was so largely reduced by the amount of bone and fat that the meat was +reduced to a minimum. However, when eked out with potatoes and bread it +sufficed well enough.</p> + +<p>Tea at six consisted, like breakfast, of a mug of tea and bread. Edgar +found, however, that the Spartan breakfasts and teas could be +supplemented by additions purchased at the canteen. Here pennyworths of +butter, cheese, bacon, an egg, a herring, and many similar luxuries were +obtainable, and two pence of his pay was invariably spent on breakfast, +a penny sufficing for the addition to his tea.</p> + +<p>He found that he soon got on well with his comrades. It was like going +to a fresh school. There was at first a good deal of rough chaff, but as +soon as it was found that he could take this good-temperedly, and that +if pushed beyond a fair limit he was not only ready to fight but was +able to use his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span> fists with much more science than any of the other +trumpeters, he was soon left alone, and indeed became a favourite with +the bandsmen. Two months after he joined he was appointed to a troop. He +found, however, that he did not have to accompany them generally on +parade. The regiment, like all others at home, was very short of its +complement of horses, and only one trumpeter to each squadron was +mounted. Edgar, however, cared little for this. He considered his first +two years' work as merely a probation which had to be gone through +before he could take his place in the ranks as a trooper.</p> + +<p>He found his pay sufficient for his needs. Although he had in the old +days been in the habit of drinking beer, he had made a resolution to +abstain from it altogether on joining the regiment. He determined to +gain his stripes at the earliest possible opportunity, and knew well +enough, from what he had heard Captain Clinton say, that drink was the +curse of the army, and that men, although naturally sober and steady, +were sometimes led into it, and thereby lost all chance of ever rising. +He had never smoked, and it was no privation to him to abstain from +tobacco, and he had therefore the whole of his pay, after the usual +deduction for stoppages, at his disposal for food, and had always a +little in his pocket to lend to any comrade who had the bad luck to be +put on heavy stoppages by the loss of some of his necessaries.</p> + +<p>In this respect he himself suffered somewhat heavily at first. +Accustomed at school to leave his things carelessly about without the +slightest doubt as to their safety, he was astonished and shocked to +find that a very much laxer code of morality prevailed in the army, and +that any necessaries left about instantly disappeared. The first week +after joining he lost nearly half the articles that had been served out +to him, and was for some months on heavy stoppages of pay to replace +them. The lesson, however, had its effect, and he quickly learnt to keep +a sharp look-out over his things. He was soon dismissed from school, +obtaining his first-class at the examination,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span> which took place two +months after he joined, and this gave him time to attend the +fencing-school, and to give more time to gymnastics.</p> + +<p>When once accustomed to his work he found his life an easy and pleasant +one, and had far more time at his disposal than had been the case at +school. He resolutely avoided dwelling on the past, and whenever he +found himself thinking of what had so long been home, he took up a book, +or went out for a walk, or engaged in some occupation that served to +distract his thoughts. He missed the games. Football was occasionally +played, but there was no observance of rules, and after trying it once +or twice he gave it up in disgust. He often joined in a game at fives, +and practised running and jumping, so as to be able to take part in the +regimental sports in the spring.</p> + +<p>When Easter had passed and the weather became bright and pleasant he +often took long walks alone, for it was seldom he could find anyone +willing to accompany him. He had learnt drawing at Cheltenham, and as he +found that it would be useful for him when he obtained the rank of a +non-commissioned officer to make sketches and maps to send in with +reports of any country reconnoitred, he accustomed himself to do this on +his walks, jotting down the features of the country, noticing the spots +where roads came in, the width of the bridges across the canals and the +nature of their banks, and taking sketches of what appeared to him +positions that would be occupied to check a pursuing force, or to be +taken up by an advanced one.</p> + +<p>At this time, too, he joined a class for signalling, and found it highly +interesting, and before the end of the summer could send a message or +read one with flags or flash-lights. As soon as the summer really began +he took to cricket, and here he speedily attracted the attention of the +officers. He had been the best bowler in the second eleven, and would +have been in the first the next season at Cheltenham. But it was some +little<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span> time before his proficiency as a bowler became known, although +it was soon seen that his batting was far above the average.</p> + +<p>"That youngster handles his bat well, Moffat," one of the lieutenants +said to the captain, who was the most energetic cricketer among the +officers, and who with one or two of the sergeants generally made up the +team when the regimental eleven played against that of another corps.</p> + +<p>"Yes, he plays in good form, doesn't he? Who is the young fellow at the +wicket now, sergeant?"</p> + +<p>"He is trumpeter of D troop, sir. He only joined three months ago, but +he could play a bit when he came, and got posted to a troop before two +others who joined four or five months before him."</p> + +<p>"The man who is bowling now is not up to much, sergeant. Suppose you +take the ball for an over or two; I should like to see how that young +fellow would stand up to your bowling."</p> + +<p>The sergeant, who was one of the regimental bowlers, took the ball. +Edgar, who had been driving the previous bowler in all directions, at +once played carefully, and for an over or two contented himself with +blocking the balls, then one came a little wide and he cut it to leg for +four.</p> + +<p>Captain Moffat took off his coat and waistcoat and took the end facing +the sergeant, and began to bowl some slow twisting balls, that were in +strong contrast to the fast delivery of the sergeant. Edgar felt now +that he was being tried, and played very cautiously. There were no runs +to be made off such bowling until the bowler became careless or tired. +At last a ball came rather farther than usual. Edgar stepped out to meet +it, and drove it nearly straight forward and scored four, and it was not +until his score ran up to thirty that he was at last caught.</p> + +<p>"You will do, Smith," Captain Moffat said approvingly. "Where did you +learn to play cricket?"</p> + +<p>"I learned at school, sir."</p> + +<p>"Ah! well, they taught you that well if they taught you<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span> nothing else. +You go on practising, and I will give you a chance to play for the +regiment the first time that there is a vacancy."</p> + +<p>Two or three matches were played before the chance came. Then Sergeant +Stokes, the bowler, hurt his hand the day before they were going to play +the Rifle Brigade, which was considered the strongest team in camp.</p> + +<p>"This is an unlucky business, sergeant," Captain Moffat said to him as +they were talking over next day's play. "I thought if we had luck we +might make a good fight with the Rifles. Bowling is never our strongest +point, and now you are out of it we shall make a very poor show. Are +there any of the men outside the eleven who show any bowling talent?"</p> + +<p>The sergeant shook his head.</p> + +<p>"Not one of them, sir. I hoped Corporal Holland would have made a +bowler, but he seems to have gone off rather than come on. No; we must +trust to the bowlers we have got. There are four or five of them who are +not bad, though except yourself, sir, there is nothing, so to speak, to +depend on."</p> + +<p>"You cannot depend on me, sergeant; there is no certainty about my +bowling. Sometimes I do pretty fairly, at other times I get hit all over +the field. No; my proper place is wicket-keeping. I should never leave +that if we had two or three bowlers we could depend upon. Well, we must +go in for run making.</p> + +<p>"I do not think that we can do better than put on that young trumpeter +till you can play again. I have watched him several times at practice, +and he always keeps his wickets up well, and hits freely whenever he +gets a chance."</p> + +<p>"Very well, sir. I will warn him that he will be wanted to-morrow. There +can be no harm in trying him for once anyhow."</p> + +<p>There was some little surprise among the men who played cricket at +hearing that Trumpeter Smith was to play in the eleven against the +Rifles, and some little grumbling among<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span> those who had hoped to be the +next choice. However, all agreed that he was a very likely youngster. +The Hussars won the toss, and went in first. The bowling of the Rifles +was deadly, and the ten wickets fell for fifty-two runs. Edgar was the +last to go in, and did not receive a single ball, his partner succumbing +to the very first ball bowled after Edgar had gone out to the wicket. +Then the Rifles went in, and the loss of the Hussars' fast bowler soon +made itself felt. Two of the best bats of the Rifles were at the wicket, +and in spite of several changes of bowling, seventy-four runs were +scored without a separation being made. Captain Moffat looked round the +field despairingly. He had tried all the men on whom he had any +dependence. His own bowling had been very severely punished, and he had +retired when thirty runs had been scored and was reluctant to take the +ball again. As he was standing undecided after an over in which twelve +runs had been scored, his eye fell on Edgar as he ran lightly across to +take up his place on the opposite side.</p> + +<p>"Smith!" Edgar ran up to him. "Do you bowl at all?"</p> + +<p>"I have not bowled this season, sir, but I used to bowl pretty fairly."</p> + +<p>"Very well, then, take the ball at this end after the next over. I am +going to try Smith at this end," he said to the young lieutenant who was +long-stop.</p> + +<p>He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, there is one thing, he cannot make a +worse mess of it than we are making already."</p> + +<p>When the over was concluded, Edgar took the ball. The year that had +elapsed since he had last played, and the gymnastics and hard exercise, +had strengthened his muscles greatly, and as he tossed the ball from +hand to hand while the field took their places he felt that he was more +master of it than he had been before. He had then been a remarkably fast +bowler for his age, and would have been in the eleven had it not +happened that it already possessed three unusually good bowlers.</p> + +<p>The first ball he sent up was a comparatively slow one; he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span> wanted to +try his hand. It was dead on the wicket, and was blocked; then he drew +his breath, and sent the next ball in with all his force. A shout rose +from the Hussars as two of the wickets went flying into the air. Another +player came out, but at the fourth ball of the over his middle stump was +levelled.</p> + +<p>"What do you think of that, Langley?" Captain Moffat asked the long-stop +as they walked together to the other end. "We have found a treasure. He +bowls about as fast as any one I have ever seen, and every ball is dead +on the wicket."</p> + +<p>"He is first-class," the lieutenant, who was an old Etonian, said. "I +wonder where he learnt to play cricket?"</p> + +<p>The wickets fell fast, and the innings concluded for 98, Edgar taking +seven wickets for twelve runs. Captain Moffat put him in third in the +second innings, and he scored twenty-four before he was caught out, the +total score of the innings amounting to 126. The Rifles had therefore +eighty-one runs to get to win. They only succeeded in making +seventy-six, eight of them being either bowled out by Edgar or caught +off his bowling. After this he took his place regularly in the Hussar +team, and it was generally acknowledged that it was owing to his bowling +that the regiment that season stood at the head of the Aldershot teams.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER VI.</h2> + +<h3>EGYPT.</h3> + + +<p>Naturally his prowess at cricket made Trumpeter Smith a popular figure +in the regiment, and even at the officers' mess his name was frequently +mentioned, and many guesses were ventured as to who he was and what +school he came from.</p> + +<p>That he was a gentleman by birth nobody doubted. There<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span> was nothing +unusual in that, for all the cavalry regiments contain a considerable +number of gentlemen in their ranks; men of this class generally +enlisting in the cavalry in preference to the other arms of the service. +It was, however, unusual for one to enlist at Edgar's age. Many young +men, after having failed to gain a commission by competition, enlist in +hopes of working up to one through the ranks. Another class are the men +who having got into scrapes of one kind or another, run through their +money, and tired out their friends, finally enlist as the only thing +open to them.</p> + +<p>The first class are among the steadiest men in the regiment, and +speedily work their way up among the non-commissioned officers. The +second class are, on the other hand, among the wildest and least +reputable men in the ranks. They are good men in a campaign where pluck +and endurance and high spirits are most valuable, but among the worst +and most troublesome when there is little to do and time hangs heavily +on hand.</p> + +<p>There were two of the sergeants who had failed in the examination for +commissions, and were hoping some day to obtain them. One had been five +years in the regiment, the other three. Their attention had first been +called to Edgar by his getting a first-class in the examination, which +at once stamped him as having had an education greatly superior to that +of the majority of recruits. His position in the regimental cricket team +further attracted their attention, and they took an opportunity to speak +to him when it happened they were walking together and met Edgar +returning from an afternoon's ramble across the country.</p> + +<p>"Well, Smith, how do you like soldiering?"</p> + +<p>"I like it very well; I don't think that there is anything to complain +of at all."</p> + +<p>"It is better than grinding away at Latin and Greek and mathematics, and +that sort of thing," the younger of the two sergeants said with a smile.</p> + +<p>"There are advantages both ways, sergeant."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span></p> + +<p>"So there are, lad. Of the two I like drill better than grinding at +books, worse luck; if I had been fond of books I should not be wearing +these stripes. I asked the band-master if you were learning an +instrument. He said you were not. So I suppose you mean to give up your +trumpet and join the ranks as soon as you get to eighteen?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. I should not care about being in the band."</p> + +<p>"Your cricket is not a bad thing for you," the elder of the two men +said. "It brings you into notice, and will help you to get your stripes +earlier than you otherwise would do; as a man who does his regiment +credit either as a good shot or as a cricketer or in the sports is sure +to attract notice, and to be pushed on if he is steady and a smart +soldier. If you won't mind my giving you a bit of advice, I should say +don't try to push yourself forward. Sometimes young fellows spoil their +chances by doing so. Some of the old non-commissioned officers feel a +bit jealous when they see a youngster likely to make his way up, and you +know they can make it very hot for a fellow if they like. So be careful +not to give them a chance. Even if you are blown up when you do not +deserve it, it is better to hold your tongue than to kick against it. +Cheeking a non-commissioned officer never pays."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, sergeant," Edgar said quietly; "I am much obliged to you for +your advice."</p> + +<p>"An uncommonly good style of young fellow," Sergeant Netherton, who was +the son of a colonel in the army, and had been educated at Harrow, said +to his companion. "Comes from a good school, I should say. Must have got +into some baddish scrape, or he never would be here at his age."</p> + +<p>"It does not quite follow," the other replied. "His father may have died +or burst up somehow, and seeing nothing before him but a place at a +clerk's desk or enlisting he may have taken this alternative; and not a +bad choice either. For, putting aside altogether the chance of getting a +commission, which is a pretty slight one, there is no pleasanter life +for a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span> steady, well-conducted young fellow who has had a fair education +than the army. He is sure of getting his stripes in a couple of years +after enlisting. A non-commissioned officer has enough pay to live +comfortably; he has no care or anxiety of any sort; he has more time to +himself than a man in any other sort of business. There are no end of +staff appointments open to him if he writes a good hand, and does not +mind clerk work. If he goes in for long service he has every chance of +being regimental sergeant-major before he has done, and can leave the +service with a pension sufficient to keep him in a quiet way."</p> + +<p>"Yes, that is all very well, Summers, but he cannot marry. That is to +say, if he has, as we are supposing, been born and educated as a +gentleman, he cannot marry the sort of woman he would like as a wife."</p> + +<p>"No, there is that drawback," the other laughed. "But then, you see, if +he had been obliged to take a small clerkship leading to nothing, he +could hardly invite a young countess to share it with him."</p> + +<p>As Edgar walked back to barracks he thought over the advice that had +been given him, and recognized its value. He knew that the chances of +his ever obtaining a commission were exceedingly small, and that even +young men whose fathers were officers of high standing and considerable +influence seldom obtain a commission under six or seven years' service, +and that the majority of commissions from the ranks are given to old +non-commissioned officers who were made quarter-masters or pay-masters. +He had not entered the service, as had the two non-commissioned officers +with whom he had been speaking, for the express purpose of gaining a +commission, but simply because he had always had a fancy for soldiering, +and because it seemed at the time he left Cheltenham the only thing open +to him.</p> + +<p>He had resolved from the first that he would regularly put by a portion +of his pay, so that he could at any time purchase<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span> his discharge if he +wished to, should he see any opening in which he could embark by the +time he reached the age of three or four and twenty. He would have +gained experience, and might then, if he liked, emigrate to one of the +colonies. He resolved that when winter came he would go into one of the +regimental workshops and learn a trade, either saddlery or farriery, +which would enable him to earn his living for a time abroad until he saw +something better to do. At school Edgar had held his place rather by +steady work than by natural talent. Rupert was the more clever of the +two, but Edgar's dogged perseverance had placed him in a more advanced +position on the modern side than Rupert held on the classical, and in +whatever position he might find himself his perseverance, power of work, +and strong common sense were likely to carry him through.</p> + +<p>Edgar was conscious himself that he had acted hastily and wrongly in +leaving Cheltenham as he had done, and yet he felt that if again placed +in the same circumstances he should do the same. Captain Clinton had +certainly a right to have a voice in his future, and yet he felt so +keenly the dishonour of the fraud in which he had been an unconscious +accomplice, that he could not have brought himself to accept any +assistance at Captain Clinton's hands. Still he knew that those at +home—for he still thought of it as home—would be feeling much anxiety +about him, and once a month he wrote a short letter to Captain Clinton +saying that he was well and was keeping himself comfortably. These +letters he gave in charge of comrades going up for a day's leave to +London to post there for him.</p> + +<p>One day Edgar had gone with a dozen others to bathe in the canal. After +doing so they had returned to barracks, and he had gone for a walk by +himself. On his return he was walking along a lane at a distance of +about a mile from the town, when he heard a scream. He at once started +off at the top of his speed, and at a turn of the lane he came upon a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span> +group of two tramps and two frightened ladies. One of these was in the +act of handing over her purse to a tramp, while the second man was +holding the other by the wrist, and was endeavouring to tear off her +watch and chain, which she was struggling to retain. Just as Edgar +turned the corner he struck her on the face, and she fell backward on to +the bank.</p> + +<p>Another moment and Edgar was up to them. The tramp turned with a savage +oath. Edgar, who was carrying his riding-whip, struck him with it with +all his strength across the eyes, and the man staggered back with a +shriek of pain. The other stood on the defensive, but he was no match +for Edgar, who was in hard exercise, and in regular practice with the +gloves, and whose blood was thoroughly up. The fight lasted but a +minute, at the end of which time the tramp was lying in the road roaring +for mercy, and shouting to his comrade to come to his assistance.</p> + +<p>The latter, however, was stamping with pain, and was still unable to use +his eyes.</p> + +<p>Edgar turned to the ladies. "If you will kindly walk on to the town," he +said, "and send the first man you meet here to me, I will take care of +these two fellows until he arrives, and then we will hand them over to +the police. Do not be alarmed," he went on, seeing that they hesitated, +"I think they have had enough of it."</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> + <a id="image02" name="image02"> + <img src="images/02.jpg" + alt="EDGAR STRUCK HIM WITH ALL HIS STRENGTH." + title="EDGAR STRUCK HIM WITH ALL HIS STRENGTH." /></a><br /> + <span class="caption">"EDGAR STRUCK HIM WITH ALL HIS STRENGTH."</span> +</div> + +<p>The ladies hurried off, and before going many hundred yards came upon +three infantry men, who, when they heard what had happened, set off at a +run to Edgar's assistance. They arrived just in time. The man on the +ground had recovered his feet, and he and his companion had attacked +Edgar with fury, and it needed all the latter's skill and activity to +defend himself. As soon as the soldiers arrived upon the scene the +combat ceased. As a measure of precaution the tramps were first knocked +down; they were then dragged on to their feet and conducted by their +captors into Aldershot, where they were lodged at the police station. +They<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span> were followed by the two ladies, who after sending on the +soldiers had waited until their return with the tramps. They waited +outside the police station until a constable came out and asked them to +sign the charge sheet, which they did. Edgar now looked at them fairly +for the first time, and recognized one of them as being the wife of the +major of his corps.</p> + +<p>"You belong to my husband's regiment," she said as they came out from +the police station. "What is your name?"</p> + +<p>"Smith, madam. I am a trumpeter in D troop."</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes! I remember your face now. I have often seen you in the cricket +field. Miss Pearson and myself are greatly indebted to you. I should not +mind so much being robbed of my purse, but I prize my watch very highly +as it was a present from my father. Major Horsley will see you and thank +you when he hears what you have done."</p> + +<p>"I do not want any thanks," Edgar said; "it is a pleasure to punish such +ruffians."</p> + +<p>Half an hour later Major Horsley came across to Edgar's quarters, and +the sergeant called the lad down.</p> + +<p>"I am greatly indebted to you, Smith," he said, as Edgar saluted, +"greatly indebted to you. You have behaved most gallantly, and have +saved my wife from the loss of her watch and chain that she greatly +valued, and perhaps from serious ill-treatment from those ruffians; as +it was, one of them struck her a very severe blow on the face. I know +enough of you, lad, to feel that I cannot offer you money for the +service that you have rendered me; but be assured that I shall not +forget it, and that when it is in my power to do you a good turn I will +do so."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, sir," Edgar said. "I am very glad to have been of service."</p> + +<p>The major nodded kindly. Edgar saluted and turned away, well pleased at +having made a friend who would have it in his power to be so useful to +him, and still more pleased that the major had not offered him money as +a reward for what he had done. An hour later he was sent for to the +orderly-room,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span> where the colonel in the presence of several of the +officers thanked him for his gallant conduct.</p> + +<p>"You are a credit to the regiment, Smith; and you may be sure that I +shall keep my eye on you," he concluded.</p> + +<p>The next day the tramps were brought up before the local magistrates and +committed for trial for highway robbery with violence, and a month later +they were brought up at the assizes at Winchester and sentenced to five +years' penal servitude. Edgar gained a great deal of credit in the +regiment from the affair, and came to be known by the nickname of "The +Bantam." There were, of course, some men who were jealous of the young +trumpeter's popularity, and two or three of the non-commissioned +officers especially felt aggrieved at the notice taken of him. One of +these was the corporal in charge of the barrack-room occupied by Edgar, +for he had, since he had been regularly appointed to a troop, left the +quarters he first occupied with the band for those allotted to troop D.</p> + +<p>Corporals, however, have but little power in a barrack-room. They are in +a sort of transitional state between a private and a sergeant, and are +liable for even a comparatively small fault to be sent down again into +the ranks. This being the case, they seldom venture to make themselves +obnoxious to the men who were but lately their comrades, and may be +their comrades again before a week is out. Corporal North, however, lost +no opportunity of making himself disagreeable in a small way to Edgar. +More than that he could not venture upon, for the men would at once have +taken the lad's part.</p> + +<p>The regiment had been for some little time first on the list for foreign +service, and there was no surprise when the news ran round the +barrack-rooms that the order had come to prepare for embarkation. It was +supposed that as a matter of course India would be their destination; +but it was soon known that the regiment was for the present to be +stationed in Egypt. Most of the men would rather have gone direct to +India, where soldiers are better off and better cared for than +elsewhere.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span> Edgar, however, was pleased at the thought of seeing +something of Egypt, and it seemed to him, too, that there was a chance +of active service there.</p> + +<p>"It seems to me," he said, talking it over with several of his chums, +"that sooner or later we must have some fighting in Egypt. I cannot +understand how it is that some of the regiments there have not long ago +been sent down to Suakim. We have smashed up the Egyptian army, and it +seems to me that as we are really masters of the place we are bound to +protect the natives from these savage tribes who are attacking them down +on the Red Sea and up in the Soudan. The Egyptians always managed them +well enough until we disbanded their army. If Hicks Pasha had had, as he +asked for, an English regiment or two with him, he would never have been +smashed up by the Mahdi's people; and it seems to me awful that the +garrisons of Sinkat and Tokar should be deserted when we have a lot of +troops lying idle at Cairo, while Baker is trying in vain to get up a +native force to march to their relief. I wish, instead of going to +Egypt, we were going straight down to Suakim to help him. There is one +thing, if Baker fails and Sinkat and Tokar fall into the hands of the +natives, there will be such indignation that government will have to do +something. So I think there is a very good chance of our seeing some +active service there, which will be a thousand times better than +sweltering in hot barracks in Cairo."</p> + +<p>"Right you are, Smith," one of the others said. "I don't go in for +reading the papers, and I don't know anything about the chaps in Egypt; +but if there is going to be a row, I say let us have our share in it. We +are pretty well up in the pursuing drill; it would be a change to do it +with somebody to pursue. Anyhow, wherever it is it will be a good job to +get out of Aldershot, with its parades and its drills and its Long +Valley, and the whole blooming lot of it."</p> + +<p>Three days later the order came, and the regiment proceeded by rail to +Southampton; they embarked as soon as they arrived<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span> there, and the +transport started on the following morning. The weather was fine, and +the voyage a pleasant one. They had but little to do, for they had left +their horses behind them, as they were to take over the horses of the +regiment they were going to relieve. The steamer was a fast one, and in +twelve days after sailing they reached Alexandria. They were met when +they arrived there by terrible news. General Baker's force had marched +to the relief of Tokar, but on the way had been attacked by the natives +and utterly defeated, half the force being killed; and the whole would +have been annihilated had they not reached the sea-shore, where the guns +of the vessels which had brought them down from Suakim checked the +pursuit of the enemy. Sinkat had fallen.</p> + +<p>The news had arrived only on the previous day, and the greatest +excitement prevailed. The regiment at once proceeded to Cairo by train +and took over the barracks and horses from the small detachment that had +been left in charge of them, the main body of the regiment having +crossed them on their journey from Alexandria, as they were to proceed +to India in the same steamer that had brought out the Hussars. They were +scarcely settled in their quarters before they heard that, now that it +was too late, an expedition was to be sent down to Suakim. Two English +regiments would have saved Baker's force from destruction, and would +have rescued the garrisons of Sinkat and Tokar; now a large force would +have to be employed. Some time would, of course, be needed for the +organization of the expedition, and in the meantime the Hussars had +plenty of opportunity for investigating Cairo.</p> + +<p>To Edgar the town was delightful, with its bazaar and its varied +population, and he and some of his comrades were never tired of +wandering about examining the shops with their curious contents, their +bright-coloured scarves, their wonderful pipes, their gaudy brasswork, +and their oriental stuffs and carpets. But the population were even more +amusing, with the mixture of Egyptians, Arabs, and Negroes clad in every +variety of garb:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span> from the Egyptian functionary in his neat blue uniform +and fez, and the portly merchant in his oriental robes, to the Arabs +muffled up in cotton cloths with turban and bernous, the lightly-clad +Fellah, and the women shrouded in dark blue cottons with their faces +almost entirely hidden by the yashmack. It needed some dexterity to +avoid the strings of loaded camels that made their way through the +narrow streets, the porters carrying heavy weights hanging from the +centre of a thick bamboo pole resting on the shoulders of two or four +men, and the diminutive donkeys with their high saddles, on the top of +which were perched men who looked far more capable of carrying the +donkeys than the donkeys of supporting their weight.</p> + +<p>The men soon discovered that spirits were cheap in Cairo, and the result +was a considerable addition to the number brought up at the orderly-room +for drunkenness. Among these, to Edgar's satisfaction, was Corporal +North, who was at once sent back to the ranks and sentenced to a week in +the cells. On the day he came out Edgar went up to him.</p> + +<p>"Now look here, North. You have made it pretty hot for me while you were +corporal. If I had given you any cause for it I should bear no malice, +but it has been simply persecution. As long as you were corporal I had +to grin and bear it, but now that you are in the ranks we can settle +matters; so I challenge you to meet me in the riding-school after we are +dismissed from parade to-day."</p> + +<p>"That will suit me exactly," North said. "You want a licking badly, +young fellow, and now you will get it."</p> + +<p>"Well, if I were you I would say nothing about it until it is over," +Edgar replied; "for, you see, it is quite possible that it may be the +other way."</p> + +<p>As several of the men had heard the conversation there was a +considerable gathering in the riding-school after they were dismissed +from parade. The sympathies of the men were strongly with Edgar; but +most of them thought that he was hardly a match for North, who had +fought several times before<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span> he had got his stripes, and was a +well-built young fellow of two-and-twenty.</p> + +<p>The fight lasted upwards of an hour. North had some knowledge of boxing, +but in this respect Edgar was his superior. He was far stronger and +longer in the reach, while Edgar was the more active. In the early part +of the fight the advantage lay all with the soldier, and Edgar was +terribly knocked about, so much so that the general opinion was that he +had better give in and say that he had had enough; but Edgar laughed at +the suggestion.</p> + +<p>"We have only begun yet," he said to the man who was acting as his +second; "last tells in the long run. I have seen that before now, and I +have double the last he has."</p> + +<p>This was the fact. Edgar had been constantly at hard work since he +joined the regiment, while North had had a comparatively easy time of it +since he became a corporal. He had, too, spent no small portion of his +pay in drink, and although he was seldom absolutely drunk, had had more +than one narrow escape of his condition being observed on his return to +barracks in the evening. As the fight went on, then, want of condition +told upon him. Edgar, who had at one time seemed weak, gradually +recovered his strength, while North became exhausted by the exertions he +had made in the early part of the fight.</p> + +<p>Edgar now took the offensive, and at the end of an hour and a quarter's +fighting North was no longer able to come up to time, and a loud shout +from the lookers-on proclaimed that Edgar was the victor. He went across +to North and held out his hand.</p> + +<p>"Let us shake hands, North," he said; "it has been a good tough fight. I +owe you no malice now, and if you get your stripes again, as I daresay +you will, I hope it will be a lesson to you not to drop unfairly upon +anyone you may take a dislike to."</p> + +<p>North took the hand held out to him.</p> + +<p>"You have licked me fairly, Smith," he said. "I did not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span> think you had +it in you; but I don't think you would have thrashed me if I had been in +as good a condition as you are."</p> + +<p>"Very likely not," Edgar laughed. "Well, next time we fight I hope it +will be against the Arabs, and not against each other."</p> + +<p>This fight greatly added to Edgar's reputation in the regiment. North +was not a popular character and had always been considered a bully, and +the pluck with which Edgar had continued the fight was thoroughly +appreciated. Neither of the combatants were able to take their place in +the ranks for some days after the fight, being obliged to obtain an +order from the surgeon dispensing them from appearing on parade, though +they still did stable duty and inner guards. Through the surgeon the +matter came to the ears of the officers, who, by quiet inquiry from the +sergeants, learnt the particulars of the fight.</p> + +<p>"Your friend Trumpeter Smith is reported as unfit for duty, my dear," +Major Horsley said to his wife.</p> + +<p>"Is he! I am sorry for that," the lady said. "Is there anything we can +do for him in the way of sending him some soup, or anything of that +sort? He is not seriously ill, I hope?"</p> + +<p>"I am afraid he is beyond your skill, Emma," Major Horsley said; and +then, seeing that his wife looked seriously grieved, went on, "don't be +alarmed, he has only been fighting again."</p> + +<p>"Oh! is that all? I was afraid it was fever, or something of that sort. +Who has he been fighting with? He doesn't look quarrelsome at all."</p> + +<p>"He has been fighting with a man named North, who was a corporal in his +troop, and who, as I hear, has been persecuting him a good deal. The +fellow got drunk the other day and was reduced to the ranks, and young +Smith lost no time in challenging him to fight. I hear most of the men +thought he was a fool for doing so, for North is five years older than +he is, and a stiff-built young fellow too. I hear that it was a very<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span> +hard fight, and lasted nearly an hour and a half. After the first +half-hour it seemed to every one that Smith would have to give in, for +the other man had all the best of it, knocking him down every round; but +he stuck to it, and at last North was so beaten he could not come up to +time. The sergeant says both of them are terribly knocked about, Smith +worst. He can hardly see out of his eyes, and it will be fully a week +before either of them can take their places in the ranks. I hear it was +the longest fight that there has been in the regiment for years, and the +sergeant-major tells me the men are quite enthusiastic over the pluck +with which the young one fought. You see, he is not seventeen yet, and +for a lad of that age to stand up against a man—and one too who, as I +hear, is accustomed to use his fists—is a feather in his cap. It will +do him good in the regiment. I have no doubt some of the men are rather +jealous of the position he gained from his play at cricket, and from +that affair of yours."</p> + +<p>"It was very mean of them, then," Mrs. Horsley said warmly.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps so, my dear; but favourites are not often popular. Anyhow, this +will do him good, and will give him a better standing in the regiment +than even his cricket could do; and, at any rate, those who don't like +him are likely after this to keep their opinion to themselves."</p> + +<p>"I wish we could do something for him, Robert. You see, we have never +done anything yet."</p> + +<p>"I shall have a chance of giving him a helping hand some day," the major +replied, "and you may be sure that when the opportunity comes I shall do +what I can. I have not forgotten what I owe him, I can tell you."</p> + +<p>The opportunity came sooner than the major had expected. In a short time +it became known that four squadrons of the 10th Hussars and one squadron +of the 1st were to accompany the expedition, and the greatest excitement +prevailed in the corps as to which troops should be chosen. Two days +later<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span> Edgar was delighted to hear that the A and D troops had been +named for the service.</p> + +<p>"Why have they chosen the D troop, Robert?" Mrs. Horsley asked her +husband.</p> + +<p>"Partly, my dear, because Atkinson is the senior captain."</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes! I forgot that. And what is the other reason?"</p> + +<p>"Well, Emma, that reason is known only to myself, but I do not mind your +knowing it; but you must not whisper it to anyone."</p> + +<p>"What is it?" his wife asked curiously.</p> + +<p>"Because, my dear, Trumpeter Smith belongs to that troop, and I thought +I would give him the chance of distinguishing himself. Someday, when it +comes to a question of promotion, it will count in his favour that he +has seen active service."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I am glad, Robert! It was very good of you to think of it. I wish +that he could know that you thought of him."</p> + +<p>"That he certainly cannot know," the major said decidedly. "It would be +a nice thing for it to be known by anyone that the arrangements as to +which troop should go on service had been influenced by my desire to do +a good turn to a trumpeter. The other reason is a good and sufficient +one. Atkinson, as senior captain, has almost a right to the first chance +that offers. He is pretty sure to get brevet rank if there is any hard +fighting."</p> + +<p>At this moment there was a knock at the door and an orderly entered, and +saluting handed a note to Major Horsley. He glanced through it, and an +expression of pleasure crossed his face.</p> + +<p>"My compliments to the colonel. I will come across and see him at once."</p> + +<p>"What is it, Robert?" his wife asked as the door closed behind the +soldier.</p> + +<p>"Well, my dear, it is news that I own gives me great pleasure, but which +I am afraid you won't like."</p> + +<p>"Not that you are to go with the detachment, Robert?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Yes, Emma, that is it;" and he handed her the note.</p> + +<p>"My dear Horsley, I have just received orders from the general that a +field-officer is to go in command of the squadron. As senior major, you +have, of course, the right to the chance. I congratulate you."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Horsley turned a little pale as she read it, and her lip quivered +as she said, "Well, Robert, no doubt you are glad of the opportunity, +and as a soldier's wife I will not say anything to damp your pleasure. +It is natural that you should wish to go. If I were a man I should wish +so too. Anyhow, it will only last a very short time. You said you +thought that they would be back again in a month, and surely there can +be no very great danger in a fight with these savages."</p> + +<p>"The smallest amount in the world, Emma. It is not like Baker's force, +which was composed of these cowardly Egyptians; and it is ridiculous to +suppose that these wild tribesmen, brave as they may be, can stand +against British troops armed with breech-loaders. I am afraid that all +our share of the business will be to do a little scouting before the +fight begins, and a little pursuing practice afterwards, so there will +be really no occasion whatever for you to be at all uneasy, child; and I +must own that I am extremely glad of the opportunity of taking part in +this little expedition against these fanatics. Well, I must go across +and see the colonel."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Horsley indulged in a quiet cry while he was away, for although she +did not apprehend any real danger, the thought that her husband was +going to run some risk of his life for the first time since she married +him was a trial. However, she looked bright and cheerful when he +returned, and at once set to work to pack up the kit required for the +expedition.</p> + +<p>The next morning the detachment of the 1st Hussars, eighty strong, +marched down to the station with one hundred men of the 10th Hussars. +They took train for Suez. Here they found another two hundred and +twenty-eight men of the 10th who had come on by an earlier train, and +the work<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span> of embarking the horses on board the steamer that was to take +them down to Suakim at once began. It was continued until nightfall and +recommenced again at daybreak, for the operation of getting horses on +board a ship and slinging them down into the hold is necessarily a slow +one; but by mid-day all was concluded, the baggage on board, and the +troops in readiness for a start.</p> + +<p>It was just sunset when the vessel steamed away from the wharf, the +troops on board joining in a hearty cheer as she started. The ship was +far more crowded than would have been the case had she been starting for +a long voyage; but the run down to Suakim was so short that she was +packed as full as she could hold, having in addition to the troops a +number of mules for the transport. Every one was in high spirits. The +change was a most welcome one after the monotony of barrack life in +Egypt, and moreover all were burning to avenge the destruction of +Baker's force and the massacre of the brave little garrison of Sinkat.</p> + +<p>The voyage was a pleasant one. After passing out of the Gulf of Suez, +with the lofty and rugged mountain of Sinai with its red rocks and +patches of verdure rising almost from the water's edge, they entirely +lost sight of land on the left. On the right, however, ran a range of +steep hills, which became bolder and loftier as they made their way +south. When night again fell the engines were slowed down, for it was +not deemed advisable to arrive off Suakim before daylight, as the coast +of the neighbourhood abounded with reefs, and the entrance to the +harbour was intricate and difficult. As soon as day broke the engines +were again put at full speed, and in an hour the masts of the shipping +lying in the port could be made out. As they neared the port a small +launch was seen coming out. An officer soon came on board.</p> + +<p>"You are to go down the coast to Trinkitat," he said to the captain. +"The transports have gone down there, that is to be the base of +operations."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span></p> + +<p>The officers clustered round the new-comer to learn the news.</p> + +<p>"You have been more lucky than the 19th," he said. "The <i>Neva</i> ran +ashore on a shoal eighteen or nineteen miles away and has become a total +wreck. Several steamers went out at once to help her, and got out the +men and horses. A good deal of the baggage was lost, and fifty transport +mules, which there was no time to take out before she went to pieces. It +was a very close thing, and it was very lucky that aid came two or three +hours after she struck. There has been trouble with the black regiments. +The scoundrels mutinied as soon as they got on shore, and announced +their intention of joining the rebels; so the marines have been kept +here for the defence of the place, instead of going with the expedition. +I am sorry to say that Tokar has fallen."</p> + +<p>A groan broke from his hearers.</p> + +<p>"It is a bad business," he went on; "but happily there has been no +repetition of the Sinkat massacre. We heard the news yesterday morning. +It was brought by five soldiers who made their way down the coast. They +reported that the civil governor of the town had entered into +negotiations with the enemy, and had agreed to surrender on the promise +that the lives of the garrison should be spared. In the afternoon two of +our spies came back and confirmed the intelligence. It seems that they +could have held out some time longer, and that the governor has behaved +like a traitor. They were annoyed by a distant fire from six Krupp guns +taken at the defeat of Baker's force, and worked by some black +artillerymen captured at the same time. The fire did no material harm, +but it seems to have frightened what little courage was left among the +officials, and the governor and a hundred and fifty of the townsmen went +out and arranged the surrender, although they knew perfectly well that +in a very few days help would arrive. There is one thing, the surrender +will enable General Graham to choose his own time, and to wait until all +the troops are up, instead of pushing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span> forward, as he might otherwise +have done, directly he thought he had men enough, to save Tokar."</p> + +<p>In another five minutes the officer had taken his place in the launch +and was steaming back into Suakim, and the transport was making her way +south. By noon she was anchored off the landing-place, a low beach with +a flat country extending behind it. The shore was alive with troops, and +numbers of boats were plying backwards and forwards. The work of +disembarking the horses began immediately, and the greater part of them +were on shore before night. There they found the Black Watch, Gordon +Highlanders, Irish Fusiliers, 19th Hussars, and the Mounted Infantry, a +corps of one hundred and twenty-six strong.</p> + +<p>Edgar greatly enjoyed the bustle and excitement, and the troops were all +in the highest spirits. The first comers were eagerly questioned. They +said that during the day the 19th and Mounted Infantry had made a +reconnaissance across a lagoon which lay between the beach and the +country behind. The enemy had been seen there in force, but they retired +at once upon seeing the cavalry advance. It was expected that by the +following morning some of the infantry would cross the lagoon and occupy +a battery which General Baker had thrown up there to cover his landing, +for Trinkitat had been the spot from which he too had advanced to +relieve Tokar, and the scene of the conflict in which his force had been +destroyed would probably be crossed by the British in their advance.</p> + +<p>No tents had been taken or were needed, for even in February the heat +upon the shores of the Red Sea is very great; and as the evening went on +the buzz of talk and laughter died out, and the troops lay down and +slept under the starry sky.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER VII.</h2> + +<h3>EL-TEB.</h3> + + +<p>The next morning the Gordon Highlanders and Irish Fusiliers, accompanied +by a squadron of Hussars and the Mounted Infantry, with a couple of +small guns, crossed the lagoon and occupied the intrenchment. The +cavalry went a little distance out; but the enemy were seen in +considerable numbers, and as there might be a large force concealed +among the low sand-hills, no attempt was made to attack them, as it was +undesirable to bring on serious fighting until the whole force were in +readiness to advance. In the evening the cavalry recrossed the lagoon, +as there was no water obtainable on the other side, and the animals had +to depend upon the supply landed from the steamers. All day the work of +disembarkation had been going on, and in spite of the heat of the +blazing sun, the men had worked enthusiastically in getting the horses +and stores on shore.</p> + +<p>The next day the Naval Brigade, one hundred and fifteen strong, all +picked men from the crews of the gun-boats, with ten officers, landed. +The troops on the beach were most anxious to advance, but as those +beyond the lagoon had to depend entirely upon food and water carried +across to them, it was unadvisable to push a larger body of men forward, +especially as the natives had clearly no intentions of attacking them, +contenting themselves by keeping up a distant fire.</p> + +<p>"I expect the beggars are gathering their forces just as we are +gathering ours," one of the Hussars said, as they sat round a fire they +had lighted with some drift-wood picked up on shore. The heat was in no +way required, but the light was cheerful, and the smoke kept away +troublesome insects.</p> + +<p>"They reckon," another said, "upon falling upon us on the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span> march as they +did upon Baker's men, but they will find they have got into the wrong +box."</p> + +<p>"General Baker came down himself in the steamboat which arrived this +afternoon. I heard one of the officers say so," Edgar put in. "It will +be a satisfaction to him to see these fellows well licked on nearly the +same ground where they cut up his force."</p> + +<p>"Ah! I expect Baker would give his right hand to lead the cavalry in the +charge. What a splendid officer he is! There is not a man in the army +can handle cavalry as he can; and wouldn't the 10th fight with their old +colonel at their head!"</p> + +<p>There was a general chorus of assent.</p> + +<p>"How splendidly he fought in Turkey!" another trooper said. "I am told +the Turks he led would have done anything for him, and had just the same +confidence in him our chaps used to have. If he had been in command of +the whole army, instead of those rotten old pashas, the Russians would +have found it a very different job. I wonder when we are going on. Now +we have got all the stores ashore it will be precious slow work being +stuck on this beach."</p> + +<p>"We are waiting for the 65th," a sergeant said. "I hear the <i>Serapis</i> +was expected this morning. It is great luck for them getting a fight +without any trouble at all. How pleased they must have been when they +heard at Aden that they were to be stopped on their way up, to have a +share in the affair!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I call that a first-rate piece of luck," another agreed, "to have +a good fight and then go straight home, while we have got nothing to +look forward to afterwards but garrison duty in Cairo. I would rather be +going on to India fifty times."</p> + +<p>"Like enough we may see some service there," the sergeant said. "If this +Mahdi fellow comes down, which they say he means to do, to invade Egypt, +you may be sure we shall all have to go up to stop him."</p> + +<p>"I don't call it 'fighting' against these savages," one of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span> troopers +said. "What chance have they got against regular troops?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know, Johnson. The Zulus were savages, and they made a pretty +tough fight against us. I suppose you don't want anything much harder +than that? These fellows have been every bit as brave as the Zulus. They +cut Hicks Pasha's army into mincemeat, and they have licked two Egyptian +armies down in this neighbourhood. If you think this is going to be no +harder work than a field-day at Aldershot, I think you are likely to +find you are mistaken."</p> + +<p>"You don't suppose, sergeant, that these naked beggars are going to +stand for a moment against a charge of eight hundred cavalry?"</p> + +<p>"It did not seem as if naked savages could stand infantry armed with +breech-loaders, but you see the Zulus did. It does not seem possible +these Arabs can stand for a moment against our charge; but, you see, we +do not understand these fellows. One knows what regular infantry can do +against cavalry, and it may be we shall find that these Arabs are not to +be ridden over as easily as we think. When you have got to reckon with +men who don't care the snap of a finger whether they are killed or not, +you never can count upon an easy victory however badly they may be +armed, and however undisciplined they may be.</p> + +<p>"There is nine o'clock," he broke off, as the bells on board the +gun-boats rang out twice. A moment later a bugle sounded "lights out," +and the call was repeated by the buglers and trumpeters of the various +corps, and a few minutes later the men stretched themselves out on the +sand, and silence reigned in the camp. The next morning Admiral Hewett +sent on shore eight seven-pounder guns from the fleet, to take the place +of the same number of little camel-guns, which had been found to be of +no real utility. At noon the smoke of a steamer was made out in the +distance, and a few hours later the <i>Serapis</i>, whose engines had gone +wrong, arrived with the 65th, who were<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span> landed at once, and +immediately crossed the lagoon to the intrenchment, and it was known +that the advance would at once begin.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> + <a id="map01" name="map01"></a><a href="images/map01large.jpg"> + <img src="images/map01.jpg" + alt="Port of SUAKIM" + title="Port of SUAKIM" /></a><br /> + <span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Port of SUAKIM</span></span> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<div class="figcenter"> + <a id="map02" name="map02"></a><a href="images/map02large.jpg"> + <img src="images/map02.jpg" + alt="Battle of El Teb." + title="Battle of El Teb." /></a><br /> + <span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Battle of El Teb.</span><br/><span class="smcap">20th. FEB. 1884.</span></span> +</div> + +<p>In addition to the guns sent on shore from the fleet the artillery had +ten brass mountain-guns and four Krupps; the Naval Brigade had with them +two nine-pounders, three Gatlings, and three Gardners. The troops were +divided into two brigades, the first consisting of 610 men of the +Rifles, 751 Gordon Highlanders, and 334 of the Irish regiment; the +second brigade of 761 Royal Highlanders, 500 of the 65th, 361 Royal +Marine Artillery and Infantry, and 100 Royal Engineers. There were 600 +camels for the transport, 350 mules and 100 camels for the ambulance +corps, while the camel battery was composed of 80 camels and 100 men.</p> + +<p>In the course of the afternoon Major Harvey and Lieutenant-colonel +Burnaby rode out two miles beyond the intrenchment and planted a white +flag with a letter attached to the flagstaff, calling upon the enemy to +retire and allow us to pass on to Tokar without opposition. They were +fired at by the Arabs, and as the flag disappeared a short time after +the officers had returned, there was no doubt that the letter would +arrive at its destination. Before nightfall the whole of the force, with +the exception of one hundred and fifty men left to defend the stores on +the beach, had crossed the lagoon. Three hundred men were to remain in +the intrenchment, when the rest marched, to defend the transport animals +and stores left there against any attacks. Bivouac fires were lighted, +and round these the troops sat smoking and chatting until the bugle-call +ordered all to lie down in their ranks. They were bivouacked in the +order in which they were to advance.</p> + +<p>The formation was to be a sort of square, of which the Gordon +Highlanders were to form the front face, the Royal Highlanders the rear +line, the Irish Fusiliers the right face with the Rifles inside them; +the 65th were on the outside of the left face, the Marines being inside +them. The whole square was about 250 yards long by 150 deep. Between +the Marines and Rifles in the centre were stationed the transport +animals with the reserve ammunition and hospital appliances. The camel +battery with the seven-pounders was to remain in reserve in the centre +of the square, while the sailors with the six marine-guns were placed at +the left front of the square, next to the Gordon Highlanders.</p> + +<p>The bivouac fires were kept up all night, as it was considered probable +that the enemy, who occasionally fired from a distance, might attempt an +attack upon the sleeping force. The night, however, passed quietly, but +towards morning rain fell heavily, soaking the troops as they lay, and +there was a general feeling of gladness when the reveille called them to +their feet. Fresh fuel was thrown on to the fires, and the men tried as +best they could to dry themselves. The kettles were boiled and breakfast +eaten, and the cavalry recrossed the lagoon to the beach to give their +horses water at the tanks there. They then rejoined the infantry. Their +place was to be in the rear of the square, but two squadrons were to +move in extended order as scouts a mile in front of it and on both +flanks.</p> + +<p>Their orders were that if attacked they were not to charge the enemy, +but to open right and left and to retire at once and rejoin the main +body in the rear of the square, so as to allow a clear space for the +sweep of the infantry fire. The infantry were to fire only in volleys on +word of command, and were not to open fire until within three hundred +yards of the enemy.</p> + +<p>Moving out from the camp the force was halted on open ground and a brief +inspection made to see that all was in order, and soon after eight +o'clock the advance began in earnest.</p> + +<p>As soon as they moved forward the enemy could be seen retiring, +evidently bent upon pursuing the same tactics that they had done upon +the occasion of the advance of Baker Pasha's force from the same +halting-place a month before. The officers with their glasses could make +them out swarming along a slight ridge of ground in the neighbourhood of +the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span> wells; their flags extended along a front a mile in length, and +guns could be made out in position. As the column advanced the enemy +cleared off from the rising ground, but whether they had retired behind +the ridge, and were there waiting in readiness to pour out to the +attack, or whether they were moving round to fall upon the flank of the +column, was uncertain. As the column neared the position it could be +seen that a breastwork had been thrown up, and that the position of the +guns had been well chosen, and the enemy could now be made out crowded +among the bushes on the ridge.</p> + +<p>It was now ten o'clock, the column was advancing briskly to the martial +music of the pipes of the Royal Highlanders, the cavalry scouts had +moved away from the front, and the square was within five hundred yards +of the ridge. They were not, however, advancing directly against it, but +were moving in a line almost parallel to its face, as General Graham had +determined to pass it and then attack in flank, as it was evident that +there would be serious loss in a front attack upon a position so +strongly held and fortified. It was a trying moment, for all expected +that the silence, so far preserved by the enemy, would be broken by the +roar of cannon and the discharge of musketry, and that it would be +followed by the tremendous rush that had proved fatal to Baker's force.</p> + +<p>But the square kept its way for some distance across the face before the +enemy opened fire. They had doubtless expected that a direct attack +would be made upon their position, and the passage of the troops without +the slightest attention to themselves surprised and disconcerted them. +But at last they perceived that they must take the offensive, and +suddenly a hot fire of musketry broke out from bush and earthwork, while +the Krupp guns, manned by the soldiers who had formed part of the Tokar +garrison, opened fire. The distance was but four hundred yards, and +several of the men fell out from their places in the ranks wounded, but +the greater part of the shot and bullets flew overhead.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span></p> + +<p>No reply to the fire was made by the square, but its direction was +changed a little more to the right so as to take it somewhat farther +from the face of the enemy's position. The artillery now opened fire +upon the guns of the enemy, but the square kept on its course steadily, +while a storm of bullets and fragments of shrapnel-shell flew around +them. The enemy's gunners proved that their training had been good. They +worked their guns quickly and their aim was accurate. General Baker, who +was acting as head of the intelligence department, was struck in the +face by a ball from one of the shrapnel-shells. This imbedded itself so +deeply in his jaw that it could not be got out by the surgeons until +after the conclusion of the fight. But the gallant officer, having had +his face bandaged up, remounted his horse, and continued his duties +throughout the day.</p> + +<p>Upon getting to a position at the end of the ridge held by the enemy the +men were ordered to lie down, while the artillery continued their fire +against the enemy's batteries. At a quarter to twelve the Arab guns +ceased to fire, and the men were ordered to their feet again, and with +loud cheers continued the advance. The square moved on until well in +rear of the enemy's position, and then marched straight towards it. +Owing to this change in the direction of its march the left flank of the +square now became its front, and it was the 65th with the Naval Brigade +on one flank and the Royal Highlanders on the other, who were nearest to +the enemy.</p> + +<p>Fast and thick the flashes of musketry broke out from the bushes; but as +the square approached the fire ceased, and then groups of black forms +sprang to their feet, and with loud yells rushed towards the square, +waving their spears and swords. It seemed incredible that these little +groups of ten or twelve men each should intend to assail the solid lines +of the British, but as fresh parties every moment sprang up and charged +down, the order was given to fire. A flash of flame ran along the face +of the great square, and then a continuous<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span> roar told that the +breech-loading rifles were at work, while the machine-guns of the +sailors added their rattle to the din of the musketry.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> + <a id="image03" name="image03"> + <img src="images/03.jpg" + alt="WITH A DESPERATE RUSH THEY REACHED THE SAILORS." + title="WITH A DESPERATE RUSH THEY REACHED THE SAILORS." /></a><br /> + <span class="caption">"WITH A DESPERATE RUSH THEY REACHED THE SAILORS."</span> +</div> + +<p>As if utterly heedless of death the Arabs rushed forward through the +leaden storm, but were mowed down like grass before it. Not one of these +intrepid warriors reached the face of the square, not one turned to fly; +but of those who left their shelter to attack the square, every man fell +with his face to the foe. Without halting for a moment the square kept +on its way until the front line reached the bushes. Then with a wild +yell a swarm of Arabs sprang to their feet, with so sudden and desperate +a rush that they reached the sailors, and for a minute a hand-to-hand +struggle took place—bayonet against spear. But the wild courage of the +natives was of no avail against the steady discipline of the sailors. +The assailants were swept away, and the square moved on.</p> + +<p>But the ground was now so broken with bush and rock that the even line +could no longer be preserved. From every bush, and from rifle-pits dug +among them, and from behind rough intrenchments, parties of Arabs leapt +to their feet and hurled themselves in vain upon the British bayonets. +As the front of the square reached the ridge that had formed the Arab +position the fight was most desperate, the enemy throwing themselves +furiously on its flanks; and the Royal Highlanders and the sailors had +to fight hard to win their way through them. But at last the ridge was +won.</p> + +<p>Two of the enemy's Krupp guns were captured, and as soon as the square +had been formed up again in order these were turned against the position +the Arabs had now taken up in rear of their first line of defence. In +the centre of the position they now occupied was a brick building, where +an engine for pumping up water for irrigation purposes had formerly +stood. The Arabs had loopholed the walls and surrounded the building +with rifle-pits. Here they made a desperate resistance, until at last +the doors were burst in and the building stormed. Several mud huts were +defended with equal obstinacy, and many of our men were wounded by Arabs +who lay feigning death in the rifle-pits, and then when the first line +of troops had passed leaped out and rushed in among them, cutting and +slashing until bayoneted or shot down.</p> + +<p>While the 65th were winning this position the Gordon Highlanders carried +the village, while the Royal Highlanders captured the redoubt at the +extreme right of the position the enemy had first held. The enemy now +had been driven from their last line and fled in all directions, at a +speed that rendered pursuit by the infantry impossible.</p> + +<p>During the early portion of the battle the cavalry had been kept in the +rear, out of the range of the enemy's fire, and the men had nothing to +do but to sit quiet on their horses and watch the attack of the infantry +square upon the enemy's position, fretting and fuming not a little that +they were unable to take their part in what was evidently a desperate +struggle. But at last bodies of the Arabs were seen streaming out from +the position, and General Stewart, who was in command of the cavalry +division, gave the order, and, wheeling far round to the right of the +infantry, led them against a large body of Arabs in the plain beyond the +ridge.</p> + +<p>The enemy did not await their attack, but fled, hotly pursued by the +first and second lines for some distance. The order to cease pursuing +was sounded, when it was seen that the third line, composed of a hundred +men, were attacked by a body of Arabs who had advanced from the left, +and the main body wheeled round and advanced to assist them. But the +ground between was already occupied by the Arabs; these as the cavalry +advanced threw themselves down among the tufted hillocks and mounds +which covered the whole plain. The horses in their course leaped the +hillocks, swerving at the sight of the dark figures lying among them.</p> + +<p>The Arabs sprang instantly to their feet in the intervals between the +horsemen and hurled their spears at them, or as<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span> they lay thrust them +into the horses, and as these fell sprang upon the riders and cut them +down. At the same moment a small body of mounted Arabs dashed into the +fray. Most of them were cut down, but some made their way through the +line, and turning the instant they did so fell upon the rear of the +charging squadron. Colonel Barrow who commanded it fell, but it still +pressed forward, the opposition becoming every moment more severe. +General Stewart led the second line to the assistance of the first, but +these too were desperately opposed, and had to fight hard before they +could reach them. One of the general's orderlies was killed and two +others wounded. Major Slade of the 10th Hussars, Lieutenant Freeman of +the 19th, and Lieutenant Probyn fell, and twenty men were killed and as +many wounded before the enemy retired.</p> + +<p>Colonel Webster's squadron, which made several brilliant charges at the +enemy, now joined the rest of the cavalry. But the Arabs were +momentarily reinforced, and after what had been seen of the desperation +with which they fought it was deemed imprudent to pursue them further.</p> + +<p>With the exception of the losses sustained by the cavalry the total loss +at the battle of El-Teb was small, amounting to only thirty killed and +one hundred and forty-two wounded. One infantry officer was killed, one +mortally wounded, and one severely so, while many received slight +wounds. The loss of the Arabs exceeded two thousand.</p> + +<p>Edgar's squadron was among the first line when the charge was made to +the assistance of Colonel Webster's squadron. He was in the rear rank +and could not well see what was passing in front, and he was astounded +upon seeing men spring up apparently from the earth and furiously attack +the horsemen with spear and sword. He himself had a very narrow escape. +His horse swerved as it leapt a low bush, and almost simultaneously a +native sprang to his feet and lunged at him with his spear. +Instinctively he threw himself forward on the neck of his horse, and as +he did so felt the spear graze his back<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span> below the shoulders. The next +moment his horse had taken him beyond the Arab's reach; but at that +instant he heard a cry and saw Corporal North's horse fall with him, +pierced by a spear thrust given by a native lying on the ground.</p> + +<p>Before the corporal could rise the Arab was upon him with his sword, and +struck him down with a sweeping cut upon the shoulder. Edgar had wheeled +his horse round instantly, and before the blow was repeated was within +striking distance of the man and his sword fell upon the uplifted wrist. +Dropping his sword the Arab sprang upon the horse and strove to tear +Edgar from the saddle, while at the same instant the Arab who had first +thrust at him ran up. Fortunately he came up at the side on which his +comrade was clinging to Edgar, and was therefore unable to use his spear +against him; but after a moment's hesitation he plunged it into the +horse, which reared high in the air and then fell. Edgar had at the +moment rid himself of the man who was grasping him, by shortening his +sword and plunging it into his body, and as the horse reared he drew his +feet from the stirrups and dropped off over his tail, coming down upon +his feet just as the animal rolled over dead.</p> + +<p>The other Arab rushed at him with his spear. Edgar cut at it with his +sword and severed the iron head from the staff, and then springing +forward ran the Arab through before he could take to his sword. But +several others were running up, and Edgar felt that his case was +desperate. By this time the corporal, though badly wounded, had freed +himself from his fallen horse, and drawing his carbine from the bucket +shot the Arab nearest to him. The others, however, came on without a +pause. Edgar and his wounded companion made a desperate defence; but +both received several sword-cuts, and Edgar felt the end was at hand, +when with a roar like thunder the second line burst down upon them, and +the Arabs were instantly cut down.</p> + +<p>"Take those two men up behind you!" an officer shouted.</p> + +<p>Two of the troopers reined in their horses and assisted Edgar and his +companion to climb up behind them, and then riding<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span> at full speed soon +regained the line. In another minute the trumpet sounded for a halt. +Edgar and his companion now slipped from the horses and joined their own +squadron. The corporal was scarce able to stand, and Edgar was not in a +better plight. Major Horsley rode up to them.</p> + +<p>"Not badly wounded, I hope?" he asked. "It is a miracle your getting in +when once dismounted."</p> + +<p>"I think I am pretty nearly done for, sir," the corporal said. "But I +wish to report that Trumpeter Smith has saved my life by coming back to +my assistance when my horse was stabbed and fell with me. He killed the +two men who attacked me, and so gave me time to free myself and to aid +him in making a fight of it until the second line came up." As Corporal +North concluded he fell insensible from loss of blood.</p> + +<p>At that moment the surgeon came up. "Are we going to charge again, +major? because if so, these men, with the others badly wounded, had +better be sent across at once to the infantry. There are too many of +these Arab scoundrels about for them to be left behind here. But if we +are not going to charge I will give their wounds a first dressing at +once."</p> + +<p>"I don't know," the major said. "I will ride to the general and ask him, +and speak to him about the wounded. Sergeant Meekings, if the order +comes to charge before I return, tell off a trooper to take up each man +too badly wounded to ride, and let them carry them straight across to +the infantry."</p> + +<p>After giving this order he rode rapidly away, but returned in two or +three minutes. "We are not going to charge again, doctor," he said; +"they are mustering too strongly for us to attempt it. The general says +he will halt where we are until the worst cases of the wounded are +attended to. Here, two of you men, dismount and assist the surgeon."</p> + +<p>"Get their jackets off, lads," the doctor said. "Take this corporal +first; he is the worst case."</p> + +<p>The other wounded men were now brought up, and their wounds were all +bandaged. Those who could sit a horse then<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span> mounted behind other +troopers, while a number of soldiers were ordered to dismount and to lay +the others upon blankets and carry them in.</p> + +<p>Edgar was one of these. He had received one cut on the top of his head, +and his helmet had alone saved his skull from being cleft. He had +another gash on the right cheek. His side was laid open with a +spear-thrust, the weapon having fortunately glanced from his ribs, and +he had another sword-cut on the hip. He was unable to walk from loss of +blood, but he felt that none of his wounds were very serious; and the +surgeon said to him cheerfully, "You will do, lad. Your wounds are ugly +to look at, but they are not serious. You will be on horseback again in +another ten days."</p> + +<p>Major Horsley had not spoken to him, but he had given him a little nod +of satisfaction when the corporal gave his report. The cavalry moved +across at a walk towards the wells of El-Teb, the wounded being carried +between the lines, as there was no saying how many Arabs might be +lurking among the bushes. On reaching the wells they were taken to the +field hospital, which had already been organized. There their wounds +were more carefully examined and re-dressed; and after a drink of +lime-juice and water, with a little brandy in it, Edgar soon dropped off +to sleep. In the morning Major Horsley and Captain Atkinson came round +to see how the men of their regiment were getting on. The surgeon's +report was favourable except in the case of Corporal North.</p> + +<p>"I think he will pull round, major; but I am sure he will never be fit +for service again. That wound on the shoulder, which he tells me is the +first he got, has cut clean through the collar-bone and penetrated +almost to the upper rib. I doubt whether he will ever have the use of +his arm again; but that I cannot say. Anyhow, it will be long before it +is fit for hard work. Trumpeter Smith? There is nothing serious the +matter with him, but he has had a marvellous escape. If his helmet had +not saved his head, the blow would have cleft<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span> right through his skull; +if the wound in his cheek had been a couple of inches higher, it would +have opened the temporal artery; and if the spear had penetrated instead +of gliding off his ribs, that alone would have been sufficient to have +done his business. As it is, he is not much the worse except for loss of +blood, and with luck will be fit to take his place again in the ranks in +a fortnight."</p> + +<p>"I am glad to hear so good an account of you, Smith," the major said as +he went up to his bedside. "I have reported your conduct to General +Stewart, and your name will be sent in among those recommended for the +Victoria Cross. Mind, I don't say that you will get it, lad, I don't +think you will; for so many men distinguished themselves yesterday in +that hand-to-hand fight that the names sent in will be very much larger +than the number of crosses given. Still, your having been recommended +will count in your favour when the time comes." So saying, with a kindly +nod he moved on to the next bed.</p> + +<p>At nine o'clock the force moved out towards Tokar, half the Gordon +Highlanders being left at El-Teb for the protection of the hospital and +stores, and with orders to find and bury the Europeans that had fallen. +During the day many of the Egyptian garrison of Tokar came into the camp +from the surrounding villages. In the afternoon a mounted orderly +brought in the news that the force had met with no resistance whatever +on their way. Several parties of the enemy had been seen, but these fled +as soon as they saw the troops advancing. In Tokar seventy of the +Egyptian garrison were found in a half-starved condition. While their +comrades had consented to join the Arabs they had steadily refused to do +so, and had been very badly treated in consequence by them and by the +inhabitants of the town. The arrival of the troops was hailed with great +joy. The inhabitants had had a terrible time during the occupation of +the place by the Arabs, and the whole population were preparing to +accompany the troops on their march back<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</a></span> to the coast. The cavalry had +ridden out to Debbah, where the camp of the force besieging Tokar had +been established.</p> + +<p>In the afternoon Edgar was so far recovered that he was able to sit up. +His wounds were sore and painful, and the strapping of plaster in which +they were enveloped rendered him very stiff and uncomfortable. But, as +he said to another soldier, he had been just as stiff and sore after a +football match, and felt confident that in a few days he should be as +well as ever.</p> + +<p>The next evening the force returned from Tokar, and Edgar and the other +troopers who were well enough to go outside the hospital tent to see +them come in were amused at their appearance, for they had before +starting armed themselves with spears taken from the fallen Arabs; for +the fight on the previous day had shown them that their swords were of +little avail against the tactics of the Arabs in throwing themselves +flat upon the ground, and that spears were much better suited for +warfare against savages. They were accompanied by the greater portion of +the population of Tokar, who were to be conveyed in the ships up to +Suakim. The cavalry had found that the Arabs had left the camp at Debbah +before they arrived.</p> + +<p>The expedition there was, however, by no means useless, for they found +an immense quantity of rifles and ammunition, together with a Gatling +and mountain gun, all of which had been captured by the Arabs at the +rout of Baker Pasha's army, or at the destruction of the force under +Colonel Moncrieff some months before. The guns captured in the +intrenchments made up the complete number of those that had fallen into +the hands of the natives on those two occasions, and so left them +without artillery. The work of burying the dead had been carried on by +the force left in camp, and by the aid of those who now returned was +completed in a short time.</p> + +<p>No less than a thousand Arabs were found to have fallen in and around +their intrenchments, and numbers must have got away only to die +subsequently from their wounds. It was learned<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</a></span> from prisoners that +Osman Digma had not himself been present at the battle, but had sent a +thousand men to reinforce those engaged in the siege of Tokar.</p> + +<p>The force now moved down to Trinkitat with three hundred men of the +garrison of Tokar who had rejoined them, and four or five hundred men, +women, and children from that town. The re-embarkation was speedily +effected, and a few hours later the ships entered Suakim harbour.</p> + +<p>It was found that the natives of that town had received the news of the +victory of El-Teb with absolute incredulity, but the arrival of the +Tokar fugitives convinced them that the Arabs had really been defeated. +One of the prisoners taken at Sinkat came in a day or two later, having +made his escape from Osman Digma's camp. He reported that the news of +the battle of El-Teb had arrived there before he left, and that it had +been given out that seven thousand of the English had been killed, and +that it was only nightfall that saved them all from destruction.</p> + +<p>The first step of Admiral Hewett and General Graham on their arrival at +Suakim was to issue a proclamation calling upon all the tribesmen to +leave Osman Digma and to come in and make their submission, promising +protection and pardon to all who surrendered. This proclamation was +backed by a letter by the Sheik Morghani, who was held in the highest +estimation for his holiness. He told them that God had sent the English +to destroy them because they had forsaken the old religion for a new +one, and entreated them to come in and make their peace.</p> + +<p>A fortnight had now passed since the fight at El-Teb. Edgar, who had +remained on board the hospital-ship, had made rapid progress towards +convalescence, and was now reported by the surgeons as fit to return to +duty, which he was most anxious to do, as it was daily expected that the +force would move out against Osman Digma, who was at Tamai, a place +sixteen miles to the south-west of Suakim. The troops had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</a></span> been +disembarked, and he was delighted when he was again able to join his +squadron. Spies came and went daily, and they were unanimous in saying +that Osman would fight another battle. The news that El-Teb was a +disastrous defeat was by this time known, but his explanation that the +misfortunes were solely due to his orders having been disobeyed, +perfectly satisfied his followers, and their belief that he was +invincible was wholly unshaken.</p> + +<p>The most fanatical of the coast tribes still held to him, and on the 9th +of March twenty-one of their sheiks sent in a defiant reply to the +proclamation, saying that the ten thousand men they commanded would meet +us in the field. It was therefore evident that the struggle to come +would be much more serious and determined than that of El-Teb.</p> + +<p>Edgar received quite an ovation upon rejoining his troop. The manner in +which he had defended his wounded comrade had awakened their lively +admiration, the more so since the man for whom he had so imperilled his +life had but lately been his personal antagonist.</p> + +<p>"Well, young un, you are getting on," a sergeant said to him. "I won't +say you are getting all the luck, for luck has nothing to do with it +this time, anyhow. You are doing well, Smith, and it won't be many +months before you are in our mess, and it needs no prophet to see that +you have every chance of going higher if you keep on as you began. Here +you are only about seventeen years old, and you have made a big mark in +the regiment already. You have got the major and the rest of the +officers on your side from that affair at Aldershot, then the fact that +you are the best cricketer in the regiment counts for a lot, and now you +have got wounded and have been recommended for the Victoria Cross.</p> + +<p>"If you don't mount up after all that it will be your own fault. You +have every advantage. The fact that you have been a gentleman is in your +favour, for naturally men are picked out for promotion who are best +fitted for the position of officers;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</a></span> and your having been able to take +a first-class certificate in the school in itself brings you into +notice. Be careful with your self, lad. I know you don't drink, so I +need not warn you about that. Don't get cocky. I don't think you will, +for you haven't done so at present, and the notice you have had from +your cricket and that Aldershot affair would have turned a good many +lads' heads. But it is a thing to be careful about. You know there are a +good many old soldiers who are inclined to feel a little jealous when +they see a young fellow pushing forward, but if they see he is quiet, +and gives himself no airs and is pleasant with every one, they get over +it in time; and in your case every one will acknowledge that you deserve +all the luck that may fall to you. So be careful on that head, Smith.</p> + +<p>"You will find very little jealousy among us sergeants when you once get +into our mess, for there are very few of us who have any idea whatever +of ever getting a commission, or would take one if it were offered. A +sensible man knows when he is well off, and except for a man who has had +the education you have had one is much more comfortable as a sergeant, +and better off too, than one would be as an officer. When one is with +other men one wants to do as they do, and an officer who has got to live +on his pay finds it hard work and painful work. Of course most men +promoted from the ranks—I mean my class of men—get quarter-masterships, +but there is no great pull in that. Quarter-masters are neither one +thing nor the other. The officers may try to put him at his ease, but +his ways are not their ways; and I have known many a quarter-master who, +if he had his choice, would gladly come back to the sergeant's mess +again."</p> + +<p>"Thank you for your advice, sergeant," Edgar said quietly. "I will +follow it to the best of my power. I don't think there is anything to be +cocky about; for the thing at Aldershot was pure luck, and so it was the +other day. I happened to be next to North when his horse fell, and of +course I turned round to help him without thinking who he was or +anything about him.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</a></span> It was just instinct, and it hasn't done him any +good after all, for I hear he is not likely to live many days."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER VIII</h2> + +<h3>TAMANIEB.</h3> + + +<p>"Are you sure you feel fit for active work again, Smith?" Major Horsley +said as he met Edgar in camp.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," the lad said saluting. "I am a little stiff, and it hurts me +if I move suddenly, but I am sure I should not feel it if we were +engaged again."</p> + +<p>"Well, do not do anything rash, lad; these fellows are not to be trifled +with." That, indeed, was the general opinion in camp. The men were ready +and eager for another fight with the enemy, but there was little of the +light-hearted gaiety with which the contest had been anticipated before +they had met the Arabs at El-Teb. The idea that savages, however brave, +could cope with British troops with breech-loaders had then seemed +absurd; but the extraordinary bravery with which the Arabs had fought, +the recklessness with which they threw away their lives, and the +determination with which they had charged through a fire in which it +seemed impossible that any human being could live, had created a feeling +of respect. There was nothing contemptible about these foes, and it was +expected that not only would the force be very much larger than that met +at El-Teb, but as it would be composed of Osman Digma's best men, and +would be fighting under his eye, the battle would be much more hardly +contested than before. The cavalry were particularly impressed with the +formidable nature of these strange foemen. While they would have hurled +themselves fearlessly against far superior forces of the best cavalry of +Europe, they felt that here their discipline and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</a></span> mastery of their +horses went for little. They could charge through any number of the +enemy, but the danger lay not in the charge but after it. The Arab +tactics of throwing themselves down only to stab the horses as they rode +over them, and then rising up cutting and thrusting in their midst, were +strange and bewildering to them.</p> + +<p>"I am game to charge a dozen squadrons of cavalry one after the other," +a trooper said as they sat round the fire on the night of the 9th of +March, "and if we had orders to go at a square of infantry I should be +ready to go, although I might not like the job; but as for these +slippery black beggars, the less we have to do with them the better I +shall be pleased. You go at them, and you think you have got it all your +own way, and then before you can say knife there they are yelling and +shouting and sticking those ugly spears into you and your horses, and +dancing round until you don't fairly know what you are up to. There +ain't nothing natural or decent about it."</p> + +<p>There was a general murmur of assent.</p> + +<p>"We shall know more about their ways next time," another said. "But +lancers would be the best for this sort of work. There is no getting at +these beggars on the ground with our swords, for the horses will always +leap over a body, and so you cannot reach them with your swords; but a +lance would do the business well. I don't care much for lances for +regular work, but for this sort of fighting there is no doubt they are +the real thing. Well, there is one thing, if we get among the niggers +this time we know what we have got to deal with, and up or down there +will be no mercy shown."</p> + +<p>On the 10th the Royal Highlanders marched out six miles towards Tamai +and formed an encampment there, defending it with bushes interlaced with +wire, this kind of defence being known among the natives as a zareba. +The next afternoon the rest of the infantry marched out and joined them. +Next morning the cavalry moved out, and in the afternoon the whole force +started, the cavalry thrown out ahead. A few shots were<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</a></span> exchanged with +parties of the enemy, but there was no serious fighting. The march was +slow, for the ground was thickly covered with bushes, through which the +troops with the ambulance and commissariat camels moved but slowly. The +sailors had very hard work dragging their guns through the deep sand, +and it took four hours before they reached a spot suitable for +encampment, within two miles of the enemy's position.</p> + +<p>The spot selected for the halt was a space free from bushes, and large +enough to afford room for the encampment and to leave a clear margin of +some fifty yards wide between it and the bushes. As soon as the column +halted the cavalry and part of the infantry took up their position as +outposts to prevent a surprise on the part of the enemy, and the rest +set to work to cut down bushes and drag them across the sand to form a +fresh zareba. When this was completed the cavalry trotted back to the +post held on the previous night, as they would be useless in case of a +night attack, and their horses might suffer from a distant fire of the +enemy.</p> + +<p>Inside the zareba the greatest vigilance was observed. Fully ten +thousand determined enemies lay but a short distance away, and might +creep up through the bushes and make a sudden onslaught at any time. The +moon was full, and its light would show any object advancing across the +open space. Had it not been for this the general would not have been +justified in encamping at so short a distance from the enemy. The march +had been a short one, but the heat had been great and the dust terrible, +and the troops threw themselves down on the ground exhausted when the +work of constructing the zareba was completed; but after a short rest +they took up their posts in readiness to repel an attack.</p> + +<p>During the early part of the night all remained under arms. But +Commander Rolfe of the Royal Navy crept out at the rear of the camp, +gained the bushes, and crawled among them until he came within sight of +the enemy. He saw them in great<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</a></span> numbers sitting round their fires or +stretched upon the ground, and returned to camp with the news that +whatever might be the case later on, certainly no attack was meditated +at present. The greater part of the troops were thereupon allowed to lie +down and get what sleep they could.</p> + +<p>The cavalry felt much anxiety respecting those they had left behind +them; but the moon was sufficiently bright to permit signals to be +flashed to them from the camp, and they learnt to their satisfaction +that all was quiet.</p> + +<p>Soon after one o'clock in the morning the stillness round the zareba was +suddenly broken. A roar of musketry burst from the bushes all round, and +it was evident that the enemy were assembled there in great force. The +troops were ordered to lie down; and fortunately here, as at El-Teb, the +Arab fire was far too high, and the storm of bullets swept for the most +part overhead. Many of the camels, mules, and horses were, however, hit, +but only one man was killed and an officer and two men wounded. Grasping +their rifles the troops lay ready to spring to their feet and repel the +attack should it be made; but the hours passed on slowly without the +expected movement taking place, and there was a general feeling of +relief when morning at last broke. As the Arabs continued their fire, a +nine-pounder and Gatling gun were brought into play upon the bushes, and +the fire of the enemy soon died out and they fell back to their camp.</p> + +<p>The troops now had breakfast, and soon after they had finished the +cavalry arrived from the other zareba. At eight o'clock the Mounted +Infantry moved out, accompanied by a party of Abyssinian scouts. They +had gone but a short distance when a very heavy fire was opened upon +them, and the officer in command sent back to the general to say that +there was a broad ravine stretching across the country a few hundred +yards ahead, although hidden by the bushes from observation until +closely approached, and that this ravine was held by the enemy in great +force. The infantry now moved<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</a></span> out from the zareba, formed in two +squares. The second brigade, composed of the Royal Highlanders, the +65th, and the Marines, led the way. It was commanded by General Davis, +and in its centre rode General Graham with his staff.</p> + +<p>As soon as this had marched out the first brigade followed, taking its +place in echelon a hundred yards on its right rear, so that its fire +commanded its right flank and protected it from an attack in the rear. +It consisted of the 89th, 75th, and 60th Rifles, under General Buller. +The camels and baggage animals remained under a guard at the zareba.</p> + +<p>The Mounted Infantry and Abyssinians fell back as the first brigade +advanced, and as soon as they had moved clear of the face of the square +the machine-guns at its angles opened fire. The enemy's fire soon +ceased, and the brigade again advanced. But the Arabs had simply thrown +themselves down and had not retreated, and their fire broke out again as +soon as that of the machine-guns ceased.</p> + +<p>General Graham now gave the order for the Highlanders, who formed the +front face of the square, to charge. With a cheer they went forward at +the double, and sweeping the enemy before them soon reached the head of +the ravine. The result of the order was, however, that the square was +broken up. Its front face had moved on at a run, while the flanks and +rear had continued their march at the same pace as before, and there was +consequently a wide gap between the 65th on the right flank and the +Highlanders in front. Orders were given to the 65th to hurry up; but as +they did so, masses of the enemy were seen coming on at a run and making +for the gap in the square.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> + <a id="map03" name="map03"></a><a href="images/map03large.jpg"> + <img src="images/map03.jpg" + alt="Battle of Abu Klea" + title="Battle of Abu Klea" /></a><br /> + <span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Battle of Abu Klea</span><br /><span class="smcap">January 17th 1885</span></span> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<div class="figcenter"> + <a id="map04" name="map04"></a><a href="images/map04large.jpg"> + <img src="images/map04.jpg" + alt="Battle of Tamai." + title="Battle of Tamai." /></a><br /> + <span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Battle of Tamai.</span><br /><span class="smcap">13th MARCH 1885.</span></span> +</div> + +<p>The right companies of the 65th tried to form up to meet them, while +Lieutenant Graham, R.N., with the men of the Naval Brigade working the +three machine-guns under his command, threw himself into the gap. But +the yells of the enemy and the roar of musketry rendered it impossible +for the men to hear the orders given, and before the 65th had formed +up<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</a></span><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</a></span> the enemy were close at hand. Their fire and that of the Gatlings +mowed down the Arabs in hundreds, but the wild mob charged on. Some +hurled themselves on to the 65th, others poured like a wave over the +little group of sailors, while the rest, dashing through the gap, flung +themselves on the rear of the 42d.</p> + +<p>The sergeants, whose place is in rear of the men, were cut down almost +to a man; and the rear rank, facing round, were at once engaged in a +desperate hand-to-hand fight with the natives. All was now confusion. +Fresh masses of the enemy poured down with exulting shouts, and in a +confused crowd the brigade retreated. Had not help been at hand they +would probably have met with the same fate that befell Baker's force, +and none would have reached Suakim to tell the news of the massacre. The +sailors, in vain trying to drag off their guns, were almost all killed, +and the guns fell into the hands of the enemy.</p> + +<p>But a check was given to the advance of the Arabs by the cavalry, who +had moved forward to the left of the square. The officer in command saw +that were he to charge across the broken ground his little force would +be lost among the throng of Arabs. He therefore dismounted them, and +they poured volley after volley with their carbines into the thick of +the enemy. In the meantime General Buller's square was advancing. It had +been attacked as desperately as had that of General Davis; but it was +well handled, and its formation had not been broken up by any order such +as that which had destroyed the formation of the other brigade. So +steady and terrible a fire was opened upon the advancing enemy that not +one of the assailants reached the face of the square; and having +repulsed the attacks, it advanced rapidly to the relief of the shattered +brigade ahead, pouring incessant volleys into the ranks of the Arabs as +they swept down to its assault.</p> + +<p>Thus, as they advanced, the first brigade cleared the right face of the +second from its foes, and as soon as they came up with the retreating +force these halted and reformed their ranks Both brigades were now +formed in line, and advanced steadily towards the ravine. Upon their way +they came upon the abandoned guns, which the enemy had in vain tried to +carry off. Sweeping the Arabs before them, the British force reached the +edge of the ravine. It was filled by the flying Arabs, and into these a +terrible fire was poured by the musketry and guns until the Arabs had +gained the opposite side and were concealed among the bushes. The +fighting was now over, although the enemy still maintained a distant +fire. It was necessary, however, to keep the troops together, for +numbers of the Arabs still lay hidden among the bushes, leaping up and +flinging themselves desperately upon any who approached them.</p> + +<p>The scene of the conflict was terrible. A hundred and twenty of the +British lay dead, of whom more than half belonged to the 42d. Three +naval officers and ten sailors were killed, while a large number of +officers and men of the 42d and 65th were seriously wounded. The +slaughter among the natives had been very great—no less than four +thousand of them strewing the ground in all directions. The British +wounded were sent back to the zareba, and the force again advanced. +Crossing the ravine they made towards three villages in its rear. Here +was Osman Digma's camp, and the Arabs mustering in strength again opened +a heavy fire. They were, however, unable to withstand the British guns +and the heavy volleys of the infantry, and the troops advanced into the +camp.</p> + +<p>It was found filled with property of all kinds; for the Arabs had +removed nothing, making perfectly sure that they should be able to repel +the English advance. Bags of money, bundles of clothing, Korans, great +quantities of grain, and plunder of all kinds were found in the huts. +Osman Digma himself had taken no part whatever in the fight. He had +looked on from a distant eminence, and when he saw the repulse of the +Arab attack and the flight of his men he at once made off.</p> + +<p>The next day the cavalry went on to a village two or three miles +distant. Here they found a great quantity of ammuni<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</a></span>tion for Krupp +cannon and other loot, which had been captured from the forces of Baker +and Moncrieff. The village was burnt and the ammunition blown up.</p> + +<p>The next day the force started on its return march, after burning and +destroying Osman's camp and the three adjoining villages. No attempt was +made to pursue Osman Digma or his Arabs. The country beyond was steep +and mountainous, and there would have been no chance whatever of +overtaking and capturing him, while the troops might have been attacked +in difficult positions and have suffered heavily.</p> + +<p>It was supposed that after the two crushing defeats that had been +inflicted on the enemy, and the proof so afforded of the falsehood of +Osman Digma's pretensions, the tribesmen would no longer believe in him, +and that his authority would have been altogether destroyed. The +expectation was not, however, justified by events, for two years later +the Arabs again mustered under him in such formidable numbers, that +another expedition was necessary to protect Suakim against the gathering +of fanatics reassembled under Osman's banner.</p> + +<p>The cavalry had suffered no loss during the operations, and as they had +had some share in the fighting, and had materially aided the shattered +brigade by their fire upon the Arabs, they were not ill satisfied that +they had not been called upon to take a more prominent part in the +operations.</p> + +<p>But little time was lost at Suakim. The greater part of the troops were +at once embarked on the transports and taken up to Suez, a small body +only being left to protect the town should the Arabs again gather in +force. The policy was a short-sighted one. Had a protectorate been +established over the country to the foot of the hills, and a force +sufficient to maintain it left there, the great bulk of the tribesmen +would have willingly given in their allegiance, and no further hostile +movement upon the part of Osman Digma would have been possible; but the +fact that we hastened away after fighting, and afforded no protection +whatever to the friendly natives, effectually<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</a></span> deterred others from +throwing in their lot with us, and enabled Osman Digma gradually to +restore his power and influence among them.</p> + +<p>Short though the campaign had been it had the effect of causing some +inflammation in Edgar's wounds, and as soon as the expedition returned +to the coast the surgeon ordered him into hospital, and it was six weeks +before he again took his place in the ranks. By this time the regiment +was re-united at Cairo, and there was for some months nothing to break +the even tenor of their way.</p> + +<p>Long ere this Edgar had learnt that his recommendation for the Victoria +Cross had not been acceded to. This, however, was no surprise, for after +what he had heard from Major Horsley he had entertained but little hope +that he would be among the favoured recipients of the cross.</p> + +<p>"Never mind, Ned," a comrade said to him when the list was published and +his name was found to be absent. "It is not always those that most +deserve the cross who get it. We know that you ought to have had it, if +any fellow ever did, and we shall think just as much of you as if you +had got it on your breast."</p> + +<p>In spite of the heat cricket matches were got up at Cairo, and the +Hussars distinguished themselves here as they had done at Aldershot. The +chief topic of interest, however, was the question of the safety of +Khartoum, and especially that of General Gordon. He had been sent out by +the British government in hopes that the great influence he possessed +among the natives might enable him to put a stop to the disorder that +prevailed in the Soudan. At the time that he had been in the service of +the Egyptian government he had ruled so wisely and well in the Soudan +that his prestige among the natives was enormous. He had suppressed +slave-trading and restored order throughout the wide province, and by +mingling mercy with justice he was at once admired and feared even by +those whose profits had been annihilated by the abolition of the +slave-trade.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</a></span></p> + +<p>But although Gordon had been rapturously received by the inhabitants of +Khartoum, the tribes of the Soudan had not rallied, as it was hoped they +would do, in opposition to the Mahdi, whose armies had gradually +advanced and had besieged the city. General Gordon with the troops there +had made expeditions up the river in the steamers, and brought in +provisions for the besieged town; he had fought several battles with the +Mahdists, in which he had not always been successful, and it was known +that unless help arrived the city must finally surrender. Many letters +had been received from him asking urgently for aid, but weeks and months +passed, and the government who had sent him out were unable to make up +their minds to incur the cost necessary for the despatch of so distant +an expedition.</p> + +<p>In Cairo public feeling ran very high, and among the troops there the +indignation at this base desertion of one of England's noblest soldiers +was intense and general. At last the news came that public feeling in +England had become so strong that government could no longer resist it, +and that orders had been issued to prepare an expedition with all haste. +A number of flat-boats were to be built for conveying the troops up the +Nile. Canadian boatmen had been sent for to aid in the navigation of the +river. Camels were to be purchased in Egypt, a mounted infantry corps +organized, and stores of all kinds hastily collected.</p> + +<p>People who knew the river shook their heads, and said that the decision +had been delayed too long. The Nile would have fallen to a point so low +that it would be difficult if not impossible to pass up the cataracts, +and long before help could reach Khartoum the city and its noble +governor would have fallen into the hands of the Mahdi.</p> + +<p>There was much disgust among the troops when it was known that many of +them would remain in Lower Egypt, and that of the cavalry especially but +a very small force would be taken, while three regiments mounted on +camels, two of them<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</a></span> consisting of cavalry men from England, would take +part in the expedition.</p> + +<p>Some of the soldiers, however, looked at the matter more +philosophically. "We have had our share," they argued, "and if the +Mahdi's men fight as well as Osman Digma's we are quite willing that +others should have their whack. There will be no end of hard work, and +what fighting they get won't be all one way. Sand and heat, and +preserved meat and dirty water out of wells, are not very pleasant when +you have to stick to them for months together. Like enough, too, there +will be another rumpus down at Suakim while the expedition is away, and +then those who are left here now will get some more of it."</p> + +<p>But although these arguments were loudly uttered, there was no doubt +that there was considerable soreness, and that the men felt the hardship +of favoured troops from England being employed in their stead in a +service that, if dangerous, was likely to offer abundant opportunities +for the display of courage and for gaining credit and honour.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER IX.</h2> + +<h3>THE CAMEL CORPS.</h3> + + +<p>"Trumpeter Smith! Trumpeter Smith!" The shout ran through the arched +corridor of the barracks, and a soldier putting his head through one of +the windows repeated the cry at the top of his voice, for Trumpeter +Smith was not in his barrack-room. Edgar, in fact, was walking on the +shady side of the great court-yard chatting with two other troopers when +his name was shouted.</p> + +<p>"Hullo! What is it?"</p> + +<p>"You are to go to Major Horsley's quarters."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</a></span></p> + +<p>Edgar buttoned up his jacket, ran to the washing-place, plunged his head +and hands in water and hastily dried them, smoothed down his hair with +his pocket-comb at a piece of looking-glass that had been stuck up +against the wall above the basins, and adjusting his cap to the correct +angle made his way to Major Horsley's quarters, wondering much what he +could be wanted for, but supposing that he was to be sent on some +message into the town.</p> + +<p>The soldier-servant showed him into the room where Major Horsley and his +wife were sitting.</p> + +<p>After a word or two of kindly greeting from the lady, Major Horsley went +on: "I told you a long time back, Smith, that I should not forget the +service you did my wife and her sister, and that I would do you a good +turn if I ever got the chance. Is there anything you particularly want +at present?"</p> + +<p>"No, sir, except that I have been thinking that I should be glad to give +up my trumpet. I am just eighteen now, and it would be better for me, I +think, to take my regular place in the ranks. I should be more likely to +be promoted there than I am as a trumpeter."</p> + +<p>"Yes, you would be sergeant in a very short time, Smith; after your +behaviour at El-Teb you would be sure of your stripes as soon as you +were eligible for them. But I should not advise you to give up your +trumpet just at the present moment."</p> + +<p>"Very well, sir," Edgar said, somewhat surprised.</p> + +<p>"But there is something else you are wishing for, is there not? I fancy +every officer and man in the regiment is wishing for it."</p> + +<p>"To go up the Nile, sir?" Edgar said eagerly. "Yes; I do wish that, +indeed. Is there any chance of the regiment going, sir?"</p> + +<p>"No, I am sorry to say there is not," the major said.</p> + +<p>"And a very good thing too, Richard," his wife put in.</p> + +<p>"I do not think so at all. It is the hardest thing ever heard of that +the regiments here that have had all the heat and hard<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</a></span> work, and +everything else of this beastly place, are to be left behind, while +fellows from England go on. Well, Smith," he went on, turning to Edgar, +"I am glad to say I have been able to do you a good turn. When I was in +the orderly-room just now a letter came to the colonel from the general, +saying that a trumpeter of the Heavy Camel Corps is down with sunstroke +and will not be able to go, and requesting him to detail a trumpeter to +take his place. I at once seized the opportunity and begged that you +might be chosen, saying that I owed you a good turn for your plucky +conduct at Aldershot. The adjutant, I am glad to say, backed me up, +saying that you have done a lot of credit to the regiment with your +cricket, and that the affair at El-Teb alone ought to single you out +when there was a chance like this going. The colonel rather thought that +you were too young, but we urged that as you had stood the climate at +Suakim you could stand it anywhere on the face of the globe. So you are +to go, and the whole regiment will envy you."</p> + +<p>"I am obliged to you indeed, sir," Edgar said in delight. "I do not know +how to thank you, sir."</p> + +<p>"I do not want any thanks, Smith, for a service that has cost me +nothing. Now you are to go straight to Sergeant Edmonds. I have sent him +a note already, and he is to set the tailors at work at once to rig you +out in the karkee uniform. We cannot get you the helmet they are fitted +out with. But no doubt they have got a spare one or two; probably they +will let you have the helmet of the man whose place you are to take. You +will be in orders to-morrow morning, and I have asked Edmonds to get +your things all finished by that time. Come in and say good-bye before +you start in the morning."</p> + +<p>There was no slight feeling of envy when Edgar's good fortune became +known, and the other trumpeters were unanimous in declaring that it was +a shame his being chosen.</p> + +<p>"Well, you see, you could not all go," the trumpet-major<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</a></span> said, "and if +Smith had not been chosen it would have been long odds against each of +you."</p> + +<p>"But he is the last joined of the lot," one of the men urged.</p> + +<p>"He can blow a trumpet as well as any of you," the sergeant said, "and +that is what he is wanted for. I think that it is natural enough the +colonel should give him the pull. The officers think a good deal of a +fellow who helped the regiment to win a dozen matches at cricket, and +who carried off the long-distance running prize at Aldershot; besides, +he behaved uncommonly well in that fight, and has as good a right to the +V.C. as any man there. I think that a fellow like that ought to have the +pull if only one is to get it, and I am sure the whole regiment will be +of opinion that he has deserved the chance he has got."</p> + +<p>By the next morning the suit of karkee was ready, and Edgar was sent for +early to the orderly-room and officially informed by the colonel that he +had been detailed for service in the Heavy Camel Corps.</p> + +<p>"I need not tell you, Smith, to behave yourself well—to be a credit to +the regiment. I should not have chosen you for the service unless I felt +perfectly confident that you would do that. I hope that you will come +back again safe and sound with the regiment. Good-bye, lad!"</p> + +<p>Edgar saluted and left the room. Several of the officers followed him +out and bade him a cheery farewell, for he was a general favourite. All +knew that he was a gentleman, and hoped that he would some day win a +commission. He then accompanied Major Horsley to his quarters, and there +the officer and his wife both shook hands with him warmly.</p> + +<p>"You will be a sergeant three months after you come back," Major Horsley +said; "and your having been on this Nile expedition, and your conduct at +El-Teb, will help you on when the time comes, and I hope you will be one +of us before many years are over."</p> + +<p>Edgar then went up to his barrack-room to say good-bye<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</a></span> to his friends, +and took off his smart Hussar uniform and put on the karkee suit, amid +much laughter and friendly chaff at the change in his appearance. The +adjutant had ordered a trooper to accompany him to the camp of the Camel +Corps, which was pitched close by the Pyramids, and to bring back his +horse. He therefore mounted and rode out of the barracks, amid many a +friendly farewell from his comrades. He rode with his companion into the +town and down to the river, crossed in a ferry-boat, and then rode on to +the camp. Inquiring for the adjutant's tent Edgar dismounted and walked +up to that officer, and presented a note from the colonel.</p> + +<p>The officer glanced at it. "Oh, you have come to accompany us!" he said. +"You look very young for the work, lad; but I suppose your colonel would +not have chosen you unless he thought you could stand it. I see you have +got our uniform, but you want a helmet. We can manage that for you. +Sergeant Jepherson, see if Trumpeter Johnson's helmet will fit this man; +he is going with us in his place. Fit him out with water-bottle and +accoutrements, and tell him off to a tent."</p> + +<p>The helmet fitted fairly, and only needed a little padding to suit +Edgar, who, after putting it on, ran out to where his comrade was +waiting for him and fastened his own head-gear to the pummel of his +saddle.</p> + +<p>"Good-bye, young un!" the trooper said. "Hold your own with these +heavies for the honour of the regiment. They mean well, you know, so +don't be too hard upon them."</p> + +<p>Edgar laughed as he shook the man by the hand, and as he rode off turned +to look at the scene around him.</p> + +<p>There were two camps at a short distance from each other, that of the +Heavy Camel Corps to which he now belonged, composed of men of the 1st +and 2d Life Guards, Blues, Bays, 4th and 5th Dragoon Guards, Royals, +Scots Greys, 5th and 16th Lancers. The other was the Guards Corps, +composed of men of the three regiments of foot guards. Edgar's first +feeling as he looked at the men who were standing about or lying in the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</a></span> +shade of the little triangular Indian mountain-service tents, was that +he had suddenly grown smaller. He was fully up to the average height of +the men of his own regiment, but he felt small indeed by the side of the +big men of the heavy cavalry regiments.</p> + +<p>"This way, lad," the sergeant into whose charge he had been given, said. +"What is your name?"</p> + +<p>"I am down as Ned Smith."</p> + +<p>The sergeant smiled at the answer, for no inconsiderable number of men +enlist under false names. He led the way through the little tents until +he stopped before one where a tall soldier was lying at full length on +the sand. "Willcox, this man has come to take the place of Trumpeter +Johnson. He is detached for duty with us from the Hussars. He will, of +course, share your tent."</p> + +<p>"All right, sergeant! I will put him up to the ropes. What's your name, +mate?"</p> + +<p>"I go as Ned Smith," Edgar said.</p> + +<p>"So you are going in for being a heavy at present."</p> + +<p>"I don't care whether I am a heavy or a light, so that I can go up the +river."</p> + +<p>"Have you been out here long?"</p> + +<p>"About a year; we were through the fighting at Suakim, you know. It was +pretty hot down there, I can tell you."</p> + +<p>"It is hot enough here for me—a good deal too hot, in fact; and as for +the dust, it is awful!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, it is pretty dusty out here," Edgar agreed; "and of course, with +these little tents, the wind and dust sweep right through them. Over +there in Cairo we have comfortable barracks, and as we keep close during +the day we don't feel the heat. Besides, it is getting cooler now. In +August it was really hot for a bit even there."</p> + +<p>"Where are we going to get these camels, do you know?"</p> + +<p>"Up the river at Assouan, I believe; but I don't know very much about +it. It was only yesterday afternoon I got orders<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</a></span> that I was to go with +you, to take the place of one of your men who had fallen sick, so I have +not paid much attention as to what was going on. It has been rather a +sore subject with us, you see. It did seem very hard that the regiments +here that have stood the heat and dust of this climate all along should +be left behind now that there is something exciting to do, and that +fresh troops from England should go up."</p> + +<p>"Well, I should not like it myself, lad. Still I am precious glad I got +the chance. I am one of the 5th Dragoon Guards, and you know we don't +take a turn of foreign service—though why we shouldn't I am sure I +don't know—and we are precious glad to get a change from Aldershot and +Birmingham and Brighton, and all those home stations. You are a lot +younger than any of us here. The orders were that no one under +twenty-two was to come."</p> + +<p>"So I heard; but of course as we are out here, and we have got +accustomed to it, age makes no difference."</p> + +<p>"What do they send us out here for?"</p> + +<p>"There are no barracks empty in the town, no open spaces where you could +be comfortably encamped nearer. Besides, this gives you the chance of +seeing the Pyramids."</p> + +<p>"It is a big lump of stone, isn't it?" Willcox said, staring at the +Great Pyramid. "The chaps who built that must have been very hard up for +a job. When I first saw it I was downright disappointed. Of course I had +heard a lot about it, and when we got here it wasn't half as big as I +expected. After we had pitched our tents and got straight, two or three +of us thought we would climb up to the top, as we had half an hour to +spare. Just as we set off one of the officers came along and said, +'Where are you going, lads?' and I said, 'The cooks won't have tea ready +for half an hour, sir, so we thought we would just get up to the top and +look round.' And he said, 'If you do you will be late for tea.'</p> + +<p>"Well, it didn't seem to us as if it would take more than five minutes +to get to the top and as much to get down again,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</a></span> so off we went. But +directly we began to climb we found the job was not as easy as we had +expected. It looked to us as if there was but a hundred steps to go up; +but each step turned out to be about five feet high, and we hadn't got +up above twenty of them when the trumpet sounded, and we pretty near +broke our necks in coming down again. After that I got more respect for +that lump of stone. Most of the officers went up next day, and a few of +us did manage it, but I wasn't one of them. I did try again; but I +concluded that if I wanted to go up the Nile, and to be of any good when +I got there, I had best give it up, for there would not be anything left +of me to speak of by the time I got to the top. Then those Arab fellows +got round, and shrieked and jabbered and wanted to pull us up; and the +way they go up and down those stones is wonderful. But of course they +have no weight to carry. No, I never should try that job again, not if +we were to be camped here for the next ten years."</p> + +<p>"I have been up to the top," Edgar said; "but it is certainly a hard +pull, and there is nothing much to see when you do get there—only so +much more sand in all directions. The view from the great mosque at +Cairo is much finer. Do you have much drill?"</p> + +<p>"Morning and evening we work away pretty stiff. It is infantry drill we +have. They say we are not going to fight on the camels, but only to be +carried along by them and to get off and fight if we see the enemy, and +as we are all new to each other there is a good bit of work to be done +to get us down to work as one battalion. We and the 4th make a troop +together. We have drill in the afternoon, too, for a bit. Of a morning +those that like can go across and have a look at the town. I went +yesterday. Rum old place, isn't it? The rummiest thing is the way those +little donkeys get about with a fat chap perched on the top of a saddle +two feet above them. Never saw such mokes in my life. They ain't bigger +than good-sized dogs some of them, and yet they go along with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</a></span> fifteen +or sixteen stone on their backs as if they did not feel it. Those and +the camels pleased me most. Rum beasts those camels. I can't think what +it must feel like to be stuck up on top of them, and if one does fall +off it must be like coming off a church. Have you tried one?"</p> + +<p>"No. I have never been on a camel. Of course we always have had our +horses."</p> + +<p>"Why didn't they get us horses?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know. They could have bought a couple of thousand, no doubt, if +they had tried; besides, they could have got some from the Egyptian +cavalry. But if they had they would never have sent out you and the +Guards; though the horses would have done very well to carry light +cavalry. I fancy the idea is that in the first place we have to go long +distances without water. Camels can stand thirst for three or four days +together, and each camel can carry water for its rider. Then, too, we +may perhaps march sometimes, and the camels could carry water and food. +So, you see, they will be useful both ways."</p> + +<p>"Well, I suppose it is all right," Willcox said; "and as you say, if +they had gone in for horses they could not have carried us heavies. I am +precious glad to come. So are we all; though why they wanted to bring us +and the Guards—the biggest and heaviest men they could pick out in the +army—on a job like this, is more than I can say."</p> + +<p>"It is more than anyone can say, I should think," Edgar said; and indeed +no reason has ever been assigned for the singular choice of the heaviest +men that could be collected in the service for duty on a campaign such +as this was to be, and for which light, active, wiry men were especially +suitable.</p> + +<p>"There is the dinner call."</p> + +<p>"What troop are we in?" Edgar asked, seizing his trumpet, and on +learning at once gave the troop call.</p> + +<p>"We are in messes of eight," Willcox replied. "We and the three tents to +the right have one mess. It is our turn to go over and get the grub."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</a></span></p> + +<p>Accordingly Willcox and Edgar went across to the field-kitchen and +received the rations for their mess, consisting of beef and +vegetables—the bread for the day had been served out early. Returning +to the tents the rations were divided between the party of eight, and +Edgar was introduced by Willcox to his new messmates.</p> + +<p>"Your regiment was at Aldershot with us eighteen months ago."</p> + +<p>"Yes; but I did not know any of your men. I was over one or two evenings +at your canteen, which was by a long way the best in the camp."</p> + +<p>"Yes, we used to have some good singing there and no mistake," one of +the men said.</p> + +<p>"The Long Valley is not bad in the way of dust, but this place beats it +hollow," another put in.</p> + +<p>"This is a cleaner dust," Edgar said. "The Long Valley dust blackened +one; this does not seem to have any dirt in it. As far as the uniforms +go there is not much difference, but one doesn't feel so grimy after a +charge over this Egyptian sand as one did in the Long Valley."</p> + +<p>"We played you fellows at cricket, I remember," the man said. "I was in +our eleven. You beat us, for you had a youngster we could not stand up +against, he was a beggar to bowl."</p> + +<p>Edgar laughed. "I rather think I am the fellow," he said, "Trumpeter +Smith."</p> + +<p>"It was Trumpeter Smith, sure enough. Well, you can bowl and no mistake, +young un. It is rum meeting out here like this. And how have you been +getting on since? You fellows were in the thick of it at El-Teb, I saw; +and got cut up a bit by those niggers, didn't you?"</p> + +<p>"That we did," Edgar replied. "I am not sorry that we are going to fight +as infantry this time, for I can tell you it is not pleasant charging +among fellows who throw themselves down and hamstring your horse or +drive a spear into him as he passes<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</a></span> over them; and once down it is +likely to go pretty hard with you."</p> + +<p>"The infantry had it pretty hot too at Tamanieb?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, they got into one of our squares, and I don't think many of our +fellows would have ever got away if it had not been that Buller's square +came up to their assistance. Still, I don't suppose that will ever +happen again. If the infantry stand firm and shoot straight they ought +never to be broken, while that cavalry business was a thing nothing +could guard against. The best horseman in the world may go down if a +fellow shams dead and then suddenly stabs your horse."</p> + +<p>"There is no doubt the beggars can fight," Willcox said; "and I expect +we shall get some tough work before we get to Khartoum. I only hope they +won't catch us suddenly before we have time to get off those camels. +Fancy being stuck up on one of those long-legged beasts with half a +dozen niggers making a cock-shy of you with their spears."</p> + +<p>"I don't think that will happen," Edgar replied. "We shall have the 19th +to act as scouts, and as there will be no woods or thick scrub, from +what I have heard of the country, as there was on the plains round +Suakim, we ought not to be surprised."</p> + +<p>"This meat is horribly tough," Willcox remarked. "It strikes me they +ought to have examined every one's mouth before they sent them out, and +to have chosen men with good sets of grinders, for I am sure they will +want them for this stuff."</p> + +<p>"The meat is tough out here. You see, it won't keep and has to be cooked +pretty nearly warm, but it is better by a long way than that tinned meat +which is all we shall get, I expect, when we once start."</p> + +<p>"When are we going to start?"</p> + +<p>"In a few days, I should think. The boats are being taken up fast, and I +believe a lot of the Canadians went up yesterday. There are two or three +infantry regiments up there ready to go on as soon as the boats for them +get up; and as most of the camels are up there too, I should think they +will push us up as<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</a></span> soon as they can, as I suppose we are intended to go +ahead of the boats and clear the banks."</p> + +<p>Then they began to talk about the route, and Edgar, who had studied the +maps and knew all that was known on the subject of the journey, drew on +the sand the course of the Nile with its windings and turnings.</p> + +<p>"You see the river makes a tremendous bend here," he said, "round by +Berber. The general idea is that when we get to this spot, where there +is a place called Ambukol, if there is news that Gordon is hard pressed +and cannot hold out long, a column will march across this neck to +Metemmeh, where there are some of Gordon's steamers. I expect that is +the work that will fall to the Camel Corps, and that it is specially for +this that we have been got up. You see, the rest of the journey is along +the water side, and horses would have done just as well as camels, and +would be much more useful, for, of course, the infantry will do the main +fighting, and the cavalry are only wanted for scouting and pursuit. +Camels are no good for either one work or the other, for nothing will +persuade the beggars to move out of their regular pace, which is just +about two and three-quarter miles an hour. If they did not intend to cut +across this neck, I don't see what they wanted more than the boats with +the infantry and a regiment or two of light cavalry on these country +horses, which are wonderfully hardy and can stand work that would knock +English horses to pieces in no time."</p> + +<p>"Well, then, all that I can say is," Willcox put in, "that it is very +lucky for us that the river makes that big twist, other wise we might be +all kicking our heels at Aldershot or the Curragh, or in some garrison +town. But I thought camels were fast beasts. I am sure I have seen +pictures of Arabs riding about in the desert at a tremendous pace."</p> + +<p>"There are some sort of camels called riding camels that are faster than +the others, and there are dromedaries, which can trot as fast as a horse +and keep it up for a long time; but the riding<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</a></span> camels and dromedaries +are both scarce and expensive, and you may be sure we shall not have +many of them with us."</p> + +<p>"They are beastly ill-tempered looking brutes," Willcox said. "When I +was walking in the streets there the other day a string of them came +along, and they grumbled and growled like wild beasts, and one showed +his teeth and made as if he was going right at me. If I had not jumped +into a shop I believe he would have had my ear off."</p> + +<p>"They can bite, and bite very hard too; but it is very seldom they do, +though they do make a wonderful pretence of being fierce. They call them +the patient camel, but from what I have seen of them I should say that +they are the most impatient, grumbling beasts in creation. It makes no +difference what you do for them—whether you load them or unload them, +or tell them to get up or lie down, or to go on or stop—they always +seem equally disgusted, and grumble and growl as if what you wanted them +to do was the hardest thing in the world. Still, they can do a +tremendous lot of work, and keep on any number of hours, and I don't +know what the people of this country would do without them."</p> + +<p>In the afternoon Edgar paraded with his troop and fell into the usual +routine of duty. As he had had a year's campaigning in Egypt he was +regarded as an authority, and after three or four days was as much at +home with the troop as he had been in his own regiment. He found these +big men very pleasant and cheery companions. All had been picked for the +service as being men of exemplary character; they were in high spirits +at the prospect of the expedition before them, and were like a party of +great school-boys out on a holiday. They took to Edgar kindly; +belonging, as he did, to the light cavalry, they regarded him as a sort +of guest among them, and from his being so much younger and smaller than +themselves they looked upon him as a boy, and he quickly got the +nickname of "The Kid."</p> + +<p>Many questions were asked him as to the fighting powers of the wild +natives.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</a></span></p> + +<p>"How they could break right into a square beats me altogether," one of +the big troopers said. "They always tell us that cavalry have no chance +nowadays of breaking into a square, for they would all be shot down by +the breech-loaders before they could reach it, and yet these niggers, +with nothing but spears, manage to do it. I cannot make head or tail of +it; no more I can of you chaps getting cut up by them."</p> + +<p>"You will understand it when you see it," Edgar said. "They run pretty +nearly as fast as a horse can gallop, and they don't seem to fear death +in the slightest, for they believe that if they are killed they go +straight to heaven. It seems to me that savages must be braver than +civilized soldiers. It was the same thing with the Zulus, you know, they +came right down on our men at Isandula, and the fire of the +breech-loaders did not stop them in the slightest."</p> + +<p>"No more it would stop us, young un, if we got orders to charge. It did +not at Balaclava."</p> + +<p>"No, that is true enough," Edgar agreed; "but then we have got +discipline. The order is given, and the whole regiment goes off +together; one could not hold back if one would. But that is a different +thing from rushing forward each man on his own account, as they did +against us, and running up to what seemed certain death. I know the +feeling among our fellows was that they would not have believed it had +they not seen it."</p> + +<p>"Well, I hope we shall get a chance of seeing it," the man said, "only I +hope that we shall not be atop of them camels when they try it. I have +been looking at the beasts over there in the city, and there does not +seem to me to be any go about them. Beastly-tempered brutes! I don't +believe you could get a charge out of them if you tried ever so much."</p> + +<p>"No, I don't think you could," Edgar laughed. "But, you see, we are +intended to fight on foot. We shall be like the old dragoons, who used +their horses only to carry them to the place where they were to fight."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</a></span></p> + +<p>"No chance of any loot?" another put in.</p> + +<p>"No chance in the world. At the best of times they wear a sort of dirty +cotton sheet round their shoulders, but when they go into battle they +leave that behind them, and fight only in their loin-cloths."</p> + +<p>"I have heard," an old soldier said, "from some of our chaps who fought +in the Indian mutiny, that they often found a lot of money and jewels +and things in those loin-cloths of the sepoys."</p> + +<p>"Ah, that was because they had been plundering treasuries and capturing +booty of all sorts. But I do not suppose many of these Arabs ever saw a +gold coin in their lives. They don't see many silver ones. What wealth +they have is in sheep and cattle and horses, and with these they barter +for such things as they require. No; if you are fighting out here for a +year you will get nothing except a few worthless charms, of no value +whatever except as curios."</p> + +<p>"Well, I wish they would let us be off," another said. "I am sick +already of these sands and that big lump of stone. I hear the boats are +going up every day, and if they do not move us soon the infantry will be +there before us."</p> + +<p>"I think we shall travel a good deal faster than they do when we are +once off," Edgar said. "They will have rapids and all sorts of +difficulties to contend with, while we shall go on steadily, +five-and-twenty miles a day perhaps. You may be sure we shall be well in +front when the time for work comes. They would never go to the expense +of sending you all out, and mounting you on camels, and then keep you +behind."</p> + +<p>"Have you heard the news, lads?" a sergeant asked, joining the group.</p> + +<p>"No! What is it?"</p> + +<p>"We are to strike tents at four o'clock this afternoon, march down to +the river, embark in a steamer, and start to-night."</p> + +<p>"Hooray!" the men shouted. "That is the best news we have had since we +landed."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</a></span></p> + +<p>In a short time most of the men were at work giving a final polish to +their arms. By four o'clock the tents were levelled and rolled up, the +baggage was packed and sent forward on camels, and the regiment was +formed up awaiting the orders to march. The heat of the day had somewhat +abated, but the march, short as it was, was a trying one, from the +clouds of light sand that rose from beneath the feet of the column, and +the men were heartily glad when they embarked, two troops on board the +steamer and the rest on large flats which she was to tow up the stream. +Kits and belts were taken off, and the men made themselves as +comfortable as the crowded state of the flats would permit. The officers +were on board the steamer. As they started a loud cheer broke from the +men. They were fairly off at last. There was no thought of the dangers +and difficulties before them. It was enough for them that they were +fairly on their way up the Nile to relieve, as they hoped, Khartoum, and +to rescue Gordon.</p> + +<p>"If this is campaigning I don't care how much we have of it," the +soldier who was sitting next to Edgar said, looking up at the deep blue +sky studded with stars. "This suits me down to the ground."</p> + +<p>"You had better make the most of it," Edgar laughed, "it won't last +long; and you will have nothing like it again. I own that, at any rate +until we reach the highest point to which the boats can go, I think the +infantry have got the best of it. Of course they will have hard work in +hauling the boats past the rapids, and they will have some rowing to do +when the wind is too light for the sails to carry them up, but I would +rather sit in a boat and row than sit on the back of a camel."</p> + +<p>"But the boats will go all the way, won't they?"</p> + +<p>"It is not known yet. It is possible that when we get to a place named +Korti, where the river makes a tremendous bend, some of us may cross the +desert to Metemmeh, where Gordon's steamers will meet us. If we do I +expect that will be the work of the three Camel Corps, and all the boats +will go right<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</a></span> round the river and join us there; that is, if they can +get up the cataracts. I know the Egyptians say the water will be too low +for the boats to go up. That may be true enough as to the native boats, +but ours draw so little water that I believe there must always be depth +enough for them, for there is always a good lot of water coming down +here even at the driest season."</p> + +<p>The regiment was disembarked at Assouan, and the next day four companies +went up in two steamers to Wady Halfa, a hundred and eighty miles higher +up the river. Edgar's troop formed part of the detachment. They had +expected to see a place of some size, but found that it consisted only +of a few mud huts and some sheds of the unfinished railway. Here for +some days the men practised infantry drill and received their equipments +and saddles, and then they were marched to the camel depot a mile away.</p> + +<p>The soldiers were immensely amused at the sight of their chargers. These +animals had been collected from all parts of Egypt, from Aden and +Arabia. As soon as the proper number had been received and told off to +the men, the work of fitting on the saddles commenced. This was by no +means easy, as the camel humps differed greatly from each other, and a +good deal of padding and altering was necessary before the saddles were +comfortably fitted. When the men mounted they formed in line, and found +that the animals were docile and obedient to the rein, and maneuvered +together without difficulty. Several days were spent in learning to sit +the animals, and there were many spills, but as the sand was deep no +harm came of them, and they caused great amusement to all except the +victims themselves.</p> + +<p>The greatest difficulty was the mounting and dismounting, both of which +performances had to be done when the camel was kneeling. In order to +make him kneel it was necessary to tug at the head-rope, at the same +time making a sound like clearing the throat. Then the rope was pulled +at until his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</a></span> head was brought round to his shoulder. This prevented him +from getting up again. The rifle, which was slung in a bucket on one +side behind the rider, was found to render it impossible to get the leg +over, and it consequently became necessary for the man to mount with his +rifle in his hand, and to drop it into the bucket afterwards. As the +camel always rose and lay down with great suddenness, men were, until +accustomed to it, constantly pitched over his head.</p> + +<p>"I never want to see a camel again," Edgar grumbled, after one or two +days' exercise diversified by numerous falls; "they are the most +discontented beasts I ever saw."</p> + +<p>"I don't mind their growling," a trooper said; "it is the twistiness of +the brutes I hate. When you are looking after a horse you know what he +can do and where he can reach you. Of course if you get behind him he +can kick, but when you are standing beside him all that you have got to +look after is his head, and he cannot bring that round to bite very far. +These brutes can reach all over the place; they can kick at you any way. +They can scratch their ears with their hind legs, and even rub the top +of their humps with it if they are disposed, or scratch themselves under +the chin. Their necks are the same, they can twist them anywhere. They +can bite the root of their tails, and lay their heads back and give them +a rub on the top of their humps. There is no safety with them at all; +and when they come at you growling and roaring with their mouths open +and showing their teeth it is enough to scare you."</p> + +<p>"It is fortunate that their hoofs are soft and spongy, so that they +cannot hurt like the kick of a horse," Edgar said.</p> + +<p>"Spongy, be blowed!" the trooper replied. "Mine kicked me in the chest +yesterday and I went flying about ten yards, and the breath was knocked +out of my body for a quarter of an hour."</p> + +<p>"That was bad, no doubt," Edgar laughed; "but if it had been a horse you +would be in the hospital-tent now with some<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</a></span> of your ribs broken, if you +hadn't been smashed up altogether."</p> + +<p>"They are up to all sorts of tricks," the trooper went on, looking +savagely at his growling camel. "There was Rogers, this morning, he was +just passing a camel who was kneeling down. Well, who would think that a +kneeling camel could do anything except with his head. Rogers swore that +he did not go within four yards of him, and the brute suddenly shot out +his hind leg and caught him on the knee and cut him clean over, and he +thought for some time that his leg was broken. Blow all camels, I say!"</p> + +<p>As the camels were not to be used for fighting from, in the presence of +an enemy the troopers were to dismount and fight on foot. When down the +camels were to be knee haltered, one of the fore-legs being doubled up +and strapped, which prevented the animal from rising. Each camel +received about five pounds of grain night and morning, and the whole +were taken down to the river every other day to drink. The conduct of +many of them was exasperating in the extreme to their riders. When taken +down into the stream they would stand and look about in an aimless way +as if wondering what on earth they had been brought there for, and would +be sometimes ten minutes or a quarter of an hour before the idea seemed +to occur to them that they might as well have a drink.</p> + +<p>Once on the march they went steadily and well, obeying the slightest +motion of the halter, and keeping up their regular pace without +intermission from the time they started until they were ordered to halt.</p> + +<p>After a week's drill and practice the men became accustomed to the ways +of their animals, and were glad when the order came for them to start. +By this time the leading regiments of the infantry had begun to go up in +their boats. These were broad, flat crafts, which had been specially +built in England for the purpose. Each carried twelve men and three +months' supply of provisions and stores for them. They were provided +with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</a></span><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</a></span> sails and oars, and as the direction of the wind was up the +river the sails were of great assistance.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> + <a id="image04" name="image04"> + <img src="images/04.jpg" + alt="TOWING THE BOATS UP THE NILE." + title="TOWING THE BOATS UP THE NILE." /></a><br /> + <span class="caption">TOWING THE BOATS UP THE NILE.</span> +</div> + +<p>As the cavalry passed the Great Cataract they had an opportunity of +seeing the process of getting the boats up. The rush of waters was +tremendous, and it seemed well-nigh impossible to force the boats +against them. It would indeed have been impossible to row them, and they +were dragged up by tow-ropes by the united strength of the troops and a +large number of natives. At times, in spite of all the efforts of the +men at the ropes, the boats made no progress whatever, while if the +steersman allowed the stream for a moment to take the boat's head it +would be whirled round and carried down to the foot of the rapid, when +the work had to be recommenced.</p> + +<p>The troopers thought, as they watched the exertions of the infantry, +that, rough as was the action of the camels, they had decidedly the best +of it, but such was not their opinion on the following day when, as they +were jogging wearily along, several of the boats passed them running +before a strong wind, with the soldiers on board reclining in +comfortable positions in the bottom or on the thwarts. Again their +opinions changed when, the wind having dropped, they saw the men +labouring at the oars in the blazing sun.</p> + +<p>"There are pulls both ways," one of the troopers said philosophically, +"and take it all round I don't know which has got the best of it. If +there are many of these cataracts I should say we are best off, and they +say there are lots of them between this and Khartoum."</p> + +<p>"I think we have got the best of it, certainly," Edgar said; "for if it +comes to leaving the river and pushing on we are sure to be in it."</p> + +<p>The journey from Wady Halfa to Dongola was 235 miles. The day's march +was generally about twenty miles, the halting-places being made at spots +previously settled upon, where there were depots of provisions formed +for them. The start was made about five o'clock in the morning. For the +first two hours the men walked, leading their camels; then when the sun +became hot they mounted and rode the rest of the distance. At first they +found the monotonous motion very trying, but became accustomed to it in +time, and would even go off to sleep in the saddles, with the result, +however, that they were probably shot off if the camel came upon a +sudden irregularity of the ground.</p> + +<p>In the cool of the evening the men bathed in the river, and the officers +often went out in search of game, which was found, however, to be very +scarce. There were many regrets among the men that they had brought no +fish-hooks or lines with them, for these would have furnished not only +amusement during their halts, but might have afforded a welcome change +to the monotony of their diet.</p> + +<p>The country bordering the Nile was composed of low rocky hills and hard +gravel, with occasional tufts of dry grass and scrub. Sometimes the +troops marched four abreast, at other times they had to go in single +file across the rocky ground. The fun of the camel-riding very soon +passed off, and the men found the marches extremely dull and monotonous, +and were heartily glad when they got to Dongola.</p> + +<p>Here the rest of the regiment joined them. Marching twenty miles up the +river they crossed the Nile in boats, and another day's march took them +to Shabadud; and after a stay there of some days, drilling with other +corps, they moved on to Korti, four days' march. The site chosen for the +camp delighted the men. Groves of palms grew along the steep banks of +the river; beyond were fields of grass and broad patches of cultivated +land. Here they were to wait until the rest of the mounted troops came +up, and a portion, at any rate, of the infantry arrived in the boats.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER X.</h2> + +<h3>AN UNEXPECTED MEETING.</h3> + + +<p>"It is a nice place for a camp, isn't it, youngster?"</p> + +<p>"Very nice, sergeant; but it will soon be spoiled with all these troops +arriving. It is very pretty now with that grove of palm-trees, and the +low green bushes that hide the sand, and the river with all the boats +with white sails. I have just been counting them, there are thirty-two +in sight. But when we get three or four regiments here they will soon +cut down the scrub and spoil its appearance altogether."</p> + +<p>"That is so, lad; troops make a pretty clear sweep of everything where +they settle down."</p> + +<p>Edgar had taken a good deal to Sergeant Bowen, who had shown him many +little kindnesses on the way up. He was an older man than most of those +engaged in the expedition, and Edgar judged him to be thirty-two or +thirty-three years old. He was a fine, tall, soldierly-looking fellow, +and had served in various parts of the world.</p> + +<p>"Let us sit down," the sergeant said; "this bush will give us a little +shade. How long have you been in the army, lad?"</p> + +<p>"Better than two years. Directly the campaign is over I shall give up my +trumpet, and hope I shall get my stripes soon."</p> + +<p>"How old are you—nineteen?"</p> + +<p>"Not for some months yet, sergeant."</p> + +<p>"Hope to get your commission some day?" the sergeant said. "I suppose +that is what you entered the army for."</p> + +<p>"Yes, partly, sergeant; partly because I saw no other way of keeping +myself."</p> + +<p>"But what are your friends doing?"</p> + +<p>"I have not any friends; at least none that I care to apply to," Edgar +answered shortly.</p> + +<p>"No friends, lad? That is bad. But I do not want to know<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</a></span> your story if +you do not choose to tell it. It is easy to see that you have had a good +education. Keep steady, lad, and you will get on. I might have been a +quarter-master years ago if it hadn't been for that. Drink and other +things have kept me down; but when I was twenty I was a smart young +fellow. Ah! that is a long time back."</p> + +<p>"Why, one would think that you were an old man, sergeant," Edgar said, +and smiled.</p> + +<p>"Older than you would think by a good bit. How old do you take me to +be?"</p> + +<p>"Something past thirty."</p> + +<p>"A good deal past that. I am just forty, though they don't know it, or I +should not be here."</p> + +<p>"Why, then, if you enlisted when you were my age, sergeant, you must +have done over twenty years' service."</p> + +<p>"It's twenty-two since I first enlisted. I served eight years in the +infantry. I don't know why I am telling you this, but somehow I have +taken a fancy to you. I was uncomfortable in the regiment. It does not +matter why. I got my stripes twice, and had to give them up or I should +have been put back for drinking. Then I left the regiment without asking +leave. I was three or four years knocking about at home; but I had no +trade and found it hard to get work, so at last I enlisted again. I was +thirty then, but looked years younger than I was. Of course I had shaved +off my moustache and put on a smock-frock when I went to enlist, and I +gave my age as twenty-two. No one questioned it. I chose the cavalry +this time, because I knew that if I entered an infantry regiment again +they would spot me as an old soldier at once; but as it was all new in +the cavalry I managed to pass it off, and now I have had ten years' +service, the last six of them as sergeant. And as I gave up drink years +ago I have a good character in the regiment, and when a steady +non-commissioned officer was wanted for this business I had the luck to +be chosen. Officers coming, lad!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</a></span></p> + +<p>They rose to their feet and saluted as three officers passed. They were +talking eagerly together, and returned the salute mechanically without +glancing at the two soldiers.</p> + +<p>"It is a rum chance, Clinton, our meeting here. I ran against Skinner at +Assouan quite accidentally. I had seen his name in the list of the +officers of the Marines going up; but we met quite by chance, and only +forgathered here yesterday, and now here you are turning up as one of +Stewart's A.D.C.'s. Who would have thought that we three should meet +here, when we have never seen each other since we left Cheltenham?"</p> + +<p>The sergeant stood looking after them with an air of interest till their +voices died away. Then he turned to his companion.</p> + +<p>"Hullo, lad, what is the matter? Are you ill?"</p> + +<p>"No, I am all right," Edgar said huskily.</p> + +<p>"Nonsense! Your colour has all gone, and you are shaking like a leaf. +What! did you know any of those officers?"</p> + +<p>"I knew them all once," Edgar said. "We were at school together. I did +not know that any of them were out here. I would not have them recognize +me for anything."</p> + +<p>"Oh, that is it! I thought you must have run away from school; got into +some scrape, I suppose. Well, my lad, as you have made your bed you must +lie in it. But it is not likely that any of them would know you even if +they ran up against you. Two years' service under this sun changes a lad +of your age wonderfully. By the way, one of them called the other +Clinton; do you happen to know whether he is the son of a Captain +Clinton—Captain Percy Clinton?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, he is."</p> + +<p>"He was captain of my company when I was a young sergeant. Well, well, +time flies fast, to be sure. Do you know whether this young fellow has a +brother, and, if so, what he is doing?"</p> + +<p>"No, he has no brother," Edgar said shortly.</p> + +<p>"There were two of them," the sergeant said positively. "Perhaps one has +died. I wonder which it was," he muttered to himself.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Do you know the story?" Edgar asked suddenly.</p> + +<p>"Do I know the story!" the sergeant repeated slowly. "What story do you +mean?"</p> + +<p>"The story of Captain Clinton's baby being confused with another."</p> + +<p>"Oh, you know about that, do you?" Sergeant Bowen asked in turn. "So +they made no secret of it. Ay, lad, I know it; every man in the regiment +knew it. And good cause I had to know it, it was that that ruined me."</p> + +<p>"Are you Sergeant Humphreys?" Edgar asked, putting his hand on the man's +shoulder.</p> + +<p>The sergeant started in surprise.</p> + +<p>"Why, lad, how come you to know all the ins and outs of that story? Ay, +I was Sergeant Humphreys, and for aught I know that young fellow who has +just passed, whom they call Clinton, is my son."</p> + +<p>"No, he is not, sergeant; I am your son!"</p> + +<p>The sergeant looked at the young trumpeter in bewilderment, then his +expression changed.</p> + +<p>"You have got a touch of fever, lad. Come along with me to the hospital; +I will report you sick. The sooner you are out of the sun the better."</p> + +<p>"I am as sensible as I ever was in my life," Edgar said quietly. "I was +brought up by Captain Clinton as his son. I was at Cheltenham with +Rupert Clinton, who has just passed us. We believed that we were twins +until the day came when a woman came down there and told me the story, +and told me that I was her son and yours; then I ran away, and here I +am."</p> + +<p>"My wife!" the sergeant exclaimed passionately. "I have not seen or +heard of her for fifteen years. So she came down and told you that. She +is a bad lot, if ever there was one. And so she told you you were my +son? You may be, lad, for aught I know; and I should be well content to +know that it was so. But what did she come and tell you that for? What +game is she up to now? I always knew she was up to some<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</a></span> mischief. What +was her motive in coming down to tell you that? Just let me know what +she said."</p> + +<p>"She said she had deliberately changed me as an infant for my good, and +she proposed to me to continue the fraud, and offered, if I liked, to +swear to Rupert's being her child, so that I might get all the +property."</p> + +<p>"And that she might share in it!" the sergeant laughed bitterly. "A bold +stroke that of Jane Humphreys. And how did she pretend to recognize you +as her child more than the other?"</p> + +<p>"She told me that Captain Clinton's child had a tiny mole on his +shoulder, and as Rupert has such a mark, that settled the question."</p> + +<p>"Jane Humphreys told you more than she knew herself. Whether she +intended to make the change of babies or not I don't know, but I believe +she did; but whether it was done by chance, or whether she purposely +mixed them up together, one thing I am certain of, and that is, that she +confused herself as well as every one else, and that she did not know +which was which. When I came into the room first she was like a woman +dazed, and, clever as she was, I am sure she was not putting it on. She +had thought, I fancy, that she could easily distinguish one from the +other, and had never fancied that she could have been confused as well +as other people. She undressed them, and looked them over and over, and +it was then she noticed the little mole on the shoulder, and she turned +to me and said, 'If I had but noticed this before I should always have +told them apart.'</p> + +<p>"We had a pretty bad time of it afterwards, for it made me the laugh of +the whole regiment, and caused no end of talk and worry, and we had +frightful rows together. She taunted me with being a fool for not seeing +that there was money to be made out of it. She acknowledged to me over +and over again that she had intended to change the children, and had +dressed them both alike; and when I asked her what good had come<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</a></span> out of +her scheming, she said that in the first place we had got rid of the +bother of bringing up the boy, and that if I were not a fool we might +make a good thing out of it yet. But she was vexed and angry with +herself for not having seen this little mark, and for having herself +lost all clue as to which was her child. I told her that as she had +intended to change them she could have cared nothing for her own boy, +and that her only object could have been to make money.</p> + +<p>"She did not deny it, but simply jeered at me for being content to +remain all my life a non-commissioned officer when there might be a +fortune made out of this. I do not say that if she had been able to tell +one child from the other she would have told me, for if she had I should +certainly have gone to Captain Clinton and told him; but she did not +know. A woman can act well, but she cannot make herself as white as a +sheet and put such a wild look into her eyes as she had when I found her +turning those children over and over, and trying to make out which was +which. I could take the Bible in my hand and swear in court that Jane +Humphreys knew no more than I did which was her child, that she had +never noticed the mark until after the change was made, and that to this +day she does not know.</p> + +<p>"One of the points we quarrelled on was that I made her start for the +captain's quarters in such a hurry. She afterwards said that when it +first came across her that she did not know which child was which, her +blood seemed to go up into her head, and she lost her power of judgment +altogether. She said over and over again that if I hadn't hurried her +so, and had let matters be for a day or two, so that she could have +slept on it and had looked at them quiet, she would have known which was +her child. So that is how it is, lad. You may be Jane Humphreys' child +and mine, or you may be Captain Clinton's, but no living soul can decide +which. As to Jane Humphreys, she is a liar and a thorough bad un, and if +it is only on her word that you have run away you have made a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</a></span> bad +mistake of it. Still it is not too late to put that right. My word is as +good as hers; and as she swore before she did not know which was which, +her swearing now that she does, after all these years, will go for +nothing at all."</p> + +<p>Edgar was silent for some time, then he said, "I have thought a good +many times since I ran away that I was wrong in not waiting to hear what +Captain Clinton said. But I had no reason to doubt the story she told +me, and when she proposed that I should go on with this fraud and cheat +Rupert out of his position as heir, it was too horrible, and the thought +that such a woman was my mother was altogether too much to bear. I will +not make such a mistake again, or act in a hurry. My present thought is +that as I have chosen my way I will go on in it. Before, Captain Clinton +and his wife did not know which was their child and loved us both +equally, now that they believe that Rupert is their son and that I was a +fraud, they will have come to give him all their love, and I am not +going to unsettle things again. That is my present idea, and I do not +think that I am likely to change it.</p> + +<p>"I shall be glad to know that I need not consider myself that woman's +child, though it would not grieve me, now that I know you, to be sure +that you were my father. But Captain Clinton and his wife were a father +and mother to me up to the day when I ran away, and I could never think +of anyone else in that light."</p> + +<p>"Quite natural, quite natural, lad! You have never seen me or heard of +me, and it would be a rum thing if you could all of a sudden come to +care a lot about me. I know that you may be my son, but I don't know +that at present I like you any the more for that than I did before. So +we are quite of one mind over that. But we will be friends, lad, stout +friends!"</p> + +<p>"That we will," Edgar said, clasping warmly the hand the other held out +to him. "You have been very kind to me up to now, and now that at any +rate we may be father and son we shall be drawn very close together. +When this campaign is<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</a></span> over it will be time to talk again about the +future. I do not think now that I am at all likely to change my mind, or +to let the Clintons know what you have told me; but I need not trouble +about it in any way until then. I was contented before, and I am +contented now. If I have made a fool of myself, as I think I have, I +must pay the penalty. I have much to be thankful for. I had a very happy +time of it until the day I left Cheltenham. I have had a good education, +and I have a first-rate chance of making my way up. I have made friends +of some of the officers of my regiment, and they have promised to push +me on. I had the luck to attract the colonel's attention at El-Teb, and +was among the names sent in for the Victoria Cross; and although I did +not get it, the fact that I was recommended will count in my favour."</p> + +<p>"You are the right stuff, lad," the sergeant said, putting his hand on +his shoulder, "whether I or the captain was your father. I reckon that +it was he—I don't see where you can have got what there is in you from +our side. And now it is time to be going back to camp. Who would have +thought, when we strolled out together, that so much was to come out of +our walk?"</p> + +<p>While this conversation had been going on, Rupert Clinton and his two +old school-fellows were sitting on the ground in the tent which Easton +shared with another of General Stewart's aides-de-camp.</p> + +<p>"The scene has changed," Easton said as he handed them each a tumbler of +weak rum and water, "otherwise one might imagine that we were in my +study at River-Smith's, and that Skinner was about to lay down the law +about the next football match."</p> + +<p>"Ah! if we had but Edgar here!" Rupert sighed.</p> + +<p>"I did not like to ask whether you had found him, Clinton; but I guessed +you had not by your keeping silence."</p> + +<p>"No, we have heard nothing of him beyond the fact that we have +occasionally a letter saying that he is well and comfort<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</a></span>able. They were +all posted in London, but I still believe that he is in the army. My +father is as convinced as ever that the statement of that woman I told +you of was a false one, and that Edgar is just as likely to be his son +as I am. I know I would gladly give up my share of the heirship to find +him. However, unless I run against him by pure chance I am not likely to +do that. We still put in advertisements occasionally, but my people at +home are as convinced as I am that we shall not hear from him until he +has made his way in some line or other, and he is in an independent +position."</p> + +<p>"He always was a sticker," Skinner said, "and if he took a thing in hand +would carry it through. You remember his rush in our last match with +Green's, how he carried the ball right down through them all. I should +not worry about it, Clinton; it will all come right in time. He will +turn up some day or other; and when he finds that matters are just as +they were before, and that your people believe him to be just as likely +to be their son as you are, he will fall into his old place again—at +least that is my opinion of it."</p> + +<p>"Yes, that is what I hope and believe," Rupert said. "Well, Easton, how +do you like the Guards, and how do you like campaigning? I see that you +have given up white shirts, like the rest of us. I rather expected that +if we did meet I should find that, in some miraculous way, you still +contrived to get up immaculately."</p> + +<p>Easton laughed. "No, I left my last white shirt at Cairo, Clinton. I +consulted my soldier-servant about it. He was ready to guarantee the +washing, but he did not see his way to starching and ironing; so I had +to give them up and take to flannels. They were awful at first, and +irritated my skin until they brought on prickly heat, and I was almost +out of my mind for a few days. However, I have got over it now. What +made you go into the Marines, Skinner?"</p> + +<p>"Well, just before the exam, came off an uncle of mine, who is a great +friend of the first lord, wrote to say that he could<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</a></span> get me a +commission. Well, in the first place I did not feel very sure of passing +for the line; in the second place I had a liking for the sea, and in the +third place, as my governor's living is not a very large one and I have +a lot of sisters, and I thought I had had more than my share already in +being sent to Cheltenham—and one can live a good deal cheaper in the +Marines than in the line—I concluded the best thing I could do was to +accept the offer; and I have not been sorry that I did it. It was awful +luck my coming out in the Naval Brigade here; it was just a fluke. The +man who was going was chucked off a horse and broke his arm the day +before the brigade sailed from Suakim, and I was sent up in his place. +Well, what is the last news, Clinton? You ought to know, as you are on +the staff."</p> + +<p>"They don't intrust aides-de-camp with their secrets," Rupert replied; +"but I think it likely there will be a move in a day or two, and that +the Camel Corps will push across to Metemmeh and wait there till the +boats get round."</p> + +<p>"Yes, that is what every one is talking about," Easton said. "The +question that is agitating us is whether all the Camel Corps will go; +and if not, which will be chosen?"</p> + +<p>"Ah, that I know nothing about, Easton; but I should think if any go, +the Guards would be sure to be in it. But whether the Heavies or the +Lights will go, if only two are chosen, I cannot say. I should fancy one +will go with the boats anyhow, so as to keep along parallel with them +and protect them against any sudden attack while they are afloat."</p> + +<p>"Will the chief go on, do you think?"</p> + +<p>"Not if only a small body cross the desert. At least I should think not. +I should say he would stay here until Metemmeh is occupied and the boat +column is well on its way, and that then he will go on to Metemmeh, and +take the command there when the whole force is assembled. In that case +Stewart would of course command the desert column, and I should be all +right."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</a></span></p> + +<p>"The great question is, will the beggars fight?" Skinner remarked; "and +if so, where?"</p> + +<p>"They are sure to fight," Easton said. "I don't think there is the least +doubt about that, but I should not think there will be any fighting this +side of Metemmeh; it will be some where between that and Khartoum. The +Mahdi cannot help fighting after smashing up Hicks and giving himself +out as invincible. He would lose his hold altogether of the people if he +did not come down and fight. Of course there is no doubt about the +result; but, judging from the way those fellows fought down by the Red +Sea, it is likely to be pretty tough work I shall be sorry for the poor +beggars with their spears against our breech-loaders, but it has got to +be done."</p> + +<p>Skinner and Rupert both laughed, for Easton spoke exactly as he used to +do with regard to football.</p> + +<p>"It will be a nuisance your having to exert yourself, won't it, Easton?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, that is always a nuisance, and in a climate like this!" Easton +said seriously. "Why nature made a place so hot, I cannot make out. I am +sure if I were to be weighed I should find I had lost nearly a stone +since I came out."</p> + +<p>"You have quite enough flesh on you," Skinner said critically. "If you +have lost a stone you must have been getting beastly fat. You fellows in +the Guards do not take enough exercise. The time was when the Guards +used to row and had a very good eight, but they never do that sort of +thing now. It would do you all a lot of good if, instead of wandering +between London and Windsor and Dublin, you were to take your turn for +foreign service."</p> + +<p>"But then we should not be Guards, Skinner."</p> + +<p>"Well, you would be none the worse for that," Skinner retorted.</p> + +<p>"He is just as bad as he used to be, Clinton," Easton laughed; "just the +same aggressive, pugnacious beggar that he was at River-Smith's."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</a></span></p> + +<p>"He means well, Easton. We never expected more than that from him. He +must make himself fearfully obnoxious to the fellows who have the +misfortune to be shut up on board ship with him."</p> + +<p>"I shall make myself obnoxious to you, Clinton, if you don't look out. +It is only the heat that protects you. Have you met any others of our +fellows out here?"</p> + +<p>"Not from our house, but I know there are seven or eight fellows of +about our own standing out here altogether."</p> + +<p>"If we are up here in the cold weather," Skinner said, "that is, if +there ever is any cold weather, we will get a football made and +challenge a team from any other school."</p> + +<p>"Don't talk about it," Easton said plaintively. "It throws me into a +perspiration even to think about it. The dust would be something awful. +Possibly if we are up here through the winter, or through the period +they are pleased to call winter, we might get up cricket; but as for +football, it is out of the question. Of course if we were stationed at +Dongola, or Berber, or Khartoum, we could get the bats and stumps and +things sent up to us. It would be fun if it were only to see how these +lazy, squatting beggars would stare when they saw us at it."</p> + +<p>"But you were never enthusiastic about cricket."</p> + +<p>"No. But then, you see, I do not propose to play on our side. My idea is +that I should sit down on the sands in the shade of the scrub and smoke +my pipe quietly. That is the oriental idea of taking exercise; pay +somebody to dance for you, and sit and watch them, but do not think of +attempting to take a hand yourself. It would be fatal to any respect +these Egyptians may feel for us if they were to see us rushing about the +sand like maniacs in pursuit of a ball. However, though I should not +play myself, I should take a lively interest, Skinner, in seeing you and +Clinton working hard. But I must be going, it is near time for us to +parade. Come across to my tent at nine o'clock this evening. I cannot +ask you to dinner—that must be deferred until we get home again—but we +can smoke<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</a></span> a pipe and talk over old days; and I can give you a glass of +good brandy and water, which is a change from the commissariat rum. I +managed to smuggle up half a dozen bottles."</p> + +<p>Edgar was much disturbed by the story he had heard so unexpectedly from +the sergeant. He regretted now that he had acted so hastily. Certainly +the story put a completely new complexion on the case, and his chance of +being Captain Clinton's son was just the same as it had ever been. He +wondered whether his father and mother—for so in his thoughts he always +named them—had doubted the truth of this woman's statement to him, or +whether they had believed it as he had done, and had put him out of +their hearts as one with whom they had nothing to do, and who had been +already too long imposed upon them. But he felt that this was an unjust +view, and that however they might now be confident that Rupert was their +son and heir they still cherished an affection towards him. "However," +he said, "this will make no difference to me. The die is cast, and I +cannot go back now. Still I shall be happier than I was before. Then I +considered that I had been an impostor who had received affection and +care and kindness to which I had no shadow of right. Now I know that +this is not so, and that it is just as likely that I am their son as it +is that Rupert is; and I stay away for my own choice, and because, +having made them believe that Rupert was their son, I am not going to +disturb and make them unhappy again by showing them that this was a +mistake, and that everything is as unsettled as before.</p> + +<p>"I told them that they would never hear of me until I had made my own +way, and I shall stick to that. Who would have thought of meeting Rupert +here? It has been a great piece of luck for him getting out here as +General Stewart's aide-de-camp, but I know the general is a friend of my +father, and that accounts for it. Perhaps this sergeant is my father. I +did not seem to mind the thought before. I did not even know whether he +was alive, and never really faced it; and yet,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</a></span> if Sergeant Bowen is to +be my father, he is as good as another. He seems a fine fellow, and has +had no hand in this fraud. I ought, indeed, to think myself lucky; for +he is steady and respectable, a good soldier, and I can see liked by the +officers as well as the men. It was curious that he should have taken a +fancy to me.</p> + +<p>"Still it does go against the grain, though I can see he has no +intention of claiming me openly as his son. If he had, I think I should +have kicked against it; but as it is, I am sure we shall be very good +friends."</p> + +<p>After drill was over next morning, and the camels had been seen to and +the men dismissed, Sergeant Bowen came up to him—</p> + +<p>"Let us take another turn together, lad. I have been thinking a lot," he +went on when they were beyond the lines, "of our talk yesterday. Now, +lad, you have been brought up as a gentleman, and to consider yourself +as Captain Clinton's son; remember, I don't want you to think that I +expect you to make any change about that. I have done nothing for you as +a father; and whether I am your father or not you do not owe me +anything, and I want to tell you again that I don't expect in the least +that because it is possible you are my son you should regard me in the +light of your father.</p> + +<p>"I can understand that after all your life looking at the captain as +your father, and after he and his wife being everything to you, you +would find it mighty hard to regard me in that way. I don't expect it, +and I don't want it. If he is not your father by blood, he is your +father in right of bringing you up and caring for you and educating you, +and it is quite right and quite proper that you should always regard him +so. You can look upon me, lad, just as a foster-father—as the husband +of the woman who was for a time your nurse, and who would gladly repair +the wrongs he did to you. I just say this, lad, to make things straight +between us. I want us to be friends. I am an old soldier, and you a +young one. We are<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</a></span> comrades in this expedition. We have taken to each +other, and would do each other a good turn if we had a chance. I don't +want more than that, lad, and I don't expect you to give more. If I can +lend you a helping hand on or off duty, you know I shall do so. So let +us shake hands on it, and agree to let the matter drop altogether until +this campaign is over. Then we will talk over together what had best be +done. A few months longer of this life will do you no harm, and you will +make all the better officer for having had two or three years in the +ranks. But I will say at once that I think that you are wrong, now you +know how the matter stands, in not writing at once to the captain and +letting him know the truth. Still there is no harm in its standing over +for the present. You must go through the expedition as you are now, and +they would be no easier for knowing that you are exposed to danger out +here than they are at present when they know nothing of your +whereabouts."</p> + +<p>Edgar shook the sergeant heartily by the hand, and the bargain was +sealed.</p> + +<p>Every day troops kept on arriving, and by the 27th of December there +were already at Korti a considerable portion of the Sussex, the Duke of +Cornwall's Light Infantry, the Essex, Gordon Highlanders, Black Watch, +and Staffordshire, all of whom had come up in the whale-boats; a large +number of the commissariat, transport, hospital, and engineer train in +native boats; the whole of the Guards' Camel Corps, and the greater +portion of the Heavy and Light Camel Corps, a hundred men of the +Marines, who were provided with camels, and appointed to form part of +the Guards' Camel Corps, two squadrons of the 19th Hussars, and the +Mounted Infantry.</p> + +<p>In the few days that had passed since the troops to which Edgar was +attached had arrived at Korti the change in the appearance of the place +was great. The grove of palm-trees still stood near the bend of the +river, but the green fields of grass and the broad patches of growing +crops had been<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</a></span> either levelled or trampled down, and the neighbourhood +of the camp presented the appearance of the sandy wastes of Aldershot.</p> + +<p>On the evening of that day Skinner rushed into Easton's tent.</p> + +<p>"I have just seen Clinton," he said, "and the rumours are going to be +fulfilled at last. They did not inspect our water-skins, arms, and +accoutrements for nothing to-day. We are to start on the 30th across the +desert. There is no secret about it, or of course Clinton wouldn't have +told me. There are to be our regiment, a squadron of Hussars, the +Mounted Infantry, and Engineers. We are to take with us baggage-camels +and the camels of the heavy and light regiments. We are going to Gakdul, +about a hundred miles off. There all the stores are to be left, and the +camels and Mounted Infantry to come back here. We are to remain to guard +the stores. As soon as the camels return here, the Heavies are to take +their own beasts, and, with the Mounted Infantry, escort every baggage +animal that can be got up here, when we shall all go on together. Sir +Herbert Stewart commands."</p> + +<p>"What about baggage?" Easton asked, after expressing his deep +satisfaction that the advance was about to begin.</p> + +<p>"Only what we can carry ourselves on our camels, and the weight is +limited to forty pounds, which is abundant even for sybarites like you +guardsmen. A quarter of that would be amply sufficient for me. A couple +of blankets, a waterproof sheet, half a dozen flannel shirts, ditto +socks, pair of slippers, and a spare karkee suit; sponge, tooth-brush, +and a comb. What can anyone want more?"</p> + +<p>"I should like to take my waterproof bath," Easton said.</p> + +<p>"Pooh! nonsense, man! Where are you going to get your water from?"</p> + +<p>"There is water at Gakdul, and there will be plenty when we get to +Metemmeh," Easton said.</p> + +<p>"Well, I will grant that," Skinner said; "but anyhow you<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</a></span> can manage +very well as we do. Make a hole in the sand and put your waterproof +sheet into it, and there you have got as good a bath as anyone can want. +What is the use of lumbering yourself up with things you do not want? +Much better take those three bottles of brandy you have got left and a +couple of pounds of tobacco. That is the utmost allowance I should give. +The camels will have to go a long time without water, and the less you +put on their backs the better. You know what a difference a few pounds +makes to a horse; and I suppose it must be the same thing with them."</p> + +<p>At three o'clock on the afternoon of the 30th the force intended for the +desert march paraded, and after marching past Lord Wolseley moved off in +solid formation, thirty camels abreast. The total force consisted of 73 +officers, 1212 men and natives, and 2091 camels. The whole camp had +turned out to see the departure of the column, and Edgar, with his +helmet pressed down low over his eyes, watched Rupert as he rode after +Sir Herbert Stewart, and Easton and Skinner with the Guards Camel Corps. +The Heavies had been much disappointed at not forming part of the first +advance, and especially at their camels being taken for baggage animals; +but they consoled themselves by the fact that the native spies all +reported that there were no bodies of the enemy between Korti and +Gakdul, and it was not likely therefore that there would be any fighting +until the whole force moved forward together from Gakdul to Metemmeh.</p> + +<p>In front of the column were half a dozen natives on camels. These acted +as the guides of the party. They had been extremely unwilling to go, and +it was only when the general offered them the alternative of going +willingly and receiving good pay for their work, or being lashed to +their camels and forced to go without any pay whatever, that they +elected the first. The Hussars scouted in front of the column, riding +far ahead and scouring the country in search of lurking foes. Two hours +after starting there was a halt, fires were lighted from<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</a></span> the dry grass +and mimosa bushes, and tea was made and served out. By this time it was +five o'clock, and the sun had set. In an hour or two the moon, which was +nearly full, rose, and afforded ample light for the journey.</p> + +<p>For a time the silence of the desert was broken by the laughter and talk +of the men, but as the time went on the sounds were hushed as sleepiness +fell upon them. Short halts were of frequent occurrence, as the baggage +animals in the rear lagged behind, or their loads slipped, and had to be +readjusted. Then a trumpet was sounded by the rear-guard, and it was +repeated by the trumpeters along the column, and all came to a halt +until the trumpet in the rear told that the camels there were ready to +advance again. So the march continued throughout the whole night.</p> + +<p>The ground was of hard sand or gravel, with round smooth hills of dark +stone rising from it. Near the hills the ground was covered with low +mimosa bushes and long yellow grass, and in some places the mimosa trees +rose to a length of ten or twelve feet. At five o'clock day broke, and +at half-past eight the column halted at a spot where there were a good +many trees. Here they dismounted, breakfasted, and slept for some hours. +At three in the afternoon they started again, and at half-past eight +arrived at the first wells, those of Hambok; but as they were found to +contain very little water, the march was continued to the El Howeiyat +Wells, thirteen miles further. Before they got there the watches told +that midnight had arrived, and the commencement of the new year was +hailed with a burst of cheering, and singing broke out all along the +line, and was continued for an hour, until they reached the wells.</p> + +<p>There was but little water here, but the men carried theirs in skins. +The horses of the 19th Hussars received a bucketful apiece, which +exhausted the supply of the wells. At six o'clock in the morning they +again advanced, and after a rest of three hours at mid-day continued +their way until midnight, when a light being seen at a distance the +column was halted,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</a></span> and the Hussars went out and captured a caravan +loaded with dates for the use of the Mahdi troops. It was not until +eight o'clock in the morning that the weary troops and animals reached +the wells of Gakdul.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XI.</h2> + +<h3>ABU KLEA</h3> + + +<p>"Where on earth are the wells?" Skinner said to the officer who was +riding next to him; and a similar question was asked by scores of +others.</p> + +<p>They had advanced through a narrow pass, and were now in a small flat +surrounded apparently on all sides by hills. However, as Major +Kitchener, the head of the intelligence department, and the native +guides were there, every one supposed it was all right, and set to work +to unload the camels. It was not such easy work as usual, for the ground +was strewn with large stones, upon which the camels objected strongly to +kneel. For a time there was a prodigious din—the camels grumbling and +complaining, the natives screaming, the soldiers laughing, shouting, and +using strong language. At last the loads were all off, the stores piled, +and the din quieted down.</p> + +<p>"Where on earth is this water, Skinner?" Easton asked as the two young +officers met after the work was done.</p> + +<p>"I cannot make out, Easton. I hope it is not far, for my water-skin has +leaked itself empty and my throat is like a furnace."</p> + +<p>"I have some water in mine," Easton said, "but it tastes of leather so +strongly that it is next to undrinkable. Oh, here is Clinton. Where is +the water, Clinton?"</p> + +<p>"By that rock at the end of the valley. I am just going to have a look +at it. Can you come?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Yes; there is nothing to do here at present."</p> + +<p>They hurried towards the rock that Clinton pointed out, and when they +reached it they still saw no signs of water, but on going round it burst +into a shout of delight. Before them lay a pool some sixty feet wide by +a hundred long. The rocks rose precipitously on each side; it was +evident that the water was deep.</p> + +<p>"There are two more pools further up," an officer who had got there +before them said.</p> + +<p>"Let us climb up and have a look," Clinton said; and with some +difficulty they climbed up to the top of the rock. Going along for some +little distance they looked down. Eighty feet below them lay two +beautiful pools. They were evidently very deep, for at the edge the +water was green, but nearly black in the centre of the pools.</p> + +<p>"This is something like," Skinner said. "There is no fear of running +short of water. Come on, let us clamber down and get a drink. Look +there, at the rows of camels coming along to the lower pool. I suppose +that will be kept for them, and that we shall get our water from these."</p> + +<p>With a good deal of difficulty they got down, but were unable to reach +the edge. However they tied a string round one of their water-bottles, +and soon brought it up full. The water was deliciously clear and cool, +the high rock completely sheltering the pools from the heat of the sun. +They indulged in several long draughts before their thirst was +satisfied.</p> + +<p>"I shall never say anything against water again," Skinner remarked. "I +have always allowed its utility for washing purposes, but have +considered it a distinct failure as a drink. I recant. While considering +that at home beer is good enough for me, I am prepared to maintain that, +in the middle of the Bayuda Desert, clear cold water and plenty of it is +good enough for anyone. But how in the world are we going to get at this +water? Oh, here come the Engineers; they are going to do it somehow."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter"> + <a id="image05" name="image05"> + <img src="images/05.jpg" + alt="AT THE WELLS OF GAKDUL." + title="AT THE WELLS OF GAKDUL." /></a><br /> + <span class="caption">AT THE WELLS OF GAKDUL.</span> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</a></span>A party of Engineers arrived with some pumps and a hundred yards of +hose.</p> + +<p>"How are you going to take it down?"</p> + +<p>"We are going to lead the hose right through the lower pool, letting it +lie at the bottom. That is the only way we can do it. There is no way of +fixing it against that wall of rocks."</p> + +<p>The pumps were fixed in a very short time and the hose laid, and in less +than an hour the stream of pure water was being poured into a large +trough placed near the lower pool, and from this the cooks of the +various companies filled their kettles and boilers.</p> + +<p>Some of the men, in spite of their long and fatiguing journey, had +followed the example of the young officers and filled their +water-bottles as they had done, but the majority had thrown themselves +on the ground and were fast asleep a few minutes after the work of +unloading the camels had been completed. For hours the work of watering +the camels went on, slowly at first, as only a few could drink at a +time, but more rapidly when large troughs were erected, at which thirty +could be watered at once.</p> + +<p>As soon as dinner was over the Guards set to work to erect two forts +that the Engineers had already marked out. One of these was at the mouth +of the pass leading into the little valley, the other was placed just +above the pools. The baggage was piled close to the wells. By evening +the work was well advanced, and at eight o'clock the Mounted Infantry +and the whole of the camels started on their return journey, leaving the +Guards, with fifteen Engineers and six Hussars, to hold the wells and +guard the great pile of stores that had been brought up. As soon as work +was over there was a general movement to the wells, and there were few +who did not indulge in the luxury of a bathe in the lower pool.</p> + +<p>Rupert Clinton returned with the column to Korti, as General Stewart +went back with them to bring out the main body of troops. It was +calculated that ten days must elapse before these would arrive at +Gakdul, and the Guards and Marines set to work in earnest the next +morning to get things into order. The work was very heavy, but as the +men had plenty to eat and no lack of excellent water they did not mind +it, congratulating themselves heartily upon the fact that they had not +to make the long and wearisome journey to Korti and back.</p> + +<p>In the course of the ten days the walls of the forts rose to a height of +over five feet—a very laborious piece of work, for one fort measured +twenty yards by twenty-three; the other thirty yards by fifteen, and the +stones had all to be picked up and carried considerable distances, or +loosened out of the solid rock by aid of the six pickaxes and four +crowbars that were alone available.</p> + +<p>In addition to this the site of a camp was marked out, roads were formed +by clearing away the stones, and paths made up to the forts and picket +stations. The outpost duty was very severe, two officers and sixty-five +men being always on duty, as it was possible that at any time, night or +day, an attack might be made.</p> + +<p>"This is awful!" Easton said to Skinner, as, sitting down on the ground, +he mournfully contemplated his boots; "these boots that I relied upon to +last me through the campaign are hopelessly done for."</p> + +<p>"They do look bad," Skinner agreed, "but no worse than mine, or in fact +than any one else's. These rocks are awful. If Nature had scattered ten +million knives broadcast about this valley they could not have been more +destructive to boots than these rocks. I used to think that, although +the camels were well enough for taking up the baggage or as a means of +conveyance for men, they were a mistake, and that it would be much +pleasanter to march than to sit upon these wearisome beasts; but my +opinion has been changed by our experience here. If we had to march many +miles over such a country as this the whole force would be barefooted. I +had a frightful job of it<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</a></span> last night. I went the rounds with the +field-officer, and how it was I didn't break my neck I cannot imagine. I +had a dozen tremendous croppers down the rocks. The lantern went out the +first time, and got smashed the second. The major seemed to think that +it was my duty to have kept it alight whatever happened to myself, and +was as savage as a bear. We lost our way a dozen times, and once came up +to a picket on the wrong side, and deuced near got potted."</p> + +<p>"I know all about it," Easton said. "I did it three nights ago, and have +no skin at present on my knees or my elbows or my hips, and mighty +little on my back. I went down one place fifty or sixty feet deep +head-foremost, bumping from rock to rock, and it flashed through my mind +as I did so what an ass I was to be going through all this when I might +be comfortably in bed at home. They don't tell one of these things," he +said plaintively, "when they talk of the advantages of the army."</p> + +<p>"Bosh!" Skinner said wrathfully. "I don't suppose you were a bit more +hurt than you would be in a good close rally at football. It is a +thousand times better after all than mooning about Windsor, or being +mewed on board a ship at Suakim. However, I shall be precious glad when +the others arrive, and we have done with this fatigue work. The men's +hands are pretty well cut to pieces getting up and carrying those sharp +rocks, and I am heartily tired of acting as a sort of amateur mason."</p> + +<p>On the 11th of January a convoy of a thousand camels with stores and +ammunition arrived, and the next day the troops were delighted at seeing +the main body approaching. In addition to the Mounted Infantry and Heavy +Camel Corps, 400 men of the Sussex Regiment came up on the camels. They +were intended to garrison the forts and protect the wells when the rest +of the force moved forward, but a hundred of them were to go forward +with the troops. With the new-comers were 30 sailors with a Gardner gun, +30 men of the Royal Artillery<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</a></span> with three 7-pounder guns, 45 of the +Medical and Commissariat Staff, and 120 native drivers for the baggage +camels. As the Heavy Camel Regiment numbered 380 and the Guards 367, the +Mounted Infantry 360, and there were 90 men of the 19th Hussars and 100 +of the Sussex, the total force which was to advance was about 1500 men, +90 horses, and 2200 camels.</p> + +<p>All the men with the exception of the natives, who were on foot, were +mounted on camels, the Hussars of course excepted, as they rode sturdy +little Egyptian horses, which, although little larger than ponies, were +capable of enduring an amount of fatigue, hardship, and privation, that +would in the course of a few days have rendered English horses useless.</p> + +<p>Those who had left Gakdul but ten days before were astonished at the +change which the labours of the Guards' Camel Corps had effected in it, +and great commendation was given them by the general for the zeal with +which they had worked.</p> + +<p>Large as was the number of animals to be watered, the work was conducted +with far greater speed and ease than had been the case on their former +arrival. The arrangements were all excellent, and in a comparatively +short time the whole were watered and fed. The troops, however, were +dismayed at the change which had come over the camels. These animals are +capable of enduring great fatigue and scarcity of water and food, but +the authorities had acted as if there were no limits whatever to those +powers, and for a fortnight the camels had been kept at work with only +three or four hours' rest out of each twenty-four, with a very scanty +supply of food, and a sufficient allowance of water but twice, namely, +at Gakdul and Korti. The natural result had followed: the animals were +weak and exhausted, the majority were suffering from sore backs, some +had already succumbed, others were absolutely incapable of further work +until they had had a rest. In this respect none of the three corps had +any advantage over the other, as the camels had all performed the three +journeys.</p> + +<p>"If we are only going to Metemmeh, and are to halt there<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</a></span> until the +boats come round, the poor beasts will have time to recover before we +want them again," Easton said to Skinner as they were looking ruefully +at the condition of the camels who had carried them so well ten days +before; "but they certainly won't be fit to advance for some time. I am +afraid, Skinner, that they must have very bad news from Khartoum, and +that every day is of extreme importance. If the matter hadn't been most +urgent they would never have ruined the whole of our transport as they +have done in this way. If the camels had had a couple of days' rest here +before starting to go back again, and four or five days' good feeding at +Korti before they started up again, it would have made all the +difference in the world to them. A camel is not a steam-engine, that can +take in fuel and water and be off again an hour after it comes in from a +journey."</p> + +<p>"I don't like these night marches," Skinner said. "I consider them to be +a mistake altogether."</p> + +<p>"So do I, Skinner. It was bad enough when we had the moon, but it will +be ten times worse now. As to the heat, that is all rot. We travelled in +the daytime coming up by the banks of the Nile, and it is cooler now +than it was then. It is all very well for men to march at night if they +have no animals or baggage-train with them, but it is a different thing +altogether on such an expedition as this. To begin with, the delays from +falling behind and readjusting baggage are far greater at night than at +day; there is much greater difficulty in keeping the column together; +the men are in a state of drowsiness the whole time, if they were +marching they would keep awake, but sitting on the camels there is +nothing to rouse them. Then when they get in camp the heat of the day +has just begun, and what with that and the flies it is next to +impossible to sleep. What sleep they get does not refresh them. I quite +dread this march on to Metemmeh. However, it has got to be done; but +certainly I should not mind it half so much if we were going to travel +by daylight."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</a></span></p> + +<p>It was soon known that there was to be no delay at Gakdul, and orders +were issued that the start was to be made on the 13th; the intervening +day being devoted to seeing to the arms and ammunition, issuing stores, +and replenishing the water supply. The water-skins were extremely +defective, leaking freely, the only exception being the india-rubber +bags with which the sailors had been supplied. Every effort was made +during the halt to sew up holes and stop leaks, but with poor success. +Each man carried on his camel one of these skins in addition to his +water-bottle. Strict orders were given that upon the march he was to +rely upon the latter alone; the supply in the skins being for general +purposes, such as cooking and making tea.</p> + +<p>During the halt Edgar applied himself steadily to the work of repairing +the water-skins. The camp of the Heavies joined that of the Guards, and +he felt that his danger of being recognized by Easton or Skinner was +great; but sitting with a group of others sewing, with his face shaded +by his helmet, the risk was very much less than if standing up or moving +about the camp. At two o'clock in the afternoon the force paraded and +moved off in columns of companies. The Heavy Camel Corps led, the Guards +followed, the baggage and stores were in the centre, and the Mounted +Infantry in the rear.</p> + +<p>Many of the camels had to be left behind, and those that remained were +only sufficient to carry the absolutely necessary stores, the rations +for the men, and a quantity of corn that would suffice but to give two +feeds of eight pounds each to the animals, who were, therefore, obliged +to depend almost entirely on such sustenance as they could pluck from +the mimosa shrubs and the dry yellow grass. The men carried a hundred +and seventy rounds each. There were a hundred rounds per gun for the +artillery, but only a thousand rounds were brought for the Gardner gun, +a quantity sufficient but for five minutes' work when in action.</p> + +<p>The journey was over a gravelly plain, and the halt was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</a></span> made at six +o'clock in the evening. Fires were lit of the shrubs and dry grass; the +camels were unloaded and fed, and were ranged in such order that in case +of attack the troops could form square at the angles of the mass, and +thus support each other and protect the convoy.</p> + +<p>At three in the morning the trumpets and bugles sounded. The fires were +soon blazing again, and at half-past four breakfast had been eaten, the +camels loaded, and the column on its march again. At ten o'clock there +was a halt for two hours for dinner and a short rest; and it was not +until just as they were going to start that the rear-guard arrived, +having been delayed by the breaking down of numbers of the camels, many +of which had fallen dead as they walked, while others incapable of +movement had to be left behind to take their chance of recovering +sufficiently to browse upon the bushes and make their way back to the +wells. As the loads of those that fell had to be distributed among their +already exhausted companions the prospect was far from cheerful.</p> + +<p>Starting at twelve, the column passed a conical hill known as Gebel El +Nur an hour later, and entered a broad valley covered with grass and +trees twenty feet high, and where, doubtless, water could be obtained +had the force been provided with little Abyssinian pumps. At five +o'clock the column halted, and as the ground was sandy passed a more +comfortable night than the one before. Every one was in good spirits. +The men found the journeys by day far less fatiguing than those at +night, and were able to obtain refreshing sleep in the cool night air.</p> + +<p>Before daybreak they again started over a gravelly plain, hoping to +reach the wells of Abu Klea that evening. They halted at eleven in a +valley flanked by hills. The track, according to the maps, lay over a +steep hill in front and then along a pass between two hills, the wells +lying some three miles beyond the pass. Dinner was cooked, and as soon +as they had finished their meal the Hussars started for the wells, as +their horses had had no water since leaving Gakdul. The rest of the +force were<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</a></span> stretched upon the ground taking it quietly when two of the +Hussars returned at full gallop with a message to the general, and the +order was immediately issued for the men to fall in and for the officers +to examine their arms and ammunition. Then the news spread through the +force that the enemy had been discovered in large numbers upon the hill, +and were evidently prepared to bar the way to the wells.</p> + +<p>The change effected by the news was wonderful. It had been generally +supposed that Metemmeh would be reached without fighting, all the spies +agreeing in saying that there was no force of the enemy near the line of +march. In a moment fatigue and thirst were forgotten, and the quiet was +exchanged for bustle and animation. Men laughed and joked with each +other in the highest spirits, and all prepared for the fray with the +most absolute confidence as to the result. As the troops fell in the +general with his staff galloped ahead to some rising ground, and with +their field-glasses reconnoitred the hills surrounding the pass, upon +which numbers of white-robed Arabs could be made out.</p> + +<p>The Hussars speedily reported that there was a considerable force in the +pass below. With the fighting men in front and the baggage behind, the +troops moved slowly forward up the hill in front, and finally took up +their position on a piece of flat ground whence they could see down the +pass by which the Arabs expected the advance would be made. On the side +of the hills commanding it they had thrown up small stone walls from +which to fire. On the hilltops out of range large numbers of Arabs could +be seen in constant motion, gesticulating and waving their arms. It was +now four o'clock in the afternoon, and the general decided that as the +real force of the enemy was unknown it would be imprudent to attempt to +force the passage with only an hour and a half of daylight before him, +consequently a halt for the night was ordered.</p> + +<p>A strong detachment of Mounted Infantry and sailors with their Gardner +ascended a hill on the other side of the pass and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</a></span> set to work to build +a small fort and mount the gun there. A company from each of the camel +regiments extended to cover the front. The camels were all made to +kneel, their legs being lashed at the knee so that they could not rise. +This done, the whole of the troops were set to work to build a wall. +There were, however, but few loose stones lying about, and though +officers and men alike worked hard the wall in front was but two feet +high when the sun went down. A hedge of thorny bushes and wire was +raised to protect the flanks as much as possible.</p> + +<p>As twilight fell a number of the enemy took possession of the top of a +hill some twelve hundred yards away on the right and opened fire, to +which the three guns of the artillery replied with shrapnel-shell. The +guns ceased firing when darkness came on, but the enemy kept up an +occasional fire all night. A drink of lime-juice and water was served +out to all the men, who then lay down, with their arms in readiness to +repel an attack, by the little wall. All night the enemy kept on beating +tom-toms and occasionally yelling, approaching at times comparatively +close to the position. Knowing, however, that the sentries were out in +front, the men for the most part slept quietly in spite of the noise and +firing. As the Arabs could fire only at random but two men were hit +during the night.</p> + +<p>In the morning it was found that the number of the enemy on the hilltops +had largely increased during the night, and the bullets now flew +incessantly round and over the inclosure. Lying under such shelter as +the wall afforded, the men ate their breakfast of the tinned meat and +biscuits they carried in their haversacks.</p> + +<p>"I must admit, Skinner," Easton said to his comrade, who had come across +from his own company to have a chat with him, "that this is more +unpleasant than I had expected. This lying here listening to the angry +hiss of the bullets is certainly trying; at least I own that I feel it +so."</p> + +<p>"It is nasty," Skinner agreed. "I sha'n't mind it as soon as<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</a></span> we go at +the beggars, but this doing nothing is, as you say, trying. I wish they +would make up their minds and come out to us, or if they cannot get up +their pluck enough to do it, that we should sally out and attack them."</p> + +<p>"You may be sure we shall before long, Skinner. They know well enough +that we cannot stop here, but must move on to the water sooner or later; +and knowing that, they would be fools if they were to give up their +strong position to attack us here. At any rate I would rather be lying +behind this wall than moving about as the general and his staff are +doing. Major Dickson has just been shot through the knee, I hear. There! +Look! there is another officer down. I wonder who he is. I do hope they +won't pot Clinton."</p> + +<p>A few minutes later an officer passing by told them that Major Gough of +the Mounted Infantry had been knocked senseless by a bullet which had +grazed his forehead, and that an officer of the artillery had been hit +in the back.</p> + +<p>"What do you think of it, sergeant?" Edgar asked, as he and Sergeant +Bowen were eating their breakfast together under shelter of the wall.</p> + +<p>"I think that it is going to be a hot job, lad. If they had attacked us +out in the plain we should have made short work of them, but it is a +different thing altogether among these hills. The beggars can run three +feet to our one, and if we were to climb one of these hills to attack +them, they would be on the top of the next before we got there. I see +nothing for it but to move straight for the wells, and let them do their +worst as we go. It would be all right if we hadn't this tremendous train +of camels; but if they come pouring down while we are on the march we +shall have difficulty in protecting them all."</p> + +<p>"I wish Rupert were lying here with us," Edgar said, looking anxiously +at his brother, whose figure he could perceive among those near the +general. "It is horrid lying here in safety while he is exposed to their +bullets."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[Pg 195]</a></span></p> + +<p>"We must all take our chances," the sergeant said. "Maybe presently you +will be in more danger than he is."</p> + +<p>Half an hour later orders were issued that the men were to prepare for +action, and it became known among the officers that the general had +determined to leave a small garrison to protect the baggage and camels +in the zareba, and to push forward with the rest of the force and +capture the wells, and then send back and fetch in the camels and +baggage. But the movement was delayed until ten o'clock in hopes that +the enemy would attack. As they did not do so, orders were given, and +the square formed up. The Guards' Camel Corps formed half the front of +the square, and the right flank. The Mounted Infantry filled up the +other half of the front, and half the left flank. The rest of the left +flank and the rear were formed by the Heavy Camel Corps and the Naval +Brigade; the hundred men of the Sussex taking the right rear corner +between them and the Guards, while the Naval Brigade with their Gardner +gun were in the centre of the rear line, between the troop of the 4th +and 5th Dragoon Guards and that of the 1st and 2d Life Guards and Blues.</p> + +<p>In the centre behind the fighting line were two guns of the Royal +Artillery, the other having been left in the zareba, while the centre of +the square was filled with camels carrying water, ammunition, and +cacolets or swinging beds for the carriage of the wounded.</p> + +<p>The instant the square was formed and moved out the fire of the enemy +redoubled. Swarms of natives appeared on the top of the hills, moving +parallel with the advance of the square. The march was taken in slow +time to allow the guns and camels to keep up. The ground was extremely +difficult and broken, deep water-ruts and rocky hillocks having to be +crossed, and the whole very undulating and broken.</p> + +<p>Men fell fast, and frequent halts had to be made to enable the doctors +to attend to the wounded, and place them in the cacolets. The front face +and sides of the square advanced in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</a></span> fair order, but there was much +confusion in the rear face, caused by the lagging camels. Skirmishers +were thrown out on either side, and these did their best to keep down +the fire of the enemy. For an hour the square proceeded, and had nearly +emerged from the pass on to the plain beyond, when a number of green and +white flags were seen at some distance on the left front. As the firing +had principally come from the right, and as it was from that side that +an attack was expected, there was considerable curiosity as to the +meaning of these seemingly deserted flags; and a small party were about +to go out to investigate them, when a great number of other flags +suddenly appeared at the same spot, and a moment later a vast mass of +Arabs who had been concealed in a gulley sprang to their feet. (See plan +on page 138.)</p> + +<p>They were about five hundred yards distant from the square, which was at +the moment halted at the foot of a stony knoll. It was moved at once on +to the rising ground, and the skirmishers were called in. The Arabs with +wild yells moved across the left front, disappeared for a minute behind +some rocks and high grass, and then reappeared close to the left rear, +when they wheeled into line, and with wild yells charged down upon the +square. So quick were their movements that the skirmishers had hardly +time to reach the square, and one man was overtaken and speared before +he reached it.</p> + +<p>Several of the exhausted camels with their loads of wounded had been +left outside, lying down at the foot of the slope when the square moved +up it. Their native drivers rushed into shelter, and the wounded would +have fallen into the hands of the enemy had not an officer of the +Guards' Camel Corps and several privates of the Heavies rushed out, +seized the camels, and by main force dragged them into the square. In +the square itself there was a din of voices, the officers shouting to +the men to stand steady and reserve their fire until the skirmishers, +who were between them and the enemy, had run in. The instant they had +done this a roar of mus<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[Pg 198]</a></span><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[Pg 197]</a></span>ketry broke out from the left and rear faces +of the square, at first in volleys, then in independent fire as fast as +the men could load; but though scores of the enemy fell, their rush was +not checked for a moment, and with wild yells they fell upon the left +corner of the square.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> + <a id="image06" name="image06"> + <img src="images/06.jpg" + alt="THE ARABS WITH WILD YELLS CHARGED UPON THE SQUARE." + title="THE ARABS WITH WILD YELLS CHARGED UPON THE SQUARE." /></a><br /> + <span class="caption">"THE ARABS WITH WILD YELLS CHARGED UPON THE SQUARE."</span> +</div> + +<p>The men were but two deep, and were unable to stand the pressure of the +mass of the enemy, and in a moment the rear face of the square was +driven in, and a hand-to-hand fight was going on between the soldiers, +mixed up with the struggling camels and the Arabs. All order was for a +time lost; the voices of the officers were drowned by the din of +musketry, the yells of the Arabs, and the shouts of the men. Each man +fought for himself; but their bayonets were no match for the long spears +of the Arabs, and they were pressed back until the throng of camels +pushed hard against the Guards in front of the square.</p> + +<p>The rear ranks of the Mounted Infantry on the left and the Marines on +the right were faced round, and opened a terrible fire into the crowded +mass of natives, while the Heavies with bayonets and clubbed muskets +fought singly, man to man, with their foes. The combat did not last +long. Mowed down by the fire on both flanks the assailants withered +away, and it was not long before silence succeeded the terrible din of +battle. In the interior of the square the last Arab of those who had +pierced the square had fallen, and the fire of the outside faces of the +square had prevented them from receiving any reinforcement from their +friends, and these now fell back sullenly before the leaden hail. As +soon as they had done so there was time to investigate what had taken +place in the centre of the square.</p> + +<p>A terrible sight presented itself. The ground was strewn with bodies of +the natives, mingled with those of men of the corps that had formed the +rear face of the square, the 4th and 5th Dragoon Guards, Naval Brigade, +1st and 2d Life Guards, and the Sussex. Among them lay camels which had +been hamstrung or speared by the natives, broken cacolets, and water +tanks and skins, medical stores, and a confusion of articles of all +kinds.</p> + +<p>Although forced back by the sheer weight of the native attack, the +Heavies had never been completely broken up. They maintained their +resistance to the end, jammed up as they were against and among the +camels, and thus enabled the men on the two sides of the square to +concentrate their fire on the Arabs.</p> + +<p>A loud cheer had broken from the square as the enemy retreated, and they +were prepared to resist another onslaught; for only a portion of their +foes had yet been engaged with them. However, the enemy contented +themselves with keeping up a distant fire from the hills, and then, +doubtless as the news spread how terrible had been the loss of those who +had charged the square, they gradually drew off and all became quiet. +The square now moved off from the rocky knoll upon which they were +crowded, and the work of seeing who had fallen and of assisting the +wounded began. No less than nine officers had been killed and nine +wounded, the greater portion of them belonging to the Heavy Camel +Regiment. Two officers of the Naval Brigade were also among the killed. +Eighty of the rank and file were killed, and upwards of a hundred +wounded. Among the whites lay hundreds of dead Arabs, while arms of all +sorts—spears, javelins, muskets, clubs, hatchets, swords, and knives, +banners and banner-staffs—were everywhere scattered thickly.</p> + +<p>Among the killed were Colonel Burnaby, Majors Gough, Carmichael, and +Atherton, Captain Darley, and Lieutenants Law and Wolfe—all belonging +to the Heavies.</p> + +<p>To the survivors of those corps who had formed the rear face of the +square, the scene they had gone through seemed a wild and confused +dream. Sergeant Bowen and Edgar had been among those who rushed out and +hauled in the camels with the wounded just before the Arabs came up. As +they got them<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[Pg 199]</a></span> inside the ranks the roar of fire broke out and they fell +into their places. "Independent firing!" the officer shouted as the +first volley had been discharged, but scarcely had the roll of musketry +begun than through the smoke a dense mass of black figures appeared. A +storm of spears and javelins were poured in upon them, and in an instant +there was a crash as club, spear, and sword struck the muskets, and then +the Heavies were hurled back.</p> + +<p>Edgar scarce knew what had happened, but the instant the square was +broken Sergeant Bowen threw himself beside him.</p> + +<p>"Steady, lad, steady," he said, "don't throw away a shot; load and stand +ready to shoot the first man who falls on you. That is good!" he said as +Edgar shot a tall Arab who was rushing at him with uplifted spear; "load +again. Now it is my turn," and he brought down a man; and so firing +alternately, sometimes defending themselves with their bayonets, but +always keeping together, they fell back. Once Edgar stumbled and fell +over the body of one of his comrades, but the sergeant seized him by the +shoulder and jerked him on to his feet again, and the next moment ran an +Arab through who was rushing at them with uplifted hatchet. When they +were back among the crowd of camels the fighting became more even. +Stubbornly the men made a stand here, for the natives could no longer +attack them except in front, while the roar of fire from the troops on +the flanks told with terrible effect upon the Arabs.</p> + +<p>"Thank God that is over!" the sergeant said as the fight ended. "Are you +badly hurt, lad?"</p> + +<p>"I am not hurt at all," Edgar said.</p> + +<p>The sergeant pointed to Edgar's left arm. The latter uttered an +exclamation of surprise. He had bayoneted an Arab in the act of striking +at him, and in the wild excitement had for the moment been unconscious +that the blow of the native had taken effect. It had missed his +shoulder, but had cut a deep gash in the arm, almost severing a strip of +flesh down to the elbow.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[Pg 200]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I had not the least idea I had been touched," he said. "I don't think +there is any great harm done; the principal arteries are on the other +side of the arm."</p> + +<p>"We must stop the bleeding, anyhow," the sergeant said. "I will soon +find a bandage. There are sure to be plenty about, for the surgeons were +at work when they broke in."</p> + +<p>He was not long in finding one, and then assisting Edgar off with his +coat he bandaged up his arm.</p> + +<p>"You have got a wound on the side, sergeant!" Edgar exclaimed suddenly.</p> + +<p>"It is of no consequence, lad. A fellow threw a spear at me. I tried to +dodge it, but was not quite quick enough, and it has grazed my side."</p> + +<p>"It is more than a graze—it looks like a deep cut. Just undo your +belt."</p> + +<p>"Well, give me your handkerchief. I will roll that and mine into a pad +and shove it in, and put a bandage tightly round my waist to keep it +there. That will do for the present.</p> + +<p>"That will do nicely," he said as Edgar fastened the bandage round him. +"Now we shall both do very well until the surgeons have time to tie us +up properly. I am afraid they will have serious cases enough to last +them all night. Now, what is the next move, I wonder? I am horribly +thirsty."</p> + +<p>"So am I," Edgar agreed.</p> + +<p>"Are you both wounded?" an officer asked, coming up with two men +carrying a water-skin.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir, but not seriously; but we are awfully thirsty."</p> + +<p>"Then you can have a drink of water," the officer said. "There is little +enough of it, and it is kept strictly for the wounded."</p> + +<p>Many of the men standing near looked on with envious eyes, for all were +suffering horribly from thirst. Several fainted, and the men's lips were +black and swollen, and in some cases the tongue swelled so that the +mouth could not be closed. The 19th were out searching for the wells, +but for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[Pg 201]</a></span> a long while their search was in vain. The general was about to +give the word to retire to the zareba where there was a little water +still left, when the Hussars fortunately hit upon the wells. The wounded +who were unable to walk were at once carried there, and the troops +followed and halted near them, and in a short time the thirst of all was +satisfied. Although the water was not to be compared with that at +Gakdul, being found in shallow pools one or two feet deep, and stirred +up by the Arabs till it was almost of the consistency of thin cream, +nevertheless it was water, and was enjoyable indeed.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XII.</h2> + +<h3>METEMMEH.</h3> + + +<p>As soon as the thirst of the men was satisfied the troops formed up for +the night on some rising ground near the wells, where it was probable +that the natives might renew their attack. Volunteers were called for, +and three hundred men from the various corps started to march back to +the zareba to bring in the baggage before daylight. It was a heavy duty +after such a day's work, but those who remained behind had reason almost +to envy those engaged in active work, for the night was terribly cold. +The men had left everything behind as they advanced prepared for action, +and had no blankets, and nothing but their shirts and their suits of +thin serge to protect them from the cold.</p> + +<p>The surgeons were at work all night attending to the wounded. No alarm +was given by the outposts during the night, and as when morning broke +there were no signs of the enemy, the men were allowed to fall out. A +herd of lean cattle left by the Arabs was discovered not far off, and +the Hussars went out in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[Pg 202]</a></span> pursuit of them; the tired horses were, +however, no match in point of speed for the cattle, but a few of them +were shot, cut up, and a supply of fresh meat for the day secured. At +seven o'clock the baggage train came up. The camels were quickly +unloaded, and the men set to work to prepare breakfast, having had +nothing to eat since the meal they had taken the previous morning under +fire in the zareba.</p> + +<p>During the day the dead were buried, the arms left by the natives +collected and destroyed, and a stone inclosure commenced near the wells, +for here the wounded were to remain under the protection of a small +force of the Sussex. Both Edgar and the sergeant protested that they +were perfectly capable of continuing the march, and were permitted to +take their place in the ranks again. At four o'clock the force formed +up, and half an hour later set out. It was given out that the march +would be a short one and they would presently halt for the night, but as +the hours went on it became evident that the general had determined to +keep straight on for the river, a distance of twenty-six miles from the +wells.</p> + +<p>It was known that there was a considerable force of the enemy at +Metemmeh, and as this would be augmented by the addition of the +thousands of Arabs who had been engaged on the previous day, it was +probable that, were the enemy aware of the advance of the force, a +battle even more serious and desperate than the first would have to be +fought before reaching the Nile. The object of the night march, then, +was to reach the river before they were aware that the column had +started from the wells. The Nile once gained, and a supply of water +ensured, the force would be able to withstand any attack made on it. +Nevertheless it would have been far better to have risked another battle +in the open than to have made a night march across an unknown country.</p> + +<p>The guides differed among themselves as to the route to be pursued, and +more than once the column marched in a complete circle, the advance +guard coming up to the rear. Thick<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[Pg 203]</a></span> groves of mimosa were passed +through, causing the greatest confusion among the baggage animals. Great +numbers of these lay down to die, unable to proceed a step further, and +the transport of all kinds got mixed up together in the most utter +confusion. The men, who had had but little sleep for two nights, were +unable to keep awake on their camels, and in their passage through the +bushes many of the animals straggled away from the main body.</p> + +<p>Sergeant Bowen had managed to place Edgar next to himself upon the plea +that being wounded he wanted to keep his eye upon him. Being both +weakened by loss of blood, they were less able to resist the pressure of +sleep than the others, and when their animals got separated in the +passage through the mimosa grove from the main body, and stopped to crop +the leaves, they were unconscious of what had happened until Edgar woke +with a start as one of the boughs his camel had pushed aside struck him +smartly in the face. His exclamation roused the sergeant. "Hullo! what +has happened?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know what has happened," Edgar said. "But it seems to me that +we are alone here. We must both have been asleep, and these brutes must +have separated from the column."</p> + +<p>"This is a pretty mess, this is!" the sergeant said. "I cannot hear +anything of them, and there was row enough in the rear with the baggage +to be heard miles away. What on on earth are we to do, lad?"</p> + +<p>"Well, we were marching nearly south. The Southern Cross was almost dead +ahead of us. We had better steer by that, and go on ahead until +morning."</p> + +<p>The camels were at once set in motion, and for hours they plodded on. +All desire for sleep had been completely dissipated by the excitement of +the situation, and they talked in low tones as to what they were to do +if they could make out no signs of the column when day broke. They +agreed that their only plan was to keep on until they got to the river, +and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[Pg 204]</a></span> that when they arrived there they would water the camels and give +them a feed, and after a rest start on foot along the bank one way or +the other until they found the column.</p> + +<p>"There is safe to be a lot of firing," the sergeant said; "for even if +the Arabs don't discover the force in the morning before they get to the +river, they are certain to turn out to attack them as soon as they get +there. Judging by the pace we were going, and the constant halts for the +baggage to come up, there is very little chance of the column getting to +the river before daylight; and as we have nothing to delay us, I expect +we shall be there before they are."</p> + +<p>"In one respect that will be all the better," Edgar said; "for as soon +as the natives make out the column they will be swarming all over the +country to look for stragglers, whereas if we are ahead of them we may +get through to the river without being noticed. I don't think that it +will be very long before morning breaks, and, do you know, sergeant, I +think our camels are going faster than they were."</p> + +<p>"I think so too, lad. That looks as if we were getting near the water, +and they smell it."</p> + +<p>Just as the first signs of daybreak were apparent in the east the +character of the country changed, and they could make out clumps of +trees, and, as the light grew brighter, cultivated ground. Ten minutes +later they both gave a shout of joy as on mounting a slight ascent the +river lay before them. A few minutes later they were on its bank. The +camels rushing down put their noses into the water; their riders slipped +from their backs regardless of the fact that the water was knee-deep, +and wading back to the shore threw themselves down by the edge, and took +long draughts of the clear water. Then throwing off their clothes they +rushed in and indulged in a bathe.</p> + +<p>The camels, after filling themselves nearly to bursting, lay down in the +stream until the sergeant and Edgar went out and compelled them to +return to shore, when they set to work<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[Pg 205]</a></span> cropping the long grass that +grew abundantly there, while their riders sat down and made a meal from +the contents of their haversacks.</p> + +<p>"Well, at any rate," the sergeant said, "we can do nothing just at +present. The troops may be within a mile, and they may be ten miles off; +there is no saying. There is nothing for us to do but to wait until we +hear something of them. If we do not hear anything of them we shall know +that they either have not struck the river, or have struck it so far off +that we cannot hear the guns. In that case my opinion is that we may as +well rest here for to-day. Before we move I think it will be decidedly +better to take the saddles off the camels and hide them in the bushes, +and then move away some distance and hide up ourselves. This is +evidently a cultivated country, and if there are any natives about they +will be sure to see the camels, so we had better not be near them. There +is no fear of the animals straying; they will be eating and drinking all +day."</p> + +<p>The saddles were accordingly removed from the camels' backs and hidden; +the two men went back a few hundred yards from the river and lay down +amongst some bushes. Edgar was just dropping off to sleep, when the +sergeant exclaimed, "Listen! they are at it."</p> + +<p>Edgar at once roused himself, and distinctly heard the boom of a distant +gun.</p> + +<p>"That is one of the seven-pounders," the sergeant said; "and I think I +can hear the sound of musketry, but I am not sure about that."</p> + +<p>Presently, however, the wind brought down distinctly the sound of +dropping shots.</p> + +<p>"Skirmishing, lad! I suppose the enemy are hovering about them, but +haven't come to close quarters yet."</p> + +<p>"It is horrible being here instead of with them!" Edgar exclaimed as he +rose to his feet.</p> + +<p>"It is no use thinking of moving, lad; they are four or five<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[Pg 206]</a></span> miles away +certainly, and as the Arabs are probably all round them, there wouldn't +be the slightest chance of our joining them. There is nothing to do but +to wait here. The sound comes from inland, so it is certain they have +not got to the river yet. As far as I can judge it is pretty nearly +behind us, so when they lick those fellows they are likely to come down +on the river somewhere near this point. They will be down before +evening. You may be sure they had not got water enough to last them +through the day, so they must move forward however many of the natives +may be in their way. It is not like the last business; then they were on +us almost before we knew they were coming, but in this flat country we +shall have plenty of warning; and I will bet a year's pay they don't get +up to our square again. I think, lad, I will get you to set my bandages +right again."</p> + +<p>Edgar uttered an exclamation of alarm. There was a large dark patch on +the sergeant's trousers. In dressing after their bathe the bandages had +shifted a little, and the bleeding had recommenced. It was evident at +once to Edgar that a great deal of blood had been lost, for Sergeant +Bowen lay faint and exhausted upon the ground. Unknown to himself the +action of the camel had set the wound off bleeding during the night, and +although he had said nothing to Edgar about it, he had with difficulty +walked up from the river to their hiding-place. Edgar ran down to the +river with the two water-bottles; when he returned he found his +companion insensible. He unbuttoned his tunic and got at the wound, from +which blood was still flowing. He washed it, made a plug of wet linen, +and with some difficulty bandaged it tightly. After some time the +sergeant opened his eyes.</p> + +<p>"Don't try to move," Edgar said. "I have staunched and bandaged the +wound, and you will be better soon."</p> + +<p>"It is a bad job, lad; just at present when we want to be up and doing."</p> + +<p>"There is nothing to do at present, sergeant. We have<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[Pg 207]</a></span> only to wait +quietly until our fellows come down to the river, and then I will soon +get you assistance."</p> + +<p>"Do you hear the firing still?"</p> + +<p>"It is just as it was," Edgar replied, after listening attentively for a +minute.</p> + +<p>"Then I expect they have formed another zareba, as they did at Abu Klea, +and that they will leave the camels there and march straight down to the +river."</p> + +<p>"I will steal up to the edge of the desert, if you don't mind being left +alone a bit. I shall be able to judge then how far they are off."</p> + +<p>"Do so, lad; I am all right here. But do not be too long away or I shall +be anxious."</p> + +<p>Edgar made his way a quarter of a mile back. Some cultivated fields +stretched before him, and beyond them the rolling hillocks of the +desert. He could see men on horseback and foot moving about, and looking +to the right saw about half a mile distant a place of some extent, which +was, he felt sure, Metemmeh. Numbers of men were pouring out from the +town. The firing was not straight ahead, but somewhat to the left. "If +they attack Metemmeh at once we shall be all right," he said to himself. +"If they march straight down to the river we shall be all right still. +We shall only have to move along to them. It is lucky we did not strike +the river above the town, for it would have been next to impossible to +get round to them without being observed."</p> + +<p>He went back to his companion, and told him what he had seen.</p> + +<p>"There is evidently going to be another tough fight before they get down +to the water," the sergeant said. "It is very hard our being cut off +here. Not that I should be good for any fighting if I were with them."</p> + +<p>"I have no great desire to be in another fight like the last," Edgar +said. "One go at that sort of thing is quite enough for me."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[Pg 208]</a></span></p> + +<p>The hours passed slowly. The sergeant slept a good deal, and anxious as +Edgar was he too several times dozed off. Presently he exclaimed, "The +fire is become much heavier, sergeant; and it is nearer too. Listen!"</p> + +<p>"It is the Arabs, lad," the sergeant said, raising himself on his elbow. +"It is heavy, but it is nothing like the roll of musketry you hear when +our fellows begin. But, as you say, it is much nearer; the column, or +part of it, is on its march towards the river."</p> + +<p>Five minutes later a dull continuous rattle came to their ears.</p> + +<p>"They are at it now. They have stopped!" he said a minute later when the +roar suddenly ceased. "What has happened now, I wonder? Ah! there they +are again. That is more like it—steady and even."</p> + +<p>The musketry came in sudden crashes. "Volleys!" the sergeant said. "They +are near them."</p> + +<p>For three or four minutes the sounds continued, and then there was +silence.</p> + +<p>"They have beaten them off," the sergeant said. "They didn't let them +get near them this time, I expect. If they had there would have been +independent firing. As long as you hear volleys you may be sure our +fellows are not pressed."</p> + +<p>Beyond an occasional shot the firing had ceased.</p> + +<p>"How far do you think they are away now, sergeant?"</p> + +<p>"If they were four miles before I don't think they are more than two +now, and a good bit more away to the left. They are making to the river, +so as to establish themselves there before they tackle Metemmeh."</p> + +<p>"Then in half an hour they will be down on the river," Edgar said. "I +will wait that time, and then start and get a party to bring you in."</p> + +<p>"You had better wait until to-morrow morning, lad. We can do very well +until then. I may be able to crawl by that time. Anyhow, they will have +their hands full this afternoon.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[Pg 209]</a></span> They will have to make a zareba by the +river, attend to the wounded, and perhaps send back a force to bring in +the camels and baggage, who were no doubt left behind at the spot where +they were firing this morning. There is grub enough in the haversacks to +last us until to-morrow, and plenty of water for the fetching."</p> + +<p>"Just as you think best, sergeant. My shoulder is smarting a good deal, +and I shall be all the better for a few more hours' rest myself. It will +soon be getting dusk, so I will go down and get another supply of water +at once, and then we can do a good twelve hours' sleep without fear of +being called up for outpost duty. We have got three or four nights' +sleep to make up."</p> + +<p>It was broad daylight before they awoke. The sergeant got on to his +feet, but it was evident to Edgar that he was altogether unfit for +walking.</p> + +<p>"Shall I saddle your camel for you, sergeant?"</p> + +<p>"No, lad; I will stay where I am. Like enough the Arabs will be swarming +about just within gun-shot of our camp. They are obstinate beggars, and +do not know when they are fairly beaten. If I were as active as you are +we might manage to get through on foot, but a man on a camel would be +sure to be seen. Be very careful, lad, how you go. Remember, if you are +seen you are lost; for these fellows could run you down to a certainty, +and your only chance is to get through without being noticed."</p> + +<p>"I don't like leaving you, sergeant."</p> + +<p>"But you must leave me, lad. We have no food to speak of left, and it +will be just as dangerous to-morrow or next day as it is to-day. +Besides, your duty is with the corps. Every musket may be needed, and +the sooner you go the sooner I shall be fetched in."</p> + +<p>"Very well, then, I will start at once," Edgar said.</p> + +<p>He first went down to the river, filled the two water-bottles and placed +them both by the sergeant's side, and emptied what little food remained +in his haversack.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[Pg 210]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Now you will do for a couple of days if anything should occur to +prevent them from sending out."</p> + +<p>"I shall do very well, lad. It is not of myself I shall be thinking, but +of you. The gladdest sound that ever fell on my ears will be the tramp +of infantry, for then I shall know that you have got safely through. +Good-bye, lad, and God bless you!"</p> + +<p>Edgar wrung the sergeant's hand, and, unable to trust himself to speak, +turned and started through the wood. He had not gone very far when he +found that the grove was by no means a large one, for the trees opened +before him. He bore to his left, hoping that they would extend along the +river bank; but it was not so. The grove was isolated, and a large patch +of cultivated land stretched down to the river. Half a mile further +there was another grove; but whether this was more extensive than that +in which he now was he had no means of telling. Standing at the edge of +the trees he could see several figures on horseback moving about, and +saw at once that they were natives.</p> + +<p>"The Hussars will want two or three days' rest, I expect," he said, +"before their horses are fit to go out and drive these fellows into the +town. Well, here goes!" and he descended the bank of the river, which +was now low, and kept along under its shelter until he reached the next +grove.</p> + +<p>It seemed so much safer where he was than it would be above that he +determined to keep under shelter of the bank until he reached the camp. +He had gone a hundred yards farther when there was a sudden exclamation +on the bank above him, and almost at the same instant a spear struck his +helmet from his head. He turned round and brought his rifle to his +shoulder, but in a moment the Arab on the bank was joined by a score of +others, who with loud yells rushed down upon him.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> + <a id="image07" name="image07"> + <img src="images/07.jpg" + alt="GOOD-BYE, LAD, AND GOD BLESS YOU!" + title="GOOD-BYE, LAD, AND GOD BLESS YOU!" /></a><br /> + <span class="caption">"GOOD-BYE, LAD, AND GOD BLESS YOU!"</span> +</div> + +<p>He saw that to fire was to ensure his death, and that resistance was +worse than useless. He therefore threw down his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[Pg 212]</a></span><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[Pg 211]</a></span> gun and held up his +arms. The Arabs rushed upon him in a body with uplifted spears and +swords, but on an order sharply given by one who seemed to be their +leader they lowered these. Edgar was, however, knocked down, kicked, and +beaten, then some cords were placed round his body and arms, and he felt +himself lifted up and carried away.</p> + +<p>He was thrown down again in the wood, and an animated and, as it seemed +to him, angry discussion was carried on some time. He had picked up a +good many Arabic words, but not enough to enable him to understand the +discussion; but he had no doubt that the subject of dispute was whether +he should be killed at once or carried away prisoner. As after a time he +was lifted up, the cords round his legs taken off, and he was hurried +along with many curses and an occasional sharp prick with a spear, he +judged that those in favour of sparing his life for the present had won +the day.</p> + +<p>His own prospects seemed desperate, but for the time he was more +concerned at the thought that the man who was perhaps his father was +lying helpless in the wood vainly expecting his return. But he did not +consider his case altogether hopeless. As soon as the troops were all +assembled on the river bank they would be sure to move forward against +Metemmeh; and even if they did not pass through the wood the sergeant +might gain sufficient strength to reach its edge, get sight of them, and +join them. Unless one or other of these alternatives took place, he was +lost. As to himself, he could not blame himself for the misfortune that +had befallen him. He had taken what seemed by far the safest course, and +had it not been for the accident that one of the Arabs had been standing +at the moment at the edge of the river, he would have got through +safely.</p> + +<p>His captors had evidently no fear of being attacked. Probably the column +that had gone out to fetch in the baggage had not yet returned, and the +small force left at the zareba on the river bank would certainly not +undertake any offensive operation until it came back. He was sorry now +that he had not persisted in his own opinion and remained with the +sergeant, as in another day or two some scouting party might have passed +near the grove in which they were concealed. However, it might have made +no difference. The Arabs were evidently swarming about the country, and +parties would be likely to occupy that wood just as they occupied the +one nearer to the English camp.</p> + +<p>As they approached the village the Arabs raised shouts of triumph, and a +crowd gathered as they entered the street, gesticulating and screaming +so furiously that Edgar thought he would be torn to pieces. However, his +captors forced their way through the crowd, turned off from the street, +and entered a court-yard, in the centre of which stood a house of larger +size than the majority of those that composed the town. Edgar's legs +were again tied, and he was thrown into an outhouse, where he lay for +hours. He could hear almost continuous talking in the house, and the +voices occasionally rose into angry altercation.</p> + +<p>He was surprised that he had not been killed as he entered the place, +for the Arabs, if they fought with the same courage as those engaged at +Abu Klea, must have suffered very heavily before they fell back, and the +friends and relatives of those who had fallen would be thirsting for +vengeance upon any European who fell into their power. Then he +considered that it was probable that the people of Metemmeh itself, who +lived by the passage of caravans and the river traffic, would at heart +be as much opposed to the Mahdi as were those of Khartoum and other +cities.</p> + +<p>The force with which the British had fought at Abu Klea was composed +partly of the Mahdi's regular followers, partly of wild tribesmen, +animated alike by Mahommedan fanaticism and the hope of plunder; and +although these might unite in an attack against Christians, they had +little love for each other. The band into whose hands he had fallen +might be townspeople, but more probably were members of some tribe that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[Pg 213]</a></span> +had been summoned to arrest the progress of the troops going up to the +relief of Khartoum.</p> + +<p>Now that he was detained a prisoner instead of being at once killed, +Edgar felt that there was a strong chance for him. In a couple of days +the force might attack Metemmeh, and in that case he might be rescued. +It was, however, a place of considerable size, and containing at present +a very large number of fighting men; and after the losses the column had +suffered in the first fight and during its subsequent encounters, +General Stewart might well hesitate to risk still greater loss than he +had already suffered by an attack upon the place.</p> + +<p>It was probable that the Mahdi would send down a large body of troops +from those besieging Khartoum, as soon as he heard of the arrival of the +small British force on the river, and every gun might be needed to +maintain the position and repel attacks until the arrival of +reinforcements across the desert.</p> + +<p>Thus Edgar felt it to be very doubtful whether any attack would be made +for the present. Of course as soon as reinforcements arrived, or the +boat column came up the river, Metemmeh would be captured; but by that +time he might be hundreds of miles away. The boat column might not get +round for six weeks, while all reinforcements coming across the desert +from Korti would have to march, for Edgar felt sure that it would be a +long time before the camels were in a condition for work again.</p> + +<p>It was well that when he filled the two water-bottles for the use of the +sergeant Edgar had taken a long drink, for no one came near him until +after dark, and he suffered a good deal from thirst, and from the pain +caused by the tightness with which he was bound. He began to think that +he had been altogether forgotten, when the door of the outhouse opened +and two Arabs came in, and seizing him as if he had been a package +dragged him out into the court-yard. Then he received two or three kicks +as an intimation that he could sit up; but this, roped as he was, he was +unable to accomplish, and seeing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[Pg 214]</a></span> this the men pulled him against a wall +and raised him into a sitting position against it.</p> + +<p>A fire was burning in the centre of the court-yard. On some cushions in +front of it sat a man, whom he recognized as the leader of the party who +seized him. Other Arabs were squatted on the ground or standing round. +The chief was past the prime of life, but still a powerful and sinewy +man. His features were not prepossessing; but Edgar, looking round, +thought that the expression of his face was less savage than that of the +majority of his followers.</p> + +<p>"Does the Christian dog speak the language of the Prophet?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"I speak a little Arabic," Edgar replied, inwardly congratulating +himself upon the trouble he had taken to pick up a little of the +language during the time he had been in Egypt.</p> + +<p>The answer was evidently satisfactory. The chief bowed his head.</p> + +<p>"It is good!" he said. "The Kaffir is henceforth a slave in the tents of +the Sheik Bakhat of the Jahrin tribe."</p> + +<p>As he pointed to himself, Edgar understood that his captor intended to +keep him as his own property, at any rate for the present, and bowed his +head to signify that he understood.</p> + +<p>"Why are the English foolish enough to come here?" the sheik asked. +"They must know that they cannot stand against the power of the Mahdi."</p> + +<p>"They did not come to interfere with the Mahdi, but to bring back their +countryman Gordon and his friends from Khartoum."</p> + +<p>"They will never reach Khartoum," the sheik said. "Their bones will +whiten in the desert."</p> + +<p>Edgar did not reply, partly because his knowledge of Arabic was +insufficient for a discussion, partly because it was not worth while to +run the risk of exciting the anger of the chief by pointing out that as +they had failed to prevent a thousand men crossing the desert to +Metemmeh, they might similarly fail in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[Pg 215]</a></span> preventing a force of seven or +eight times that amount marching up the banks of the river to Khartoum. +He therefore remained silent.</p> + +<p>"The Mahdi is invincible," the sheik went on after a pause. "He will +conquer Egypt, and after that will destroy the Kaffirs and take their +city of Rome, and will capture Constantinople if the Turks deny his +authority."</p> + +<p>"The Mahdi is a great man!" Edgar said gravely, although with difficulty +repressing a smile. "Who can say what may happen?" Then seeing that this +answer was also considered satisfactory he went on: "Your slave is +hungry and thirsty. He has been wounded, and his bonds hurt him greatly. +If he is to be of use to you, will you order that food and drink be +given him?"</p> + +<p>The chief nodded, and at a motion of his hand two of his followers freed +Edgar from his bonds, and a dish containing some boiled meal and a jug +of water were placed beside him. Edgar drank deeply, but was only able +to take a few mouthfuls of food as he was feverish and in considerable +pain; for the wound in his arm, which would have been comparatively +slight had proper attention been paid to it, was inflamed and angry, and +the arm greatly swollen.</p> + +<p>As no further attention was paid to him he returned to the outhouse, +took off his karkee tunic, and tearing some strips from it, wetted them +and laid them on his shoulder. Presently the door was closed, and he +heard a heap of brushwood thrown against it, an effectual way of +preventing an attempt to escape, for as the door opened outwards the +slightest movement would cause a rustling of the bushes and arouse the +Arabs who were sleeping in the court-yard. There was no window. Edgar, +seeing that escape was out of the question, laid himself down and tried +to sleep, but the pain of his arm was so great that it was some hours +before he succeeded in doing so. The next morning he was allowed to go +out into the yard, and for some time no attention was paid to him. Then +a considerable<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[Pg 216]</a></span> hubbub was heard in the town, with much shouting and +yelling. An Arab ran in at the gate with some news. Edgar could not +understand his hurried words, but the effect was evident. The men seized +their arms, and then at the sheik's order Edgar was again securely bound +and fastened in the outhouse.</p> + +<p>In the course of an hour he heard firing, first dropping shots and then +two or three sharp volleys, and knew that the British were advancing +against the town, and that the Arabs had gone out to skirmish with them. +Then there was a long pause, and he heard the sound of the English +field-pieces. He listened for musketry, but in vain.</p> + +<p>"It is only a reconnaissance," he said to himself. "Those little guns +would not batter down the mud walls round the town without an expense of +ammunition that could not be afforded. No doubt the troops could take it +by storm, but surely the general would not risk the heavy loss they +would suffer before they got in, especially as the place would be of no +use to them when they took it, and must fall as a matter of course when +the rest of the force arrives."</p> + +<p>Such being his opinion, he was but little disappointed when the firing +ceased, and he knew by the triumphant yells of the Arabs that the +British force were retiring. In a short time he heard a clamour of +voices in the court-yard, and he was presently unbound and released.</p> + +<p>"The Kaffirs did not dare to attack the place," the Arab said +exultantly. "They have gone back to their camp. In a day or two there +will be forces here from Khartoum and Berber, and then we will destroy +or make slaves of them all."</p> + +<p>Four days later there was a great firing of muskets and triumphant +yelling in the streets. Edgar felt very anxious, fearing that the +expected reinforcements had arrived, and that a tremendous attack was +about to be made upon the camp. He did not believe that it had already +taken place, for he felt confident that every pain had been taken to +strengthen the position, and that in whatever numbers the assault might +be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[Pg 217]</a></span> made it would be repulsed. Presently, however, the sheik himself +deigned to tell him the cause of the rejoicing.</p> + +<p>"There is news from Khartoum," he said. "The city has been taken, and +the Englishman Gordon and all his followers have been killed. The news +is certain. It has been brought down to us by tribesmen on both sides of +the river. I told you that the Mahdi was irresistible."</p> + +<p>The blow was a terrible one to Edgar. In the first place it was grievous +to think that the expedition had been made in vain, and that, owing to +those in authority at home delaying for months before making up their +minds to rescue Gordon, it had failed in its object, and that the +noblest of Englishmen had been left to die, unaided by those who had +sent him out. He thought of the intense disappointment that would be +felt by the troops, of the grief that there would be in England when the +news was known, and then he wondered what would be done next. It was +evident to him at once that his own position was altogether changed. He +had before felt confident that unless his captors moved away from the +town before the arrival of the main body of the expedition he should be +rescued, but now it seemed altogether uncertain whether the expedition +would come at all.</p> + +<p>So long as Gordon was alive England was bound to make every effort to +rescue him; but now that he and his companions were dead, and Khartoum +had fallen, she might not feel herself called upon to attempt the +reconquest of the Soudan. It was probable, however, that this would be +the best, and in the end the cheapest way out of the difficulty. Here +was a force that had at an enormous expense been brought up almost to +within striking distance of Khartoum, and which could be relied upon to +make its way thither to defeat the armies of the Mahdi, and to recapture +Khartoum without any very great difficulty. The provisions and stores +had all been purchased and brought up, and scarce any outlay additional +to that already incurred would be entailed by the operation.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[Pg 218]</a></span></p> + +<p>Upon the other hand, to retire now would be to leave the whole Soudan in +the hands of the Mahdi and his fanatics. It would mean the destruction +of the settled government established by the Egyptians, and it would +expose Egypt to incessant invasions, which we should be bound to repel. +Common sense, humanity, and even economy seemed to favour the advance of +the force to Khartoum. The British people, roused to anger by the fate +of Gordon, would probably call loudly for the vindication of the +national honour, and for an act of retribution on the murderers of +Gordon.</p> + +<p>But Edgar felt that another way out of the difficulty might present +itself to the authorities at home. It was not unlikely that the counsels +of those who, from the first, had been against the expedition would +prevail, and that it would retire to Egypt without striking another +blow. In that case it seemed that there was nothing before him but +lifelong slavery. Edgar, however was at an age when hope is not easily +relinquished.</p> + +<p>"I may be a slave a long time," he said, "but sooner or later I will +escape. I will get to speak the language like a native. I am already +almost burnt to their colour, and shall ere long be able to pass as one +of themselves. It is hard indeed if after a time I cannot manage to +escape, and to make my way either back to Egypt or down to the Red Sea, +or into Abyssinia. If I did not feel sure that I could do either one or +the other, I would do something that would make them kill me at once."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XIII.</h2> + +<h3>ABU KRU.</h3> + + +<p>Sergeant Bowen and Edgar were by no means the only men who straggled +away from the main body during that terrible night's march from the +wells of Abu Klea. Many<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[Pg 219]</a></span> straggled; some managed to rejoin the column in +the morning, others wandered away and were never heard of again. Morning +found the exhausted and worn-out men and animals still at a distance +from the Nile. Some miles away a long line of verdure showed where the +river lay, but the general felt that at present the men could do no +more, and that a halt for some hours was absolutely necessary. Parties +of the enemy's horse and foot men could be seen among the sand-hills, +and distant shots had already been fired.</p> + +<p>The object of the terrible march had failed; it was no longer possible +to reach the river without fighting again, and to fight as they were, +encumbered with the baggage train and overpowered with fatigue, was but +to court disaster. Therefore a halt was ordered. To the soldiers the +order was unwelcome; tired as they were, they would rather, now that the +river was but some four miles away, have pushed straight on and have +done with it. But the condition of the animals positively forbade this. +A camping ground was chosen on a bare gravelly place on the scrub where +the ground rose slightly. The work of unloading and arranging the camels +at once began, but before it was concluded a dropping fire was opened by +the natives from the long grass and bush in the distance.</p> + +<p>The troops were set to work to erect a zareba with the saddles, +biscuit-boxes, and other stores, while parties of skirmishers +endeavoured to keep down the fire of the enemy. This, however, was a +difficult task, as the natives were entirely concealed, and the men +could only fire at the puffs of smoke arising from the grass and bushes. +To the Arabs, however, the camp presented a clear mark, and the sharp +rap of the musketballs as they struck the wall, or the thud with which +they buried themselves among the crowd of kneeling camels, was very +frequent. Several men were hit, and soon after nine o'clock the report +spread through the camp that Sir Herbert Stewart had received a very +dangerous if not mortal wound.</p> + +<p>The news caused deep sorrow throughout the troops. The<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[Pg 220]</a></span> general was most +popular both with officers and men, and there was not one but felt that +his loss would be a personal one. It was, moreover, most unfortunate for +the expedition itself at such a moment to be deprived of its leader. +Before starting, Colonel Burnaby had been designated to assume the +command in case of any accident happening to the general; but Burnaby +had fallen at Abu Klea, and it therefore devolved upon Sir Charles +Wilson, who was accompanying the force solely in a diplomatic capacity, +and who was to push up the river in one of the steamers and communicate +with General Gordon as soon as the force reached the Nile.</p> + +<p>Soon afterwards orders were given that a ridge of ground sixty yards +distant on the right front should be occupied, as from that point the +ground beyond was commanded to a considerable distance, and the enemy +thus prevented from gathering for a sudden rush from that direction. +Skinner and Easton were lying down together under cover of the wall when +the order was given. Skinner was energetically denouncing the night +march and the present halt. Easton was smiling quietly, and occasionally +pointing out the difficulties which would have ensued had his +companion's view of the matter been adopted.</p> + +<p>"It is beastly lying here doing nothing," Skinner finally grumbled.</p> + +<p>"Well, there is no occasion for you to do so," Easton said as an officer +passed along saying that volunteers were required to carry boxes to +build a small work on the ridge.</p> + +<p>Skinner at once jumped to his feet, ran to the pile of biscuit-boxes, +seized two of them, swung them on to his shoulders and started for the +ridge. Easton followed in more leisurely fashion, and a number of other +officers and men at once set about the work. It was not pleasant. As +soon as the concealed enemy saw what was being done they directed their +fire upon the party, and the bullets flew fast across the ground that +had to be passed over. Several men dropped, but the work was continued +vigorously, and in the course of an hour a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[Pg 221]</a></span> small work was raised upon +the ridge, and a half-company placed there as its garrison. Hour after +hour went on, the fire of the enemy getting heavier and heavier, the men +dropping fast.</p> + +<p>"Well, Easton, what do you think of it now?" Skinner asked.</p> + +<p>"I think it is most annoying," Easton said. "I cannot think why we don't +do something. I suppose the general being hit has upset the +arrangements. If we are going to move I don't see what advantage there +is in putting it off; it isn't as if we were getting any rest here. I +hope to goodness we are not going to wait here until dark; every hour we +stop adds to the casualties. I hear two of the special correspondents +have been killed, Cameron of the <i>Standard</i> and St. Leger Herbert of the +<i>Post</i>. The camels are being killed in scores. Another four-and-twenty +hours of this work there won't be enough men left to fight our way down +to the river. It has got to be done, and we might just as well do it at +once."</p> + +<p>It was not until half-past three that the welcome order was given to +prepare to move forward. A portion of the Heavy Camel Regiment, the +Hussars, and Naval Brigade were left behind with the three guns to hold +the inclosure, while the rest, formed in square as at Abu Klea, +advanced.</p> + +<p>The camels with the wounded were in the centre. The Marines and +Grenadiers formed the front of the square, the Coldstream and Scots +Guards were on the right, the Mounted Infantry on the left, the Sussex +and the remainder of the Heavies in the rear. The fire of the enemy +redoubled as the square set out on its way. Halting occasionally to fire +a few volleys at the spots where the enemy's fire was thickest the +square made its way gradually onward, keeping as much as possible on +ridges so as to avoid being surrounded by the enemy placed in commanding +positions. At last the fire of the Arabs suddenly ceased, and a great +crowd, several thousand strong, headed by many horsemen, charged down +upon the face and left flank of the square.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[Pg 222]</a></span></p> + +<p>They were some five hundred yards away, and a cheer broke from the +British square when it was evident that the long suspense was over and +the supreme moment at hand. Volley after volley was fired, and then, +seeing that the fire was taking but little effect, and knowing that +nothing discourages men so much as seeing their fire fail to stop the +rush of an enemy, Sir Charles Wilson ordered the bugle to sound "Cease +firing!" The order was obeyed; the men stood steady until the enemy were +within three hundred yards; then the bugle-call "Commence firing!" +sounded, and from the front and left face of the square sweeping volleys +were poured into the crowded mass.</p> + +<p>"Aim low and fire steadily, men!" was the shout of the officers; and so +well were they obeyed that the front ranks of the Arabs were mown down +like grass. For a time they still pushed forward, but the fire was too +terrible to be withstood; and although a few of the leaders arrived +within fifty yards of the square, their followers hesitated when still +at a distance of a hundred. Hesitation in the case of a charge is fatal. +The storm of bullets still tore its way through the mass; the Arabs +wavered, turned, and were soon in full flight.</p> + +<p>The battle had lasted but a few minutes, but the victory was complete, +and three hearty cheers broke from the victors. There was a halt for a +few minutes for the men to fill up their pouches from the reserve +ammunition and to have a drink of water. They then moved forward again, +confidently expecting that the attack would be renewed; but the Arabs +had had enough of it, and the square moved on without interruption +until, half an hour after sunset, they reached the river. The wounded +were at once carried forward to the water, and then the troops were +marched up by companies, and each in turn were permitted to drink their +fill. Then guards were posted, and the exhausted troops threw themselves +down on the ground.</p> + +<p>The object of their long march was attained, the Nile was reached, and +thenceforth there would be no further suffering<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[Pg 223]</a></span> from want of water. The +next day communication would be opened with Gordon's steamers, their +friends would in the morning be fetched in from the zareba, and then +there would be a long rest until the boat column arrived and the +remainder of the force from Korti marched across to join them.</p> + +<p>In the morning Easton went across from his own company to the Marines.</p> + +<p>"Where is Mr. Skinner?" he asked a sergeant.</p> + +<p>"He is down with the wounded at the river, sir. He had his left arm +broken by a bullet just as we left the zareba. He was just in front of +me at the time, and I made a shift to bandage his arm and tied it up to +his body, and then he took his place in the ranks again and kept on with +them until we got here; then when we halted he fainted right off, and we +carried him down to the hospital camp by the water."</p> + +<p>Easton at once went down to visit his friend. He was lying on a +stretcher.</p> + +<p>"Well, Skinner, I am awfully sorry to hear that you got hit. How are you +feeling, old man?"</p> + +<p>"I cannot say much for myself just at present; it is only about half an +hour since they finished bandaging me up and putting on splints; they +just stopped the bleeding last night, and then I asked them to leave me +alone until this morning. They had lots of serious cases to attend to, +and mine would keep well enough; besides, I was so weak with loss of +blood, and so really done up, that I felt that I could not stand any +more then, and I was asleep in a very few minutes. However, my arm woke +me up before daylight, and I was glad enough to have it put in proper +shape, though it hurt me deucedly, I can tell you. However, it is +comparatively easy now, and I hope I shall be all right by the time the +advance begins. What a blessing it is having shade and water here!"</p> + +<p>"It is, indeed," Easton agreed. "Now I must say good-bye, for I don't +know what is to be done, and we are sure to be under arms directly."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[Pg 224]</a></span></p> + +<p>The troops moved off in a few minutes after Easton returned to his +company, and after carefully examining the ground a small village named +Abu Kru, a few yards from the river on rising ground, entirely deserted +by the natives, was selected for a camp. The wounded were at once +carried up there and were left in charge of the Heavies, while the +Guards and Mounted Infantry started for the zareba, the Sussex being +sent out on the right to watch Metemmeh and keep the enemy in check +should they advance against the village. The water-skins and camel-tanks +were all filled, for but little water had been left at the zareba; and +the men, although they had scarcely eaten any food for the last +forty-eight hours, started in good spirits, perfectly ready for another +fight should the enemy try to stop them. But although large numbers of +them gathered on a hill near the town they abstained from any attack, +and the column reached the zareba, where they were received with hearty +cheers by its little garrison.</p> + +<p>These had not been attacked during their absence, although a scattered +musketry fire had been kept up upon them until dark. To this they +replied vigorously, and the guns had done good service to the square +while on its march by keeping up a shell fire upon any bodies of the +enemy that could be made out on the eminences near it. The garrison had +suffered great suspense after the square had disappeared from their +sight, for they could see large bodies of men hurrying in that +direction, and their anxiety was great when the sudden outburst of +musketry told them that the square was attacked. What the issue of the +fight had been they knew not, but their hopes that the Arabs had been +defeated increased as time went on and no attack was made upon +themselves, for had the enemy been successful they would speedily have +poured down to the attack of the feebly-defended baggage.</p> + +<p>As soon as the column arrived the work of pulling down the walls of +boxes and saddles, getting the camels to their feet and loading them, +began. So many of the camels had been killed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[Pg 225]</a></span> that the number surviving +was insufficient to carry down the stores, therefore the smaller redoubt +was left untouched and a stronger garrison than before placed in it, and +the rest moved down to the river. The troops all partook of a hearty +meal before the start was made. Sir Herbert Stewart and the rest of the +wounded were taken down in the cacolets with the column.</p> + +<p>Rupert Clinton had remained in the zareba when the square had marched +forward. He had been greatly exhausted by the night march and had had a +slight sunstroke before the square moved out; the doctors had therefore +ordered him not to accompany it, but to stay at the zareba and assist +the general and other wounded.</p> + +<p>"You are looking very shaky, Clinton," Easton said when he joined him.</p> + +<p>"I am all right to-day," he replied; "rather heavy about the head; but a +bath and a long night's rest will set me up again. Skinner is all right, +I hope?"</p> + +<p>"No, I am sorry to say he has got his left arm broken. I saw him for a +moment before we started. He got hit just after he left here, but stuck +to his company all through. I asked one of the surgeons, and he said +that unless fever or anything of that sort came on he was likely to go +on all right, and that he did not think that there was much chance of +his losing his arm. He has plenty of pluck, Skinner has."</p> + +<p>"I should think so," Rupert said. "A fellow who could play an uphill +game of football as he could can be trusted to keep his courage up under +any circumstances. Do you know what we are going to do, Easton? Are we +going to attack Metemmeh?"</p> + +<p>"I have not the least idea. It is a big place, a lot bigger than we +expected, and there are a tremendous lot of fighting men there. It is +fortunate they did not all make a rush at us together yesterday, +although I don't think it would have made any difference. But it would +be a very risky thing to attack such a place as that, swarming with +fanatics, with our present<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[Pg 226]</a></span> force. It would be too big to hold if we +took it, and we might lose two or three hundred men in the attack and +street fighting; and as it is said that a big force is coming down the +river to attack us, it would certainly be a risk, and a big one, to lose +a lot of men in an attack on this place, which we shall be able to take +without any difficulty as soon as the rest of the force comes up. I +expect we shall try a reconnaissance. If the Arabs bolt, and we find +that we can take the place without hard fighting, we shall take it; but +if they show a determination to stick there and defend it to the last I +think we shall leave it alone."</p> + +<p>The column returned to the river without meeting with any opposition; +but it was evident from the number of Arabs who were seen moving about +in the direction of Metemmeh that the check of the previous day had by +no means disheartened them, and that they were still in very +considerable force in and around the town.</p> + +<p>Late at night the orders were issued for the troops to parade at +half-past four in the morning; and leaving a small force to guard Abu +Kru, or as it was sometimes called Gubat, the rest of the troops marched +towards Metemmeh. Two villages deserted by the inhabitants were passed, +and then a view was obtained of the town. Crowds of Arabs were seen +outside its walls.</p> + +<p>The officer in command of the company of Grenadiers that was marching in +extended order in front of the column picked out twenty of the best +shots and ordered them to elevate their sights to two thousand yards and +fire five volleys. Great as the distance was, the effect was +considerable. With the aid of glasses two or three of the enemy were +seen to fall, and the rest scattered in all directions and speedily took +shelter within the walls. The seven-pounders then opened fire, but the +shot produced little or no result, simply punching holes in the mud +walls. The troops then moved nearer, marching along the southern side to +see if any place suitable for an assault could be discovered; but +everywhere the wall was loopholed, and the incessant fire showed that it +was strongly manned.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[Pg 227]</a></span></p> + +<p>A Krupp gun on the walls presently opened fire with so accurate an aim +that the column fell back a short distance. At this moment a cheer rose +as four steamers were seen coming along the river flying the Egyptian +flag. They ran towards the shore and landed two hundred negro soldiers +with some small brass guns. These were speedily placed into position +beside the seven-pounders, and the negro infantry, advancing in +skirmishing order, opened fire at once. They brought news that Gordon +was still holding out, and also that three thousand of the enemy were on +their way down and were but two days' march away.</p> + +<p>This news decided Sir Chas. Wilson against running the risk of +materially weakening his force by an assault on the town, and the column +fell back to Abu Kru. On their way a portion of the Guards' Regiment was +told off to search the groves and plantations to see that there were no +Arabs lurking there. Presently they came upon two camels grazing in a +grove. "Search about well, men," the officer in command said; "their +owners may be hidden somewhere close."</p> + +<p>In a minute or two one of the men called out, "Here are two saddles, +sir, hidden in the bushes; they are scarlet, and belong to one of our +regiments."</p> + +<p>The officers speedily gathered to the spot. "They are certainly our +saddles," the officer in command said, "how in the world did the camels +get here? I suppose they must have wandered away during the night march +and been picked up by some of the Arabs and driven on here."</p> + +<p>"But they are riding camels," one of the others put in; "they must have +belonged to some of the men who were missing on the night march; the +poor fellows were killed, no doubt."</p> + +<p>"They may have ridden them on here," Easton suggested; "after they got +separated from the column the camels may have smelt the water and come +on here before daylight broke."</p> + +<p>"That is true, Easton. You see one of these saddles has blood stains on +it; perhaps its rider was wounded. We will search the grove +thoroughly."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[Pg 228]</a></span></p> + +<p>The search was renewed, and in a few minutes a sergeant ran up to the +group of officers. "We have found a man, sir; he belongs to the Heavies; +he is insensible."</p> + +<p>The officers hurried to the spot. "Yes, the poor fellow is a sergeant of +the Heavies. No doubt you were right, Easton. You see he has been +wounded in the side. He looks in a bad way."</p> + +<p>"There are two water-bottles by him," Easton said; "one is empty and the +other is half full," he added as he took them up and shook them. "He +must have a comrade somewhere."</p> + +<p>"No doubt he has, Easton; he could scarcely have been in a condition +when he arrived here to take off the saddles and hide them away. What +can have become of the other?" The grove was searched thoroughly from +end to end, but no sign found of the missing man. Some boughs were cut +down and a rough stretcher made, and upon this the sergeant was laid and +the force then moved on, the camels being saddled and mounted by two of +the men, and on arriving at the camp the sergeant was taken to the +hospital.</p> + +<p>As soon as dinner was eaten the men were paraded again. A council had +been held to decide upon the best course to be taken, and it was decided +that a fort should be built down by the river, and that the whole force +should establish itself there with the exception of the Guards' Camel +Regiment, which should remain at Gubat so as to prevent any body of the +enemy posting themselves there and keeping up an annoying fire upon the +fort down by the river.</p> + +<p>Gubat had already been roughly fortified, and the whole force was +therefore set at work to erect with camel-saddles and boxes a defence +for the position by the river. When this was done the wounded were all +carried down to the new fort. After the work was over Rupert strolled up +through the village to have a chat with Easton. As he was sitting there +an orderly came up.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Clinton, the surgeon has sent me up with two letters<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[Pg 229]</a></span> that were +found inside the jacket of the wounded sergeant who was brought in this +afternoon. One is directed to you and the other to Captain Percy +Clinton."</p> + +<p>"That is very curious," Rupert said, taking the letters and turning them +over in his hand. "How is the man going on, orderly?"</p> + +<p>"He is insensible still, sir. I believe the doctors say that it is +fever, and that his wound is not serious. One of the men of his regiment +who is in the hospital says he got it at Abu Klea, and that it was +attended to there."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, orderly, that will do. What in the world can the man be +writing to me about, and to my father, which is still more curious?"</p> + +<p>"I should say the best way of finding out, Clinton, will be to open the +letter."</p> + +<p>"Well, I suppose it will be," Rupert replied. "Still, it is always +interesting to guess at a mystery before you find the key."</p> + +<p>"Well, guess away," Easton said, stretching himself out on his back. "I +never was a good hand at riddles."</p> + +<p>It was some little time before Rupert, finding himself unable to find +any solution whatever to the mystery, opened the letter. As he did so he +stirred the fire by which they were sitting into a fresh blaze. He read +a few lines and uttered an exclamation of such intense surprise that +Easton sat up with a start.</p> + +<p>"What is it, Clinton?"</p> + +<p>"It is the most extraordinary thing I ever came across, Easton. You know +the story about Edgar and myself. Well, this wounded sergeant is either +his father or mine."</p> + +<p>"Impossible!" Easton exclaimed; "he did not look much above thirty; +besides, no soldier of twenty-one years' service—and he must have had +fully that—would be out here."</p> + +<p>Rupert made no reply; he was running his eyes rapidly through the +letter.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[Pg 230]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Good heavens!" he exclaimed; "Edgar is out here; he is a trumpeter in +the Heavies."</p> + +<p>"That is news, Rupert. I congratulate you heartily, old fellow. You are +sure that there is no mistake?"</p> + +<p>"No; there cannot be any mistake about that," Rupert said, thrusting the +letter into his tunic. "Come along, Easton, let us be off. He goes by +the name of Ned Smith."</p> + +<p>"Wait a moment, old man," Easton said, laying his hand kindly on +Rupert's shoulder. "Where was the letter written?"</p> + +<p>"At Korti."</p> + +<p>"Well, Clinton, don't be too sanguine. You know how terribly the Heavies +suffered at Abu Klea. Don't make up your mind too warmly to see your +brother; he may be among the wounded we left behind at Abu Klea; he +may—" and he stopped.</p> + +<p>"I won't think it," Rupert said; "it would be too hard, after our +searching for him for all these years, to find out that but four or five +days since he was in camp with us, and to learn it only too late. I +won't think it."</p> + +<p>"I hope to God that it is not so, Clinton, only I thought it best to +prepare you for what may be possible. Which troop did he belong to?"</p> + +<p>"The Dragoon troop."</p> + +<p>Easton was silent, for it was upon this troop that the heaviest loss had +fallen.</p> + +<p>"Well," Rupert went on, "let us go down and learn the best or the +worst."</p> + +<p>They walked down the slope to the new fort by the river, and finding out +where the Heavies were bivouacked soon discovered the Dragoons.</p> + +<p>"You go and ask, Easton," Rupert said nervously; "I dare not."</p> + +<p>Easton went on alone and presently accosted a sergeant.</p> + +<p>"Sergeant, can you tell me whether the trumpeter of your troop was +wounded at Abu Klea? Is he here now?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[Pg 231]</a></span></p> + +<p>"He was wounded at Abu Klea, sir, though not seriously; but he is not +here now, he was one of those missing on the night march, he and +Sergeant Bowen. I hear the sergeant was found and brought in this +morning very bad, but I have heard nothing of Smith; but I expect that +one of the camels brought in this afternoon was his; in fact I know it +was, for it has got Smith's number on the saddle. It is likely that they +would be together, for the sergeant had taken a great fancy to the lad. +We all liked him. He joined us at Cairo from the Hussars, as our own +trumpeter was taken ill; he was a general favourite, but Sergeant Bowen +took to him specially."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, sergeant;" and Easton turned and walked slowly back to where +Rupert was awaiting him.</p> + +<p>"You have bad news, Easton," Rupert said huskily. "I could see it as you +stood talking to that man."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I have bad news," Easton said, "but hardly the worst, Clinton."</p> + +<p>"He is badly wounded then," Rupert groaned.</p> + +<p>"I am afraid it is worse than that, Clinton; he is missing. It was he +who was the rider of the second camel that we found in the grove this +morning. He and the sergeant were both missing on the night march, and +evidently found their way down to the river where we discovered the +sergeant. What can have become of your brother since I know not. +Evidently he left his water-bottle by his comrade and went somewhere, +probably to join us. As I was saying to you when we were chatting about +it before you opened that letter, he was probably either making his way +towards the square on the day of the fight or coming towards our camp +after we got in, and was seized by the Arabs. That was the conclusion at +which we all arrived, though I had little thought when we were talking +it over that the missing man was your brother."</p> + +<p>"Then you think he has been killed?" Rupert said hoarsely.</p> + +<p>"I don't know that, Clinton. He may have been made a prisoner. You see, +we have searched the ground between that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[Pg 232]</a></span> grove and our camp thoroughly +to-day, and had he been killed there I think we should certainly have +found him. Of course it may have happened further out on the plain if he +was making his way out to join our square; but I should think he would +never have done that, for the Arabs were swarming all round it. Besides, +the Hussars were scouting about all over the plains this morning, and if +they had seen the body of any of our men would certainly have reported +it. The Arabs in fight never show mercy, but if they came upon him by +himself they might very well have carried him off as a prisoner, +especially if he made no resistance. You see, they are all slave-dealers +at heart; besides, they might think that a white prisoner would be an +acceptable present to the Mahdi. Of course I know no more about it than +you do, but I should say that the chances are quite as great of his +being taken prisoner as of his having been killed."</p> + +<p>"One is as bad as the other," Rupert said in a broken voice. "This is +awful, Easton. I will walk up to your camp again. Would you mind seeing +the colonel of his regiment or the officer of his troop, and find out +what you can about him?"</p> + +<p>Easton soon found one of the few surviving officers of Edgar's troop.</p> + +<p>"Can you tell me anything about Trumpeter Smith?" he asked. "I have +reason to believe that he was a relative of a friend of mine, and that +he ran away and enlisted under a false name."</p> + +<p>"He bore an excellent character," the officer said. "He came to us from +the Hussars at Cairo, and no one could behave better than he has done +from the time he joined us. They would not have sent him to us if he +hadn't been a thoroughly well-conducted young fellow. I was chatting +with one of the officers of his regiment on the day we left Cairo; he +spoke in very high terms of him, and said that he was quite a popular +character in the regiment. It seems that he was a first-rate cricketer, +and especially brought himself into notice by some exceedingly plucky +conduct when two ladies belonging to the regiment were<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[Pg 233]</a></span> attacked by a +couple of tramps at Aldershot; and besides that he had greatly +distinguished himself at El-Teb, where the Hussars got badly mauled. His +name was amongst those sent in for the Victoria Cross, and he was +specially chosen to go with us to give him another chance. I never heard +a young fellow more warmly spoken of. We were awfully sorry when we +heard that he was missing. There is no doubt he was with Sergeant Bowen +whom your men brought in this morning. One of the two camels was the one +he rode. We have been talking that over to-day, and the general opinion +is that he was caught by the Arabs as he was trying to rejoin the +regiment. It is a thousand pities he did not wait a little longer in +that grove, but I have no doubt he was anxious to get assistance as soon +as possible for the sergeant. I intend as soon as we are settled here to +ask the colonel to let me go out with a party to search the plains to +see if we can find his body."</p> + +<p>"I am more inclined to think that he has been taken prisoner," Easton +said; "he would hardly have gone out to meet the square, as he must have +seen the plains swarming with Arabs and that he had no chance whatever +of getting through. He would have known that we were making for the +water, and that he would have a far better chance of reaching us by +waiting until we got there. My own idea is that he did wait, and that +the Arabs came upon him somewhere between that grove and our camp; if +so, they did not kill him, for if they had done so we must have found +his body to-day, for we searched every foot of the ground. I think that +he is a prisoner in their hands."</p> + +<p>"He had better have been killed at once," the officer said.</p> + +<p>"I agree with you, except that it is just possible that a slave may +escape. You see, on our way up to Khartoum if we defeat the Mahdi's +troops—which we certainly shall do—all the country will no doubt +submit, and there would be in the first place the chance of his being +given up to us, and in the second of his escape."</p> + +<p>"It is possible," the officer agreed, "but I certainly would<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[Pg 234]</a></span> not build +on that. The probability is that if he is taken prisoner he will be sent +to the Mahdi, and if he isn't killed at once when he gets there, he will +be when the Mahdi sees that his game is up."</p> + +<p>Easton nodded, and then, thanking the officer for his information, took +his way up to the village, where he repeated to Rupert what he had +heard. His own voice faltered as he told the story, while Rupert sobbed +unrestrainedly. When he had finished Rupert rose, pressed his hand +silently, and then returning to his own bivouac threw himself down and +thought sadly for hours over the loss of his brother.</p> + +<p>The next day Rupert was busy from morning until night. A portion of the +force was employed in strengthening the fortifications of the two posts, +and a strong body was at work cutting wood for the use of the steamer in +which Sir Charles Wilson was to start next morning for Khartoum. While +at work they were guarded by another strong party, lest the enemy should +make a sudden attack. All, however, passed off quietly, and on the +following morning Sir Charles started with two steamers, taking with him +twenty men of the Sussex regiment and one hundred and fifty of the black +troops. On the same day three hundred troops selected from the various +regiments started on camels, with four hundred baggage camels under +their convoy, for Gakdul, in accordance with the orders given to General +Stewart by Lord Wolseley at starting, that as soon as he had established +himself upon the river he was to send back a convoy for some more +stores.</p> + +<p>The convoy was, however, but a small one, for of over two thousand +camels which had left Korti, this number alone survived, and most of +these were in such a state from exhaustion, starvation, and sore backs, +that they were wholly unfit to travel. The force on the river was now +reduced to some fifty officers and eight hundred and seventy men, +including medical staff, commissariat, natives of all kinds, and the +remainder of the black troops and one hundred and twenty wounded. The<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[Pg 235]</a></span> +defences were greatly strengthened, officers and men both sharing in the +work.</p> + +<p>During the day the Hussars scouted round the camp, frequently exchanging +shots with the enemy. At night strong lines of sentries were posted +round the forts. No attack was, however, made, although the natives +sometimes showed in considerable force during the day, and the beating +of tom-toms went on day and night round Metemmeh. The hard work upon +which the troops were engaged kept them for the most part in good +health, and the wounded did extremely well, the doctors themselves being +surprised at the rapidity with which wounds healed and the men recovered +their strength, an effect doubtless due to the clear dry air.</p> + +<p>The troops in the village enjoyed better health than those down by the +river, as they obtained the benefit of the air from the desert, while +down near the stream heavy dews fell at night and there were several +slight cases of fever. All looked eagerly for the return of the steamers +from Khartoum with news how things were going on there. As for their own +position, no one had the slightest anxiety. No news had been received of +the approach of the three thousand troops which had been reported as on +their way down against them, and they felt confident in their power to +repulse any attack that the enemy at Metemmeh could make against them. +They were, too, in hourly expectation of the arrival across the desert +of reinforcements from Korti.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XIV.</h2> + +<h3>A SLAVE.</h3> + + +<p>Although Edgar had felt disappointed when the sounds of the firing round +Metemmeh died away, and he knew by the triumphant shouts of the Arabs +that the British had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[Pg 236]</a></span> retired, he had hardly expected that an attack +would be made upon the town until reinforcements came up, and he +consoled himself with the idea that within a few weeks at the utmost the +reinforcements would arrive, and that if the Arabs remained in the town +until that time he would be rescued. Two or three days later he heard a +great hubbub just after nightfall in the streets outside. The Arabs who +were in the court-yard snatched up their guns, and the din became louder +than before.</p> + +<p>Above the uproar Edgar could catch the words, "Death to the Kaffir!" and +"Send him to the Mahdi!" and guessed that his own fate was the subject +of dispute. Picking up one of the Arab swords he determined at least to +sell his life as dearly as he could. For an hour his fate trembled in +the balance. At times there were lulls in the tumult, while a few voices +only, raised in furious argument, were heard. Then the crowd joined in +again and the yells became deafening, and every moment Edgar expected to +hear the clash of weapons, and to see the little party to which he +belonged driven headlong into the house followed by the Mahdi's men. But +he had before witnessed many Arab disputes, and knew that however +furious the words and gestures might be they comparatively seldom came +to blows, and though greatly relieved he was not altogether surprised +when at last the uproar quieted down, and his captors returned into the +court-yard and barred the door behind them.</p> + +<p>In a short time an argument broke out, almost as furious and no less +loud than that which had taken place outside. The sheik had evidently +his own opinion and was determined to maintain it. Two or three of his +followers sided with him, but the rest were evidently opposed to it. +From the few words Edgar could catch in the din he gathered that the +sheik was determined to carry him off as his own particular slave, while +the bulk of his followers were in favour of handing him over to the +Mahdi's officers. All Arabs are obstinate, but the sheik happened to be +exceptionally obstinate and determined even for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[Pg 237]</a></span> an Arab. Had the +Mahdi's officers recognized his right to the captive, and offered him +some small present in return for his slave, he would probably have +handed him over willingly enough; but that they should threaten him, and +insist on his handing over his property, was, he considered, an outrage +to his dignity and independence.</p> + +<p>Was he, an independent sheik, to be treated as if he were a nameless +slave, and ordered to surrender his own to the Mahdi or anyone else? +Never! He would slay the slave and stab himself to the heart rather than +submit to be thus trampled on. If his followers did not like it they +were free to leave him and to put on white shirts and follow the Mahdi; +he could do without such men well enough. What would the Mahdi do for +them? He would send them to be shot down by the Kaffirs, as they had +been shot down at Abu Klea and outside the town, and someone else would +possess their wives and their camels and their fields. If they liked +that they could go, and he went to the gate, unbarred and threw it open, +and pointed to the street. The effect was instantaneous. The Arabs had +no desire whatever to become soldiers of the Mahdi, and they at once +changed their tone and assured the sheik that they had no idea of +opposing his wishes, and that whatever he said should be done, pointing +out, however, that in the morning the Madhists would assuredly come and +take the prisoner by force.</p> + +<p>The sheik was mollified by their submission, and ordering Edgar to close +and bar the gate again seated himself by the fire.</p> + +<p>"By to-morrow," he said, "we will be far away. I am not a fool; I am not +going to fight the Mahdi's army. As soon as the town is still we will +make our way down to the river, take a boat, and cross. Two days' +journey on foot will take us to the village where we sent our camels +with the plunder and came on here to fight, believing, like fools, that +the Mahdi was going to eat them up. We have seen what<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[Pg 238]</a></span> came of that, and +they say that there are crowds more of them on the way. I am ready to +fight; you have all seen me fight over and over again, and all men know +that Sheik El Bakhat is no coward; but to fight against men who fire +without stopping is more than I care for. They are Kaffirs, but they +have done me no harm, and I have no vengeance to repay them. Fortunately +we did not arrive till an hour after the fighting was over, or our bones +might be bleaching out there in the desert with those of hundreds of +others. It is the Mahdi's quarrel and not mine. Let him fight if he +wants to, I have no objection. Why should I throw away my life in his +service when even the slave we have captured is not to be my own."</p> + +<p>As these sentiments commended themselves to his followers the sheik's +plans were carried out.</p> + +<p>The unfortunate trader and his wife, who had been cowering in a little +chamber since the sheik and his party had unceremoniously taken +possession of the rest of the house, were called in and informed that +their guests were about to leave them, and were ordered to close the +gate after them and on no account to open it until morning. The party +then set to work to cook a large supply of cakes for the journey. A +little before midnight they sallied out, and making their way +noiselessly through the streets issued out near the river at a point +where the walls that surrounded the other sides of the town were +wanting.</p> + +<p>There were several boats moored against the banks, and choosing one of +them they allowed it to drift quietly down the river until some distance +below the town, and then getting out the oars rowed to the other side of +the river and landed below the large town of Shendy. They made a wide +detour to get round the town, travelling at a long swinging trot that +soon tried Edgar's wind and muscles to the utmost. He was not encumbered +by much clothing, as before leaving he had been made to strip and to +wrap himself up in a native cloth.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[Pg 239]</a></span> Before he did so, however, he had +been rubbed from head to foot with charcoal from the fire, for his +captors saw that the whiteness of his skin, which greatly surprised +them, for his face and hands were tanned to a colour as dark as that of +many of the Arabs, would instantly betray him.</p> + +<p>The perspiration was soon streaming from him at every pore, but he well +knew that any display of weakness would only excite the contempt of his +captors, and although he was several times well-nigh falling from +fatigue he kept on until, when many miles away from Metemmeh, the +natives slackened their pace and broke into a walk.</p> + +<p>"I thought," Edgar muttered to himself, "that a good long run with the +hares and hounds at Cheltenham was pretty hard work, but it was nothing +to this. This climate does take it out of one and no mistake. There is +one thing, I have got to get accustomed to it, and am not likely to try +any other for some time."</p> + +<p>They continued the journey until morning broke, and then turned off to +the left, and after miles of walking halted among some sand-hills +outside the zone of cultivated land. Edgar was ordered to go and find +some fuel, for the morning was cold, and even the Arabs felt the keen +air after their exertions. Edgar at once hurried away, and was fortunate +enough to find some dried stalks of maize in a field not far off. +Pulling it up by the roots he collected a large bundle and carried it on +his shoulder to the point where he had left the Arabs. An exclamation of +satisfaction greeted his arrival. The sheik produced a box of matches +from a corner of his cloth, for European goods were obtainable in +Metemmeh, and they had found several boxes in the house that they had +occupied. A fire was soon blazing, and the Arabs squatted closely around +it, while Edgar, tired out with his journey, threw himself on the ground +some distance away.</p> + +<p>The sheik was in high spirits; he was, in the first place, glad that he +had had his way, and carried off his captive; and in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[Pg 240]</a></span> the second, he +felt assured by the manner in which Edgar had kept up with them by the +way, and by the speed with which he had collected the materials for a +fire, that he would turn out a very useful slave. Before starting they +had partaken of a good meal, and each of them had carried off a bag of +five or six pounds in weight of dry dates from the merchant's store. A +few of these were eaten, and then the whole party lay down to sleep, the +sheik first rousing Edgar, and ordering him to lie down between him and +another Arab, tying a cord from his wrists to theirs, so that he could +not move without disturbing one or other of them.</p> + +<p>A few hours' rest was taken, and then, with the sun blazing overhead, +the journey was recommenced. They now kept among the sand-hills so as to +avoid the villages near the river, in case a party should be sent out +from Metemmeh in pursuit of them. Edgar had difficulty in keeping up +with the rest, for the hot sand burned his naked feet, and he had to +avoid the prickly grass through which his companions walked +unconcernedly. They continued their journey until nightfall, and then +went down to the river for a drink. Edgar had suffered greatly from +thirst, which he had in vain endeavoured to assuage by chewing dry +dates. His feet were causing him agony, and after satisfying his thirst +he sat with them in the water until his companions again moved back into +the desert.</p> + +<p>Edgar could not obtain a wink of sleep for the pain of his feet, and in +the morning he showed them to the sheik, who only laughed at their raw +and swollen condition. As, however, he was desirous that his slave +should continue in good condition, he told him to tear off a strip from +his cotton cloth, and himself walked down to the river with Edgar. There +he allowed him to again bathe his feet, and showed him some broad smooth +leaves which he bade him gather; these were placed under his feet, which +were then bandaged with the strip of cotton. As soon as this was done +they returned to the party, and again set out.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[Pg 241]</a></span></p> + +<p>Edgar found the application greatly relieved the pain, and as the leaves +and bandages kept the feet from contact with the sand, he was able to +get on fairly. He felt, too, the benefit from the drink of water he had +obtained from the river, and was able to keep up with the party until, +late in the afternoon, they approached the village where the natives had +sent their camels.</p> + +<p>Edgar was left in charge of two of the Arabs half a mile from the +village when the others went on, the sheik saying that in the morning +they were to await him half a mile on the other side of the village. +There was a good deal of grumbling on the part of the men who were left +with Edgar, and he saw that nothing would please them better than to cut +his throat; but when they looked threatening towards him, he simply +laughed, knowing that they dare not use their weapons, and that, did +they venture to strike him with hand or stick, he was a match for both +of them.</p> + +<p>It was nearly two years now since he had stood up against the two tramps +at Aldershot, and in that time he had grown from a lad to a powerful +young fellow, with every muscle hardened by exercise. Perhaps the men +concluded that the experiment was not worth trying, and presently left +him to himself, and entered into an animated conversation together.</p> + +<p>When it became dark they insisted on tying Edgar's legs, and to this he +made no objection, for he understood that here they were only obeying +the orders of the sheik. A few minutes later he was sound asleep, and +did not wake once until he was roused by the Arabs stirring; they untied +his feet, and at once started on their way. In less than half an hour +they were at the spot the sheik had named; in a few minutes he came up +with six of his men mounted on camels and four spare animals. The two +Arabs and Edgar mounted three of these, and the journey was continued. +They struck off from the river and journeyed all day among sand-hills, +among which they camped for the night. They had brought water-skins with +them, and Edgar received his share.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[Pg 242]</a></span></p> + +<p>They started at daybreak again, and travelling the whole day came down +at night upon a small village at a short distance from the river. Here +the sheik had evidently friends, for he was warmly greeted as they +entered. By the conversation at the camp on the previous evening Edgar +had gathered that the rest of the party had gone off to villages to +which they belonged in that neighbourhood, and that those with the sheik +belonged to the village of Bisagra, near Khartoum, that word being +frequently repeated. Before entering the village a short stay had been +made, while some pieces of wood were burned, and Edgar was again rubbed +over with charcoal.</p> + +<p>When they arrived at the house at which the sheik intended to stop, +Edgar was directed to follow him, while the rest looked after the +camels. On entering the house he was told by the sheik to go into a +little court-yard, where a negro presently brought him a dish of boiled +meal and some water. He heard a great talk inside the house, but could +understand nothing of what had been said. Half an hour later two of the +Arabs came in, and lay down beside him as before, and in addition his +feet were firmly tied. The next morning the party still further divided, +the sheik with two men and Edgar starting alone.</p> + +<p>He felt sure that they were now some distance above Khartoum, as the +city lay less than eighty miles from Metemmeh; they had made, he +calculated, fully fifteen the first night. They had walked at least +five-and-twenty on the second, and had ridden thirty, he calculated, on +each of the last two days. On these they had not, as he noticed by the +sun, followed a straight course, going far to the east of south on the +first day, and to the west of south on the second, having doubtless made +a large detour to avoid the city. During the whole time they had been +travelling over a trackless country, and had met no parties of natives +on the way. They started again before daybreak, and now travelled along +the bank of the river.</p> + +<p>Here the country had been cultivated for some distance back, and +villages were scattered here and there. Neverthe<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[Pg 243]</a></span>less they passed but +few natives, and Edgar saw that many of the houses were roofless, and +that there were signs of fire and destruction everywhere, and understood +that this ruin had been wrought by the hosts of the Mahdi. About mid-day +they arrived at a village on the bank. Its name, Edgar learned by the +exclamations of the Arabs when they caught sight of it, was Gerada. Here +a large native boat was lying moored. Bidding Edgar remain among the +camels the sheik alighted, and was for half an hour engaged in +bargaining with two men, who were apparently owners of the boat.</p> + +<p>Terms were at last agreed to, the camels were led down and placed on +board, and the boat pushed off. The sheik made a peremptory sign to +Edgar to lie down and cover his head with his cloth, and Edgar heard him +say to the boatman, "My slave is ill." The river was now at its +shallowest, and the men were able to pole the boat across. Edgar was +hurried ashore with the camels, while the sheik remained behind settling +with the boatman. They were now, he knew, between the two Niles, which +joined their waters at Khartoum. The country here had evidently been +rich and prosperous before the host of the Mahdi passed like a blight +over it. They halted a few miles from the river, near a ruined and +deserted village. Edgar was told to watch the camels while they plucked +heads of corn from the deserted fields, while the Arabs lit a fire and +baked some cakes. None of these were offered to Edgar, who had to +content himself with some heads of dried maize that he picked from the +field.</p> + +<p>Two days later they arrived at the bank of the White Nile. They followed +it for upwards of a mile, and then the sheik, who evidently knew the +way, turned off the bank into the river, the others following. The ford, +for such it was, was shallow, the water scarcely coming up to the girths +of the camels. Although the journey had been a short one, they halted +again for the night in cultivated ground, a mile from the river, and +Edgar was ordered to pick corn. The fields had already been ran<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[Pg 244]</a></span>sacked, +and it was only here and there that he found a head of maize hidden in +its brown cases.</p> + +<p>After a time the two Arabs joined in the search, and by nightfall a +good-sized sackful had been collected. At daybreak the camels were taken +to a well, where the apparatus for drawing the water still stood, with a +trough beside it. When Edgar had filled the trough the camels were urged +to drink their fill, being taken back once or twice to the trough, until +they could drink no more. The water-skins were filled, the Arabs took +long draughts from a bucket, and the sheik ordered Edgar to do the same. +Then the bag with their maize was fastened on the back of the spare +camel, which was already laden with a miscellaneous collection of goods, +and the party started.</p> + +<p>Edgar understood by the preparations that had been made that they had +still a serious journey before them, and it proved to be so. For eight +days they travelled across a desert, their course being to the north of +west, marching from early dawn until sunset. The moment the day's +journey was over he was set to work to gather tufts of coarse grass +growing among the rocks, which cropped out here and there from the sand. +Other vegetation there was none, save some low stunted bushes, which he +also gathered whenever he came across them. With these and the grass a +fire was lighted, and the sheik and two followers roasted a few heads of +maize for their own eating, and with these and a handful of dry dates +appeared perfectly satisfied.</p> + +<p>After they had done Edgar was permitted to roast some maize for his own +use. The camels had each a dozen heads given to them. Except at one +halting-place, where there was a muddy well, they received no water; the +Arabs themselves drank sparingly, and Edgar received but a mouthful or +two of the precious fluid. Towards the end of the eighth day the Arabs +began to hasten their camels, and soon afterwards, on mounting an +eminence, Edgar saw some tents standing in a small green<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[Pg 245]</a></span> valley ahead. +The Arabs fired their guns and uttered loud yells, and at once some +figures appeared at the entrances of the tents and hastened towards +them. In five minutes the two parties met. There were a few men among +those that came out, but the majority were women and children. All +uttered shouts of welcome, and a babel of questions arose.</p> + +<p>The sheik did not alight from his camel, but with his followers +continued his way until he reached the encampment. Here dismounting he +entered one of the largest of the tents. The other two Arabs were +surrounded by the natives, and Edgar stood by the camels doubtful as to +what he was expected to do next. He was not left undisturbed long. The +Arabs had evidently told the news that their black comrade was a white +slave whom the sheik had captured, and all crowded round him examining +him with the greatest curiosity. There was nothing to them remarkable +about his colour, for he was darker than any of them; but his hair, +closely cropped like that of all engaged in the expedition, evidently +amused them much.</p> + +<p>One of the women quickly fetched a large gourd full of water, and made +signs to him to wash himself, which he was glad enough to do after his +four days' dusty journey, but before commencing he plunged his face into +the bowl and took a long drink. Shouts of surprise and amusement arose +as with diligent rubbing he gradually got rid of the thickest part of +the charcoal, and his skin began to show through.</p> + +<p>"I wish to goodness," he muttered to himself, "I had got a cake or two +of soap here, but I suppose it is a thing that they never heard of; even +a scrubbing-brush would be a comfort. I shall be weeks before I get +myself thoroughly white again; it is completely ground into my skin."</p> + +<p>He had, however, managed to get rid of the greater part of the charcoal, +and was from the waist upward a dingy white, when the sheik came out +from his tent. He was followed by a good-looking Arab woman. He called +Edgar to him and said, "This is your mistress." Edgar had during the +journey guessed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[Pg 246]</a></span> that he was intended as a special present for the +sheik's wife, and that his lot would depend in no slight degree upon +her, and resolved to do his utmost to earn her good opinion. He +therefore bent on one knee, and taking her hand placed it on his head. +The woman laughed good-naturedly, and said something to the sheik which +by its tone Edgar felt was an expression of approval.</p> + +<p>The camels had all this time remained kneeling, and the sheik now +ordered them to be unloaded. Edgar had wondered what the various bundles +might contain, and looked with almost as much curiosity as the expectant +Arabs at the process of opening them.</p> + +<p>As their contents were gradually brought to light, he understood at once +why the sheik and his followers had taken no part in the fight outside +Metemmeh. They had evidently been far out in the desert, on the track +the column had followed, on the search for loot. The collection was a +singular one, and it appeared to Edgar that they must either have got +hold of three or four of the camels that had strayed away from the +column, or had followed the troops and rifled boxes and cases that had +fallen from the backs of the animals on their way through the trees, or +that had been left behind when the camels fell.</p> + +<p>Here were articles of clothing of all sorts—shirts, socks, karkee +suits, boots, ivory-backed brushes (the property, no doubt, of some +officer of the Guards or Heavies), a hand-glass, a case of writing +materials and paper, a small medicine-chest, some camp-kettles, two or +three dozen tins of cocoa and milk and as many of arrow-root, scores of +small tins of Liebig (these three lots clearly forming part of the +burden of one of the hospital camels), a handsome field-glass, an +officer's sword without a scabbard, a large bundle of hospital rugs, a +tin-box marked "tea, 10 lbs.," a number of tin drinking-cups, plates, +knives, forks, and spoons, and a strange collection of odds and ends of +all sorts.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[Pg 247]</a></span></p> + +<p>Each article that was taken out caused fresh excitement, its uses were +warmly discussed, and Edgar was presently dragged forward and ordered to +explain. The various articles of clothing particularly puzzled the +Arabs, and Edgar had to put on a shirt and pair of trousers to show how +they should be worn. The chocolate and arrow-root had apparently been +brought chiefly for the sake of their tins, and one of the Arabs +illustrated their use by putting one of them down on a rock, chopping it +in two with his sword, cleaning out the contents, and then restoring as +well as he could the two halves to the original shape. Some of the +children were about to taste the arrow-root scattered about the ground, +but the sheik sharply forbade them to touch it, evidently thinking that +it might be poison. Edgar was consulted, and said that the contents of +all the tins were good.</p> + +<p>As they were evidently anxious to know their uses, he took one of the +tin pots, filled it with water, and placed it over the fire. Then with +one of the Arabs' knives he opened a tin of chocolate, cutting it +carefully round the edge so that it should make a good drinking tin when +empty. When the water boiled he took out some of the contents of the tin +with the spoon and stirred them into the pot, and poured the contents +into a dozen of the cups. The sheik still looked a little suspicious, +and ordered him to drink one first, which he did with deep satisfaction. +The others then followed his example, and evidently approved very highly +of the compound, and another pot of water was at once placed on the +fire. Edgar was then requested to show what were the virtues of the +white powder, and of the little tins. He said that both these were good +for people who were ill. The Arabs, however, were not satisfied without +making the experiment.</p> + +<p>The arrow-root was not approved of, and the chief would have ordered the +tins to be all opened and the contents thrown away, but on Edgar +continuing to insist that they were good for illness, he told his wife +to put them away in the tent. The<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[Pg 248]</a></span> Liebig was warmly approved of. Edgar +explained that it was good for sickness, and good for a journey. The +Arabs, seeing how small a quantity was required for making a tin of +broth, at once recognized this, and the sheik ordered his wife to take +great care of them, and said they were to be used only on a journey. The +medicine-chest, with its bottles of various sizes, was also the subject +of great curiosity, and one of the women, going into a tent, brought out +a girl seven or eight years old, and requested Edgar to say which was +the medicines that were suitable for her case.</p> + +<p>Edgar felt the child's pulse, and found that she was in a high state of +fever. Quinine was, he knew, a good thing for fever, but whether it +ought to be administered to a patient in that stage he did not know. He +told the sheik that he was not a Hakim, but that if he wished he would +give the child the medicine that he thought was best suited to it, but +he could not say for certain whether it would do it good. The sheik, +who, like all the rest, was deeply interested in the contents of the +chest, said he must do his best. He accordingly gave the child a dose of +quinine, and told the mother to give her a cup of the arrow-root, and +that in two hours she must take another dose of the quinine.</p> + +<p>The last subject of investigation was the tea. There was a small sliding +trap at the top of the tin, and when Edgar poured out half a cup of the +contents, these were examined with great curiosity. The men took a few +grains in their fingers, smelt them, and then tasted them. The result +was unsatisfactory, and they were content to watch Edgar's proceedings +before they went further. When he had the water boiling, he put the tea +into a tin pot and poured the water over it, and when it had stood a few +minutes served it out. The verdict was universally unfavourable, and the +chief, in disgust at having brought a tin of useless stuff so far, +kicked it over and over. Seeing that Edgar had drunk up his portion with +satisfaction, the sheik's wife told him that if he liked the nasty stuff +he might<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[Pg 249]</a></span> keep it for himself, a permission of which he very thankfully +availed himself.</p> + +<p>The uses of all the articles being explained, the sheik proceeded to a +distribution. He took the lion's share for himself, gave a good portion +to the two men who had followed him, and a very small one to each of the +other grown-up men and women in the camp. He ordered Edgar to carry his +portion into the tent, where, under the instructions of the sheik's +wife, the articles were all stowed away. The tent, which was a large +one, was constructed of black blanketing woven by the women from camels' +hair, and was divided into two portions by a hanging of the same +materials. The one next to the entrance was the general living and +reception room, that behind being for the use of the sheik's wife and +children.</p> + +<p>There were two female slaves who slept in a tiny tent constructed of a +blanket in the rear of that of the sheik, and two negro slaves who +looked after the camels, tilled the ground, and slept where they could.</p> + +<p>The sheik's wife was evidently pleased with Edgar, and regarded him as +her special property. Darkness had fallen long before the examination of +the booty had concluded, and as soon as he had carried the sheik's share +into the tent, she gave him a bowl of camel's milk and some meal in a +gourd, and also bestowed on him one of the black blankets, and pointed +out to him a place where he was to sleep just outside the tent.</p> + +<p>"It might be a great deal worse," Edgar said to himself as he ate his +supper; "the sheik himself does not seem to be a bad fellow; and at any +rate I owe him my life for his obstinacy in sticking to me, instead of +handing me over to the Mahdi's people. His wife is evidently disposed to +be kind, and my work will be no harder than an agricultural labourer's, +at any rate as long as we stay here. This is an out-of-the-way sort of +place, and if it does not lie on the route between any two places, is +not likely to be much visited. It certainly looks<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[Pg 250]</a></span> as if the sheik +regarded it as his private property, which he would not do if it were a +regular caravan halting-place.</p> + +<p>"It is likely enough that there are very few people who know of its +existence. We travelled something like fifty miles a day, and must be +three hundred miles to the west of the Nile. What I have got to do now +is to work willingly, so as to keep in the good graces of the sheik and +his wife, and to learn the language so as to speak it fluently. It is no +use my thinking about escaping until I can pass as a native, unless, of +course, I hear that we have gone up and taken Khartoum. I wonder how +they are getting on at Metemmeh, and whether they have found the +sergeant. If they have, it is likely enough when he finds that I have +never reached the camp he will go to Rupert and tell him who the +trumpeter of his troop was. I hope he won't; it is much better that they +should wonder for some years what has become of me, and at last +gradually forget me, than know that I am a slave among the Arabs. I am +sure that would be a great grief to them all, and I hope they will not +know anything about it until I return some day and tell them."</p> + +<p>He was very glad of his blanket, for the nights were cold; and when he +had finished his supper he wrapped himself up in it and was soon asleep. +He was awoke at daylight by voices inside the tent, and a few minutes +later the sheik and his wife came out, and seeing Edgar standing there +the sheik ordered him to go and assist the other slaves; but Amina +pouted: "I thought you had brought him home as a present to me; what use +will he be to me if he is to work in the field all day with the others?"</p> + +<p>"But the Kaffir must do some work, Amina; he cannot have his food for +nothing."</p> + +<p>"Of course he shall work when I don't want him," the woman said, "but I +shall find much for him to do. He will draw the water, he will fetch the +fuel, he will grind the meal when I have anything else for the women to +do. When he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[Pg 251]</a></span> has done all I require of him, then he can go and work in +the fields. It is no use your giving me a slave and then taking him away +again."</p> + +<p>"Well, well!" the sheik said, "do with him as you will; women are always +pleased with novelties. You will soon get tired of having this Kaffir +about the tent, but keep him if you will."</p> + +<p>Amina took one of the large hospital kettles, and putting it into +Edgar's hands pointed to the well which lay a hundred yards away and +told him to fetch water. When he returned with it she bade him go out +and gather fuel. The last order was by no means easy to execute. The +Arab fuel consisted almost entirely of dried camels' dung, as the scrub +very speedily becomes exhausted for a considerable distance from a camp. +Edgar took a rough basket to which Amina pointed and was away for some +hours, following the track by which he had arrived and making a circuit +of the oasis, and returned with the basket piled up with the fuel.</p> + +<p>Amina was evidently well satisfied with the result of his work, for fuel +is one of the great difficulties of Arab life in the desert. She +rewarded him with a calabash of meal.</p> + +<p>"Has my lady anything more for me to do?" he asked when he had finished +his food.</p> + +<p>"Not now," she replied.</p> + +<p>"Then I will go out and help the others in the field;" and he walked off +to where the negroes were engaged in watering a plantation of maize. The +process consisted of drawing water from the well in leathern buckets and +pouring it into channels by which it was conducted to the plantation. +The negroes looked at him sourly as he took hold of the rope attached to +the long swinging beam that acted as a lever to bring the bucket to the +surface, and one of them muttered in Arabic, "Kaffir dog!" Slaves as +they were they despised this white Christian.</p> + +<p>"Well, look here," Edgar said in English, letting go the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[Pg 252]</a></span> rope, "the +sooner we come to an understanding the better. I am not going to stand +any nonsense from you fellows; and if you don't keep a civil tongue in +your heads I will give you such a licking as will teach you to do so in +future."</p> + +<p>Although they did not understand his words they guessed the import of +them, and the biggest of the men, a powerful negro, repeated the word +Kaffir and spat upon him. Edgar's right arm flew out from his shoulder, +the blow struck the negro on the nose, and in an instant he was upon his +back upon the ground. His comrade stood for a moment stupefied, and then +with loud yells ran towards the tents, leaving the negro to pick himself +up at his leisure. Edgar continued the work of raising and emptying the +bucket until the negro returned, followed by the sheik, his wife, and +all the inhabitants of the village. By this time the negro who had been +knocked down had risen to his feet and was roaring like a bull at the +top of his voice, while the blood was streaming from his nose.</p> + +<p>"What is this?" the sheik shouted in great anger.</p> + +<p>The negro volubly explained that the Kaffir slave had struck down their +comrade.</p> + +<p>"Why is this?" the sheik demanded of Edgar.</p> + +<p>"I am my lord's slave," Edgar said; "but this fellow is a slave also. He +called me a Kaffir dog and spat upon me. I knocked him down; and if any +other slave does the same I will punish him also."</p> + +<p>As the woman whose child had been ill had a short time before reported +that the fever had left her, and that having drunk two basins of the +arrow-root she was much better, the sheik had been greatly pleased with +the idea that he had made a far more valuable capture than he had +anticipated; he therefore received Edgar's explanation in his broken +Arabic favourably.</p> + +<p>"The white slave has done right," he said. "Who are you that you are to +insult him? He came to work on my business,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">[Pg 253]</a></span> and you would have +interfered with and hindered him. Hamish has been rightly punished, +though truly the white man must have hit hard, for his nose is flattened +to his face. Mashallah it must have been a wonderful blow. The white men +are Kaffirs, but they have marvellous powers. Now go to work again and +let me hear of no more quarrels."</p> + +<p>"The white man is my slave," Amina said, stepping forward and addressing +the negroes, "and if anyone insults him I will have him flogged until he +cannot stand. He is a Hakim, and his medicines have saved the life of +Hamid's child. He is worth a hundred of you." And bestowing a vigorous +and unexpected box on the ears to the negro standing next to her she +turned and walked back to her tent, accompanied by her husband, while +the rest of the villagers remained for some time staring at the negro, +and commenting upon the wonderful effect of the white man's blow.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XV.</h2> + +<h3>BAD NEWS.</h3> + + +<p>No sooner was work over in the afternoon of the day after that on which +Rupert had heard of his brother's loss than Skinner came across with +Easton to see him.</p> + +<p>"My dear Skinner, surely you are not fit to be walking about," he said +as he saw them approaching.</p> + +<p>"Oh! it won't do me any harm, Clinton; my arm is all in splints, and, as +you see, bandaged tightly to my side. The doctor seemed to say that I +had better not move, but I promised to take care of myself. I should +have come, old man, if I had been ten times as bad. Easton has just been +telling me of this horrible business, so of course I came over to see +you. I think from what he says you take too dark a view of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">[Pg 254]</a></span> it. There is +no doubt in my mind that he is a prisoner, and that is bad enough; but +these Arabs don't slaughter their prisoners in cold blood, they are not +such fools as that, they make them useful. I own it must be disgusting +to be a slave, especially to these Arabs, and of many fellows I should +say they would never stand it any time. Easton wouldn't, for example. In +the first place he wouldn't work, and in the next place, if they tried +to make him he would be knocking his master down, and then of course he +would get speared. But I have great hopes of your brother; he was always +as hard as nails, and I should have no fear of his breaking down in +health. Then he is a chap that can look after himself. Look how well he +has been going on since he bolted from Cheltenham. Then he is a beggar +to stick to a thing, and I should say the first thing he will make up +his mind to do will be to escape some day, and he will be content to +wait any time till the opportunity occurs. You see he has learnt a lot +since he left school. He has been roughing it pretty severely. He has +had over a year in this beastly hot climate, and will be able to make +himself at home pretty near anywhere. I tell you, Clinton, I would lay +odds on his turning up again even if he is left to himself. Besides +that, if we go on to Khartoum and thrash the Mahdi, these Arabs will all +be coming in and swearing that they are most grateful to us for freeing +them from him, and you may be sure that any slaves they have will be +given up at once. I don't say your brother is not in a hole; but I do +say that he is just the fellow to get out of it."</p> + +<p>"I have thought of everything you say, Skinner, and I do think that +Edgar is as likely to make his escape some day as anyone would be under +the circumstances; but I doubt whether anyone could do it."</p> + +<p>"Why not?" Skinner asked, almost indignantly. "I don't suppose he could +make his way down the Nile, although he might do that; but there are +several caravan routes down to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">[Pg 255]</a></span> the Red Sea, and then there is +Abyssinia. The people are Christians there, and, they say, fighting +against the Mahdi's Arabs now; so if he got there he would be pretty +sure to be treated well. I should say that there were lots of ways that +he could escape. I don't mean now; but when he has got accustomed to the +country, it seems to me a fellow with pluck and energy such as he has +got ought to find no great difficulty in giving the people he is with +the slip, and making his way somewhere. I do think, Clinton, there is no +occasion to feel hopeless about your brother. It may be a long time +before you see him again, but I do honestly believe he will turn up some +time or other."</p> + +<p>"I begin to hope he will," Rupert said. "At first I did not think so for +a moment; but now I have had time to look at it calmly I think that +there is a chance of his getting off some day; besides, when we are once +at Khartoum and have scattered the Mahdi's army, I have no doubt General +Gordon will send orders through the land for all Egyptian and European +slaves to be brought in. You know it is still hoped that some of Hicks' +officers may be alive, and there is such a feeling for Gordon throughout +the country that his orders will be sure to be obeyed."</p> + +<p>"That is right, Clinton," Easton said; "that is the view I take of it +myself, and I am very glad to see that you have come to see it in that +light. And now will you tell us what there was in that letter that gave +us the news of your brother's being out here. How came the sergeant to +write to you? How did he know you were his brother? It seems an +unaccountable business all through."</p> + +<p>"I have not looked at the letter since," Rupert said. "It would have +been very important if it had not been for Edgar's loss. As it is, it +does not seem to matter one way or the other. Still, as you say, it is +very singular altogether its coming into my hands;" and he took out the +letter. It began: "Sir, two days ago I was with the trumpeter of my +troop<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">[Pg 256]</a></span> when you passed by with two other officers. One of them called +you Clinton, and as I had an interest in the name it attracted my +attention, and I found that it also attracted the attention of the young +fellow with me. I questioned him, and he acknowledged that he had been +to school with you and the two officers with you."</p> + +<p>"Good heavens!" Skinner broke in; "to think that we three should have +passed close to your brother and that none of us should have recognized +him! How awfully unfortunate!"</p> + +<p>"It is terrible to think of now," Rupert agreed, and then continued +reading the letter: "I then told Smith, which is the name the trumpeter +went by, that my interest in you consisted of the fact that for aught I +knew I was your father. He exclaimed, that in that case it was probable +that I was his father, as he had been brought up with you. He then told +me how he came to enlist, namely, that my wife, whom I have not seen +since she left India, and who was, I thought, dead long ago, had been to +him and had told him all about the change of infants, and said that she +had done it on purpose for his good, and that she knew that he was her +son because you had a mole on your shoulder; and she wanted him to go on +pretending to be Captain Clinton's son, and offered to swear that the +other one was hers, so that he might get all the money.</p> + +<p>"That is why I write this. My name is Humphreys. I was a sergeant in the +30th, and it was at Agra, when we were stationed there, that the change +of infants took place. My wife went over to England. I took to drink and +disgraced myself, and five years afterwards deserted. I stayed in +England for some years and then enlisted again in the 5th Dragoon +Guards, and being young-looking gave my age as eight years younger than +I was. I now go by the name of Bowen, and am a sergeant and bear a good +character in the regiment. The lad did not wish me to say anything about +this, at any rate until the campaign was over; but as we shall be +marching in a day<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">[Pg 257]</a></span> or two, and it may be that I shall be killed, I write +a letter to you and one to Captain Clinton, so that in case I am killed +the truth may be known.</p> + +<p>"I affirm most solemnly that the statement made by my wife was a lie. +Whether she did intend to change the children or not is more than I can +say. Sometimes she said she did, sometimes she said she didn't; but at +any rate, she herself did not know which child was which, and did not +discover the little mark on the shoulder until after the babies got +mixed up. Over and over again I have seen her cry and wring her hands +because she could not say which was which. She acknowledged that she +meant to make money out of it, and lamented that she had lost her chance +because she could never herself tell which was which. Of this I am ready +to take my oath in any court of justice, and if she says she knows now, +she is a liar. I have read this letter over to Troop-sergeant Matthews, +and have in his presence sworn on a Bible to its truth. He will place +his name by the side of mine as witness to that and to my signature. I +remain, your obedient servant, John Humphreys, now known as John Bowen. +The letter to your father is word for word the same as this. I have +written it in duplicate in case you should be killed before I am."</p> + +<p>"Well, that is plain enough," Easton said when Rupert had finished. "It +is just what you said all along. The woman did not know which was her +son, and you and Edgar stand in the same relation to Captain Clinton +that you always did."</p> + +<p>"Thank God for that!" Rupert said. "We want no change, and my father has +said, talking it over with me again and again, he has two sons and loves +us both equally, and it would be a deep grief to him now to know for +certain that one of us is not his son. I will walk across to the +hospital and ask how the sergeant is going on. I am strangely placed +towards him now."</p> + +<p>"It is a curious position," Easton said; "but in any case you do but +stand towards him as a son would do towards a father<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">[Pg 258]</a></span> who had given him +up in infancy to be adopted by someone else."</p> + +<p>Rupert did not reply, but, saying, "Wait here until I come back," walked +over to the hospital lines. He returned in a few minutes.</p> + +<p>"The doctor says he is sinking," he said gravely. "I shall go over there +and remain until all is over."</p> + +<p>"Will he be sensible at the last?" he asked the surgeon as he stood by +the litter.</p> + +<p>"Possibly," the surgeon said.</p> + +<p>"I have a great interest in asking, doctor; I am most anxious to have a +few words with him if possible before he dies."</p> + +<p>"If you will call me if he opens his eyes," the surgeon said, "I will do +what I can to rouse him. His pulse is getting weaker and weaker; I do +not think the end is far off."</p> + +<p>Half an hour later the dying man opened his eyes. Rupert beckoned to the +surgeon, who came across at once and poured a few drops of spirits +between his lips, and moistened his forehead with a sponge dipped in +vinegar and water.</p> + +<p>"Do you know me, Humphreys?" Rupert asked. "I am Rupert Clinton."</p> + +<p>The dying man's face brightened. Then his lips moved. "Where is Smith? +He left me to get help; he never returned."</p> + +<p>"He is away now," Rupert said, anxious not to disturb the dying man. +"When we got to you you were insensible, that was two days ago. Edgar is +not in camp at present."</p> + +<p>"There is a letter for you."</p> + +<p>"Yes, it was found on you and I have read it, and I know how we stand +towards each other, and that perhaps you are my father; here is the +letter."</p> + +<p>"I will swear to it; get a witness."</p> + +<p>Rupert called the surgeon. "Doctor, the sergeant wishes you to hear him +swear that this letter was written by him and that its contents are +true."</p> + +<p>"Bible," the sergeant said faintly.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">[Pg 259]</a></span></p> + +<p>A Bible was brought and the dying man's hand placed upon it. "I swear," +he said in a firmer voice than that in which he had hitherto spoken, +"that this letter was written by me and that every word in it is true, +and that neither I nor my wife, nor anyone save God, knows whether +Trumpeter Smith or Lieutenant Clinton is my son."</p> + +<p>The effort was made and he closed his eyes. Rupert took his hand and +knelt beside him. Once again the sergeant opened his eyes and spoke. +"Good lads both," he said; "better as things are."</p> + +<p>A few minutes later he ceased to breathe. The surgeon had retired after +hearing the sergeant's declaration. When he saw Rupert rise to his feet +he came up to him. "I have just written down the words," he said, "and +have signed my name as a witness to the fact that it was a declaration +sworn on the Bible by one who knew that he was dying."</p> + +<p>"Thank you," Rupert said; "it is a strange story, I will tell you it +some day."</p> + +<p>After leaving the hospital Rupert went to Easton, in whose judgment he +had a great deal of confidence, and after stating what had occurred +asked him if in his opinion he could take any steps to learn more about +Edgar.</p> + +<p>"I think, Clinton, that were I in your place I should go to the +commanding officer and tell him you have learnt that the trumpeter who +was with the wounded sergeant of the Heavies found in the grove, and who +left him to fetch aid from our camp, was your brother. You can say that +on account of a misunderstanding he left home and enlisted under a false +name, and beg that a search be instituted for his body, and also that +the politicals who are in communication with the natives should make +inquiries whether any white captive had been brought into Metemmeh. If +you like I will say as much to our colonel, and I am sure that he will +give orders that whenever detachments go out strict search will be made +of all ground over which they pass. I am afraid that if we do learn from +the natives that he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">[Pg 260]</a></span> is at Metemmeh our chance of getting him back +before we take the place is small, for even if the people into whose +hands he fell were willing to part with him for a ransom, the fanatical +dervishes would not allow it; however, there would be no harm in trying. +I know that to-day half a dozen natives came in with some cattle and +grain, and no doubt some others will be in to-morrow."</p> + +<p>Rupert took the advice, and at once went over to the quarters of the +officer in command and made the statement that Easton had suggested. The +colonel expressed great regret, and promised that every step should be +taken to ascertain the fate of his brother and to endeavour to recover +him if alive. Another party was sent out in the morning, and a further +and most minute search made of the ground between the camp and the grove +where the sergeant had been found, and the 19th Hussars were directed +while scouring the plain to search every depression and to examine every +clump of bushes to discover if possible the body of a missing soldier or +any signs of his clothes or accoutrements. The political officer closely +questioned all the natives who came in, but these came from villages +higher up the river, and no news was obtained of what was going on at +Metemmeh. The next day there was a great outburst of firing in Metemmeh, +guns and cannon being discharged incessantly for two or three hours. At +first it was thought that some dispute might have arisen between the +various tribes now occupying the place, but this idea was abandoned when +it was seen that the cannon on the walls were discharged not into the +town but towards the open country, and it was then concluded that some +great festival of the Mahdi was being celebrated. The following day was +Sunday. Just as the troops were being formed up for a church parade a +staff officer came up to Rupert and his fellow aides-de-camp as they +were buckling on their swords.</p> + +<p>"Is anything wrong, major?" Rupert asked, as he saw that the officer was +much agitated.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">[Pg 261]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Yes, we have terrible news. A boat has just come down from Wilson with +the news that he arrived too late; that Khartoum has fallen, and that +Gordon is murdered."</p> + +<p>An exclamation of horror broke from the two young officers.</p> + +<p>"Do you think it is true, major?"</p> + +<p>"I fear there is no doubt of it. The steamers got up to the town, and +the Mahdi's flags were flying everywhere, and the vessels were peppered +with shot from all the batteries. There is other bad news. Wilson's +steamers both ran aground, and cannot be got off. Beresford is to go up +and bring the party off, that is, if he can fight his way past the +batteries. You see, that is what the firing in Metemmeh yesterday was +about. No doubt a messenger had arrived from the Mahdi with the news of +the fall of Khartoum. Don't say anything about it. Of course the news +will not be kept from the officers, but it is to be kept from the men as +far as possible."</p> + +<p>Feeling almost stunned with the news, Rupert and his companions joined +the rest of the staff and proceeded to the parade-ground. An hour after +the service had concluded the terrible intelligence was known to all the +officers. The feelings of grief, indignation, and rage were universal. +All their efforts and suffering had been in vain, all the money spent +upon the expedition entirely wasted. Gordon and his Egyptian garrison at +Khartoum had perished, and it seemed not unnatural that the authorities +at home should be blamed for the hesitation they had displayed in +sending out the expedition to rescue the heroic defenders. Even at the +last moment, they had countermanded their orders for the purchase of +camels, which, had they been available, would have enabled General +Stewart's desert column to march straight across, instead of being +obliged to send the camels backwards and forwards; and in that case the +steamers would have arrived in time to save Gordon, for it was but two +days before they reached Khartoum that the town had fallen.</p> + +<p>Never was an expedition so utterly useless, never did brave<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262">[Pg 262]</a></span> men who had +fought their way through all difficulties find their efforts so +completely vain!</p> + +<p>The news could not long be kept from the men. The words of passionate +grief and indignation that burst from their officers were soon caught up +and carried through the camp, and the rank and file joined with their +officers in a wholesale denunciation of those who were responsible for +this disaster which had suddenly overtaken the expedition. The future +was warmly debated among the officers. Some maintained that the +expedition having come so far, the money having been laid out, it would +be allowed to finish its work, to proceed to Khartoum, to recover the +city, crush the Mahdi, and restore peace and order to the Soudan. Others +asserted that after this failure to carry out the main object of the +expedition, the authorities at home might now hasten to withdraw an +expedition which they had only with apparent reluctance sent out at all. +Rupert feared that the latter alternative was the most probable, and +with it his hopes of seeing his brother before long were dashed to the +ground.</p> + +<p>It was maddening to think that he was lying a helpless prisoner in the +hands of the Arabs in the mud-walled town but two miles away; for it was +now probable that the force would march back, and Edgar be left to his +fate. Easton and Skinner in vain attempted to cheer him. They had, +however, no arguments to combat his conviction that the expedition would +be abandoned, and could only fall back upon their belief that sooner or +later Edgar would manage to make his escape from the hands of the Arabs. +To Rupert's distressed mind this was poor consolation.</p> + +<p>Lord Charles Beresford at once started up the river in a small steamer +to rescue Sir Charles Wilson's party. As it was known that there was a +strong battery below the spot where the steamers had been lost, and that +Beresford would have to run the gauntlet of this on his way up, much +anxiety was felt as to the result, and a constant and eager watch was +kept up for a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263">[Pg 263]</a></span> sight of the steamer on her return. When the time came +that she was expected to make her appearance, and no signs were visible +of her, the anxiety heightened; and when another day passed, and still +she did not return, grave fears were entertained for her safety. At last +the welcome news came that smoke could be seen ascending from the river +higher up, and loud cheers burst from the men when the flag at the +masthead was seen above the trees.</p> + +<p>There was a general rush down to the shore of all who were not on duty +to hear the news when she arrived; and when she drew up near the bank +and the first party landed, it was found that her escape had been a +narrow one indeed. In passing the battery she had had a sharp engagement +with the artillery there, and a shot had passed through her boiler and +disabled her, and she had been obliged to anchor. Fortunately she was a +little above the battery when this took place. The guns could not well +be brought to bear upon her; and although assailed by a constant fire of +musketry, her own guns, her Gardner, and the rifles of the troops had +kept the enemy at a distance and prevented them from shifting any of +their guns so as to play upon her, until an officer of the Naval +Brigade, who was acting as her engineer, had managed to repair the +boiler.</p> + +<p>While the fight was going on Sir Charles Wilson's party were upon an +island, near which the second steamer had sunk, two miles higher up the +river, and were hotly engaged with a force upon the bank. They were able +to see that the rescuing steamer was disabled, and at night had crossed +to the river bank, and marching down it to a point opposite the steamer, +opened communication with her by signals, and then did what they could +to divert the attention of the enemy from her by opening fire upon the +battery with one of their guns, causing the enemy to turn two or three +of his pieces of artillery against them. At nightfall they marched down +the river to a point where the steamer had signalled she would pick them +up. The steamer<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265">[Pg 265]</a></span><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264">[Pg 264]</a></span> ran past the battery in the morning and fortunately +escaped without serious injury, and then picking up the whole of Sir +Charles Wilson's party came down the river without further molestation.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> + <a id="image08" name="image08"> + <img src="images/08.jpg" + alt="A SHOT HAD PASSED THROUGH HER BOILER." + title="A SHOT HAD PASSED THROUGH HER BOILER." /></a><br /> + <span class="caption">"A SHOT HAD PASSED THROUGH HER BOILER."</span> +</div> + +<p>All this time no despatch of any kind had been received from Korti, +although a small reinforcement consisting of a company of the Naval +Brigade and half a battery of artillery had arrived, and the camels—or +rather a portion of them, for nearly half had died upon the journey—had +returned from Gakdul with a supply of stores. The days passed heavily +until, on the 10th of February, General Buller and the 18th Royal Irish +arrived; hopes were entertained, as they were seen approaching, that the +appearance of the infantry signified that the expedition was still to +continue to advance; but it was very soon known that the Royal Irish had +merely arrived to cover the retreat. The next morning the whole of the +wounded were sent off under a strong escort; then the work of destroying +all the stores that had been brought up by the last convoy, except what +were needed for the march down to Gakdul, was carried out, and two days +later the forts that had been built with so much labour were evacuated, +and the whole force set out upon their march down to Korti.</p> + +<p>This time the journey was performed on foot. The camels of the three +corps and of the vast baggage train with which they had started were +bleaching on the desert, and scarce enough animals remained for the +service of carrying down the sick and wounded. Rupert Clinton was among +them. His strength had failed rapidly, and a sort of low fever had +seized him, and he had for some days before the convoy started been +lying prostrate in the hospital lines. Skinner was, at his own request, +carried by the same camel that conveyed Rupert, the beds being swung one +on each side of it. He had protested that he was perfectly capable of +marching, but the doctors would not hear of it; and when he found that +he could accompany Rupert he was glad that they decided against him, as +he was able to look after his friend and to keep up his spirits to a +certain extent by his talk.</p> + +<p>Several of the wounded died on their way down, among them Sir Herbert +Stewart, who had survived his wound a much longer time than the surgeons +had at first believed possible. One piece of news that they had learned +the day before they left the neighbourhood of Metemmeh had some slight +effect in cheering Rupert, a native of that town having reported that a +white prisoner had been brought in on the day after the battle near the +town; he had been captured by some men of the Jahrin tribe and not by +the regular troops of the Mahdi; three or four days later there had been +a quarrel, the Mahdi's people wanting to take the prisoner and send him +up to Khartoum; his captors had objected, claiming him as their private +property; but as they were only a small party he would doubtless have +been taken from them by force had they not, during the night, stolen out +of the town with him, taken a boat, crossed the river, and made off.</p> + +<p>Thus there was evidence that Edgar was still alive, and Skinner +endeavoured to impress upon Rupert that in every respect the +intelligence was favourable.</p> + +<p>"You see, Clinton, if your brother had been sent up to the Mahdi, the +villain would have endeavoured to force him to change his religion. +Edgar would never have done that, and in that case it is pretty certain +that they would have chopped his head off. As it is, the chief of these +Arabs who took him evidently means to keep him as a slave for himself. +Of course it is not pleasant to be a slave, but it is better than having +the choice between worshipping a greasy Arab or having your head chopped +off, and it will give him time to learn the language, to make his plans +of escape, and to carry them out."</p> + +<p>Rupert was too weak and ill to fully enter into the question, but he did +see that Edgar's position was certainly better under an Arab master than +it would have been had he been sent up to Khartoum, and the knowledge +that he was alive and was in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266">[Pg 266]</a></span> no immediate danger of his life did much +to revive him, and enable him to bear the weary journey down to Korti +better than he would otherwise have done. Once there the comparatively +cool air of the hospital tents, the quiet, and the supply of every +luxury soon had their effect, and in the course of three weeks he was up +and about, though it would be some time before he would be fit for +active duty. It was still altogether uncertain what decision would be +finally arrived at at home respecting the expedition, but for the +present the troops were stationed at various points on the river as far +down as Dongola, and it was hoped that later on the advance against +Khartoum would be recommenced.</p> + +<p>Rupert, as soon as he was able to get about, had a long conversation +with Major Kitchener, the political officer who was in charge of all +communications with the natives. He related to him the circumstances of +his brother's capture, and how he was a prisoner of some men belonging +to the Jahrin tribe. Major Kitchener promised that his spies should make +every inquiry, and held out hopes that by the offer of a large reward +his captors might be induced to bring him down to the camp.</p> + +<p>The time passed very slowly, the heat increased in intensity and became +intolerable from nine in the morning until five in the afternoon. +Between those hours there was nothing to do but to lie still in the mud +huts that had now been erected, for it would have been well-nigh +impossible to exist in the little tents that the troops had brought with +them.</p> + +<p>In the early morning and in the evening every one bathed in the Nile. +Then the officers, each of whom had picked up some sort of pony from the +natives, went for a ride, chased the wild dogs, or wandered gun on +shoulder in search of such game as was to be found. After sunset was the +only really pleasant time of day, and when the moon was up both officers +and men enjoyed themselves; but on dark nights neither walking nor +riding could be indulged in, so broken was the ground, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267">[Pg 267]</a></span> there was +nothing to do but to talk, sing, and vary the tedium by a game of cards.</p> + +<p>The Guards' Camel Regiment were posted close to Dongola. Rupert, who +since the death of General Stewart had no longer any staff duties, was +attached to the transport corps and spent a considerable portion of his +time going up or down the river in boats. He did not, therefore, see +much of his friends, although he never passed Dongola without managing +to make it a halting-place so as to have a few hours' talk with them.</p> + +<p>"You have thoroughly picked up again, Clinton," Skinner said as he +arrived upon one of these visits. "No one would know you to be the same +fellow who was brought down to Korti with me on that wretched camel's +back. I think you are very lucky to have got put on to that transport +work."</p> + +<p>"So do I, Skinner; it gives me little time to sit and think, and though +it is terrifically hot in the middle of the day I can always manage to +get up some sort of shelter with straw or matting of some kind, and at +any rate it is cooler there than on shore."</p> + +<p>"I wish they would give me a turn at it," Skinner said. "I cannot offer +to take an oar, for although my arm is going on very well the doctor +says it may be months before I can venture to use it in anything like +hard work. We get up jolly horse races here once a week in the evening. +The natives enter their animals. Of course we have no chance with them +on our little tats, but we sometimes manage to requisition two or three +horses from the Hussars. I dare not ride myself, for though the horses +and ponies are both very sure-footed these natives ride in the wildest +way and one might get cannoned over. Still it is an amusement to look on +and make small bets and watch the natives; crowds of them come out to +see it, and they get tremendously excited over it. I wish we could get +up a good football match, the Guards against Dongola; it would be awful +fun. As far as running goes we should not be in it, and if one of them +got the ball he would carry it right through us up to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268">[Pg 268]</a></span> the goal, for +they are as active and slippery as eels. Of course when it came to a +good close fight we should have it our own way."</p> + +<p>"Have you managed to get up football on board ship, Skinner?" Easton, +who was stretched at full length on the ground, asked lazily.</p> + +<p>"Not yet," Skinner laughed. "If we played at all we should have to use a +cannon-ball, so that it should not be kicked over the sides; but then, +unless we got iron shoes made for the purpose, we should all be laid up. +But I have got a football in my cabin, and once or twice we have had +games at Suakim, and very good fun it was too."</p> + +<p>"No news, I suppose, Clinton?" Easton asked, sitting up.</p> + +<p>Rupert shook his head. "Not a word. We hear very little of what is going +on above us, and the natives who do come in lie so, there's no believing +a word they say. I have been thinking that if one could trust them I +would pay one of the sheiks to dress me up and stain my skin and take me +with him on a wandering expedition to Khartoum and over the country on +both sides of the river."</p> + +<p>"It would be madness," Easton said. "Of course if you could talk their +language perfectly it might be possible to manage it, for I suppose that +with dye and false hair one might be got up to pass as far as +appearances go, but not being able to speak the language would be +fatal."</p> + +<p>"Of course I should have to go as a dumb man. I was asking the surgeon +the other day if there would be any great difficulty in cutting a +fellow's tongue out."</p> + +<p>"In doing what?" Easton and Skinner asked in astonishment.</p> + +<p>"Cutting my tongue out," Rupert said seriously. "You see, if my tongue +was cut out anyone could see at once that I was dumb. Of course it +wouldn't be pleasant, but I believe it would be possible to get to talk +after some time. If there were no other objections I should not hesitate +for a moment; but unfortunately I should have to pass for deaf as well +as dumb,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_269" id="Page_269">[Pg 269]</a></span> for of course I should not understand anything that was said +to me. I have been thinking it over in every light, and really the only +great objection I see to the plan is that though one might depend upon +the chief's being faithful if he were well paid, it would be very +doubtful as to his followers."</p> + +<p>"And are you really serious in saying that you would have your tongue +cut out, Clinton?"</p> + +<p>"Of course I am serious," Rupert said, almost angrily. "What is one's +tongue in comparison to one's brother? What do you think, Easton? Do you +think the idea is at all feasible? I may say that for the last two +months I have been working almost night and day at the language. I +engaged a fellow the day I came out of hospital. He was working for one +of those Greek shopkeepers. He is a native of Dongola, but has been down +in Egypt and picked up a certain amount of French. He goes about with me +in the boat, and we talk all day and as long as I can keep him awake at +night. Of course I don't think for a moment that I could learn enough to +pass as a native for at least a couple of years; but it would be of no +use my going up with a party of Arabs if I could not make out what they +say and learn what news they pick up, and make arrangements to get Edgar +away if we find him."</p> + +<p>"It would be a fearfully risky business, Clinton," Easton said gravely. +"The betting would be tremendously against you, but I don't say that it +is absolutely impossible that you should be successful. I don't think it +would be necessary to carry out the idea of having your tongue cut out. +As you say, a tongue is nothing in comparison to a brother, and if I +thought that the loss of your tongue would ensure your success I should +say nothing against it, it would be a matter for you and you only to +decide; but I should think it might be managed in some other way. The +fellow you would be with would naturally avoid all large encampments, +and would send you off to look after camels or something if other +natives arrived at the same encampment."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_270" id="Page_270">[Pg 270]</a></span></p> + +<p>"You don't really mean, Easton," Skinner said, "that you seriously think +that it might be done; that is, that the betting is not more than ten to +one against it?"</p> + +<p>"No; I don't think the odds are longer than that, Skinner. You know +Burton went to Mecca in disguise, and I believe that it has been done +since by somebody else. I grant that Burton could talk the language +well, and that having to play the part of a dumb man adds to the risk. +Still, I do not think, as I said, that the chances are more than ten to +one against it."</p> + +<p>"Well, I shall think it over," Rupert said; "but I must be going now, +for the boat will be loaded by this time."</p> + +<p>"Why did you encourage Clinton in this mad idea, Easton?" Skinner asked +after Rupert had left them.</p> + +<p>"I don't think I did encourage him. I told him the betting was ten to +one against his coming back alive, and I don't call that encouraging; +but I believe it is possible, and I am not at all sure that if I were in +his place, and the idea had occurred to me, that I shouldn't try to +carry it out."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XVI.</h2> + +<h3>IN DISGUISE.</h3> + + +<p>As long as there was a chance that the expedition might again advance +Rupert did nothing farther, and indeed was unable to come to any +decision as to his course. He had long since received an answer from +Captain Clinton to his letter written as soon as he was well enough to +sit up after arriving at Korti, with the news that Edgar had been +present with the expedition, and was now a prisoner in the hands of the +Arabs. Captain Clinton wrote in great distress himself, and said that +his wife was completely prostrated with the news. He said: "I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_271" id="Page_271">[Pg 271]</a></span> know I +need not urge you, Rupert, to use every means to obtain some news of +Edgar. Draw upon me for any amount, however large, that may be necessary +for bribing natives to find, and if possible rescue, him. I fear that +the latter is hopeless. Still, if you see even the most remote chance of +it, let no question of expense stand in the way."</p> + +<p>But even the promises of rewards that seemed to them to be fabulous +failed in eliciting from the spies any information as to Edgar's +whereabouts. He certainly was neither at Berber nor at Khartoum, nor had +the people he was with returned to Metemmeh; but beyond this negative +information Rupert could learn nothing. He continued to work assiduously +with his interpreter, and by the middle of May he had, after three +months' work, made such progress that he was able to converse in simple +phrases and to understand what was being said by the natives around him.</p> + +<p>In the third week in May, on his arrival at Korti, he learned that +orders had that day been received that the whole force was to at once +retire, that even Dongola was to be abandoned, and that Wady Halfa was +to be the highest point on the river occupied. That evening he went up +to General Buller's tent. The general was still at mess, and Rupert +waited outside his tent until he returned. He had several times spoken +to the general on matters of duty.</p> + +<p>"Who is that?" General Buller asked as he saw a figure standing in front +of his tent.</p> + +<p>"Clinton, sir. I am particularly anxious to speak to you if you can +spare me a short time."</p> + +<p>"Come in," the general said. "What can I do for you? Take a seat there."</p> + +<p>"You have perhaps heard, sir, that I made the discovery at Metemmeh that +a brother of mine who had two years and a half ago run away from school +and enlisted, was the trumpeter of the Heavies who was carried off by +the Arabs close to Metemmeh."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_272" id="Page_272">[Pg 272]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Yes, I heard that, Clinton, and was very sorry for you. I cannot +imagine a more distressing affair."</p> + +<p>"It was really no fault of his that he ran away, general; he was under a +misconception altogether, and neither my father nor mother blamed him in +the slightest. I only say this to show that he did not run away from +wildness. No one could have been steadier than he was. It was a +frightful mistake connected with his birth which I need not trouble you +about. We were greatly attached to each other, and my father and mother +are completely broken down at the thought of his being a slave for life +in the hands of the Arabs. Now, sir, for the last three months I have +been working almost day and night at the language, and can get on fairly +in it."</p> + +<p>"Yes?" General Buller put in, wondering what was coming next.</p> + +<p>"I have come to ask you if you would be good enough to ask Lord Wolseley +to let me have six months' leave. My intention is to disguise myself, +and to go up the country with one or two friendly natives. I should pass +as being dumb; as although I can make myself understood in simple +matters I should, of course, be detected were any native to enter into a +long conversation with me. I have seen Major Kitchener to-day, and he +says that he has no doubt he could arrange with one of the sheiks for me +to go with him, and to travel about the country with him until we found +my brother. My father has authorized me to spend any money that may be +required, and I could pay high enough to make it well worth the while of +any of these natives to be faithful. I do not see any reasons why I +should not succeed. I have been speaking to one of the surgeons, and he +says that if at any time it is suspected that I am not really dumb, I +can in half a minute burn my tongue so with caustic that if I open my +mouth anyone would think I have got some disease of the tongue which +prevents my speaking. As to the disguise, I got Captain Hunter, who +sketches capitally, to make sketches of the heads of some of these +Arabs. I sent these<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_273" id="Page_273">[Pg 273]</a></span> down to a man at Cairo, and I have got up from him +a wig that will, I think, deceive anyone."</p> + +<p>"It is a tremendous risk, Clinton," General Buller said when he +concluded; "a tremendous risk, and I don't know that Lord Wolseley would +consider himself justified in allowing you to attempt it. The idea does +you honour, but upon my word I do not know what to say to it. It seems a +mad scheme, and yet I cannot say that it might not succeed. You seem to +have worked it all out in your own mind. To carry it through will +require not only pluck but unfailing watchfulness and presence of mind. +A simple word or a gesture might betray you."</p> + +<p>"I have thought of all that, sir; but I don't see any reason why it +shouldn't be done. I am quite sure, general, that if you had a brother a +slave among the Arabs you would not hesitate a moment about attempting +it."</p> + +<p>General Buller did not reply, but rising put on his helmet.</p> + +<p>"I will go to the chief and ask him," he said; "but I don't think he +will feel authorized in letting you go."</p> + +<p>"I don't ask him to authorize it officially, sir. I only ask for six +months' leave of absence, or even for a month's leave of absence. At the +end of that time of course my name would be removed from the Army List, +but I think, if I ever return, I should be reinstated, or if not, I +might get a fresh commission granted me."</p> + +<p>"Oh, that would be all right! the general would see to that. Wait here +until I come back."</p> + +<p>In a quarter of a hour General Buller returned.</p> + +<p>"Come with me to the chief's tent," he said. "I think that if you can +convince him that you have thought the matter out thoroughly, and are +prepared at all points, he will give you three months' leave, and will +get it renewed as long as there is a chance of your turning up alive."</p> + +<p>Rupert was most kindly received by Lord Wolseley, who asked him many +questions as to his plans. After he had again<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_274" id="Page_274">[Pg 274]</a></span> explained them Rupert +said: "Major Kitchener has kindly promised that if you give me leave he +will buy for me two of the fast camels. He said there was a party came +in yesterday with two exceptionally good ones, and that no doubt they +would sell if a sufficient price were offered. Of course I should not +think of riding on either of these unless I had to run for my life, or +until I found my brother, for they would at once attract attention. The +natives could ride on them, and I should have an ordinary camel until +the time came to use the fleet ones. I have a letter from my father +authorizing me to draw to any extent; therefore no question of money +would interfere with my carrying out the plan thoroughly."</p> + +<p>"I do not know what your father would say to me on my return to England +should you never get back, Clinton."</p> + +<p>"I am sure that if my father were here he would approve, sir. Of course +I shall write him a long letter explaining the whole circumstances, and +I am as sure as if he stood here that he would say that I was perfectly +right in making an effort to rescue Edgar. I should never be happy again +were I to turn my face down the river now and leave him to slavery for +life among the Arabs."</p> + +<p>"Well, I will strain a point and let you go," Lord Wolseley said. "I +don't know whether I am right in doing so, but I cannot resist your +desire to carry out your scheme for your brother's rescue. It is a noble +attempt, Clinton, and I honour you for undertaking it. When your +preparations are complete let me see you again. Consider yourself +relieved of all duty at once."</p> + +<p>Thanking Lord Wolseley and General Buller for their kindness Rupert left +the tent and returned to his quarters. The next morning he went the +first thing to Major Kitchener's camp and told him that the question of +his leave was settled, and that he should start as soon as the camels +were procured and an arrangement could be made with one of the sheiks.</p> + +<p>"Very well, Clinton, I will manage that for you. I expect<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_275" id="Page_275">[Pg 275]</a></span> a sheik down +in three days who has worked faithfully with us since the beginning of +the campaign. He is the man I had in my eye; he has made journeys to +Wady Halfa and to points on the Red Sea, and will know that our promises +as to payments will be kept, and that whatever sum is agreed upon would +be handed him over at any place to which he may take you. In order to +prevent any difficulty on that score, I will, before you start, give you +letters to merchants at Wady Halfa and all the ports requesting them to +pay the sum we may agree upon, upon the presentation of my letter with +your signature attached. I put it in that way because it is possible +that you may have to make your way alone into Abyssinia, and in that +case if you are satisfied with your guide you will put your name to the +letter and he may then obtain the money at whichever port he may go to. +All this of course I will explain to him. I will get the two camels this +morning. They are exceptionally good beasts, and the owner will want a +very long price for them. Camels like these are very rare, but they may +be the means of saving your life."</p> + +<p>"I will pay whatever he wants me to, sir; I quite see the importance of +getting them. I am off duty now, and as the sheik is not to arrive for +three days I will go down to Dongola. There is one of the transport +boats starting in half an hour. I shall want to lay in a stock of dye. +Fortunately, the exact colour is not material, for the natives are any +shade between yellow and black."</p> + +<p>When Skinner and Easton came in from an evening ride they got off their +ponies, and Skinner entered his hut. He was astonished at seeing a +native calmly sitting there with the usual wild tangled hair and a dirty +cotton cloth wrapped round him. For a moment Skinner stood astonished.</p> + +<p>"Well, this is cheek!" he exclaimed. "Easton, look here; here is a beast +of a native squatting in my hut. Sentry, what the deuce do you mean by +letting a nigger come into my hut? Now, then, who are you? What do you +want? What<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_276" id="Page_276">[Pg 276]</a></span> do you mean by it? Out you go sharp, or I will break your +neck!"</p> + +<p>The two young officers, for Easton had joined his friend, stood +astounded when the native broke into a yell of laughter.</p> + +<p>"He is mad, Easton; he is a mad nigger who has escaped from a lunatic +asylum!" Skinner exclaimed. "Don't go near him; perhaps he bites, and +you might get hydrophobia. How is this, sentry?" he asked, turning to +the soldier, who had come up to the door. "How is it you let this mad +nigger come in here?"</p> + +<p>"I did not see him come in, sir," the sentry said; "he must have slipped +in when my back was turned. I saw an officer come in half an hour ago, +but I haven't seen anyone else."</p> + +<p>"Well, move him out, sentry; prod him up with your bayonet if he won't +go."</p> + +<p>The sentry was about to enter the tent when Rupert gasped, "That is +enough, Skinner; order him out. You will kill me with laughing."</p> + +<p>"Clinton!" The word broke from the lips of Easton and Skinner +simultaneously, while the sentry almost dropped his rifle in surprise at +hearing his officer thus addressed in pure English by the native.</p> + +<p>"It is all right, sentry, you can go," Easton said, recovering himself +first from his astonishment; and then saying as soon as they were alone: +"What on earth does this masquerade mean, Clinton? have you gone out of +your mind?"</p> + +<p>"Then you think I shall do, Easton?"</p> + +<p>"Do!" Easton repeated, the truth dawning upon him. "You don't mean to +say that you are going to carry out that scheme you talked about a month +since?"</p> + +<p>"Indeed I do, Easton. I have obtained the chief's permission. Major +Kitchener is making the arrangements for me, and I hope in another three +days to be out on the desert again. At any rate you will allow that as +far as appearances go I can pass fairly as a native."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_277" id="Page_277">[Pg 277]</a></span></p> + +<p>Skinner had not yet spoken. He now walked round and round Rupert two or +three times, and at last gave vent to his feelings: "Well, I am +jiggered! There is no doubt about your disguise, Clinton, at least if +you are Clinton and not a nigger who has stolen his voice. Did you ever +see such a head of hair, Easton?"</p> + +<p>"Never mind that," Easton said impatiently; "don't you understand, man, +that Clinton is going away among those Arabs to search for his brother?"</p> + +<p>"No, I did not understand; in fact I did not hear a word that was said. +I was too much stunned to do anything but stare. And you are really +going, Clinton, old fellow?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I am off to-morrow at daybreak for Korti. There is a good strong +breeze blowing, and I shall go up as quickly as I came down. There was a +delay of three or four days before we could get hold of the man I am to +go with, if he will take me, so I ran down here partly to get some dyes +for my skin in the bazaar here, but principally to say good-bye to you +both. My wig, that so astonishes you, Skinner, I had made at Cairo and +sent up."</p> + +<p>"Well, there is no fear, Clinton, of anyone recognizing you as an +Englishman. You may ride in the middle of them from here to Khartoum, +and they would never suspect you as far as looks go. You have abandoned +that idea about your tongue, I hope?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. I have got a bottle of caustic from one of the surgeons. He put me +up to it. He says if I see that I am suspected, if I slip aside and rub +one of these little sticks of caustic over my tongue it will make such a +sight of it that I have only to open my mouth and let them look at it, +and they will believe readily enough that I have got some frightful +disease in my tongue and cannot use it. In case of necessity I can +mumble out a few words, and the state of my mouth will quite account for +any difficulty they may have in understanding me."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_278" id="Page_278">[Pg 278]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Will that stuff you have got on your skin wash off?" Easton asked.</p> + +<p>"Yes, this will with a little difficulty; but I have got some other +stuff that my interpreter tells me will only want renewing once a week +or ten days."</p> + +<p>"Then for goodness' sake set to and get it off, Clinton, and put on your +own clothes and let us see you again as you are. I don't seem to be able +to talk to you naturally in that disguise, and it will be a long time +before we get another talk together."</p> + +<p>Rupert at once set to work with soap, water, and a nail-brush, and in a +quarter of an hour got his face and hands tolerably white. Then he put +on his uniform.</p> + +<p>"Now you are yourself again, Clinton. Sit down and tell us all about it. +What are your plans?"</p> + +<p>Rupert told him the arrangements that Major Kitchener was making for +him, and both his companions greatly approved of the purchase of the +fast camels. "That is a capital idea, and if you can get a good start +with them you may laugh at Arabs who are mounted on ordinary camels or +on foot; but you must mind that there are no fellows with horses about +when you make your bolt. You see, all these fellows who led the attacks +were mounted, and I suppose you will find that a few of the principal +men in every large village have horses. Now a horse will go faster than +the fastest camel for a bit, although the camel will beat him in a +long-distance race. What are you going to do about arms?"</p> + +<p>"I cannot take any arms, Easton; they would betray me at once."</p> + +<p>"You cannot show any, I grant, but there is no reason in the world why +you shouldn't take a brace of revolvers. They could be stowed away +easily enough, with a couple of boxes of cartridges, somewhere in the +saddle. There is room to hide anything in one of these great clumsy +contrivances. Of course pistols would be of no use to you if you are +discovered in the middle of a tribe or a big town; but if you find your +brother,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_279" id="Page_279">[Pg 279]</a></span> and you make a bolt for it together on these camels and are +pursued, you could make a pretty good fight against half a dozen mounted +men, and the betting is against more than that getting together, if you +had a revolver apiece. I should advise you most strongly to take them."</p> + +<p>"I think you are right, Easton: I will certainly do so."</p> + +<p>"Have you got a brace?"</p> + +<p>"No, I have only one."</p> + +<p>"Then you shall have mine, old fellow. What calibre is yours?"</p> + +<p>"·45."</p> + +<p>"Ah! that is the same as mine. I have got a couple of boxes of +cartridges, and as they are done up in india-rubber they are sure to be +all right. By the way, is it true that we are all going down? There was +a rumour last night that orders had come."</p> + +<p>"Yes, we are to retire to Wady Halfa."</p> + +<p>"What! and abandon Dongola?"</p> + +<p>Rupert nodded.</p> + +<p>"Then I call it a beastly shame. More than that, I call it a downright +dishonourable action!" Easton said hotly. "Here we are going to abandon +a town of some twenty thousand inhabitants to these fanatics. Not only +that, but to give up to their vengeance all the tribes between Wady +Halfa and Metemmeh who have trusted in our promises, have thrown in +their lot with us, and have for the last four months been doing all our +transport. Our fathers used to be proud to call themselves Englishmen, +but, by Jove, there is very little reason for us to be. That Boer +business was shameful and humiliating enough, but this is worse still. I +don't say that we are bound to go on to Khartoum, although it would be +the best and cheapest and most satisfactory mode in every way of +settling this Mahdi and ensuring order in the Soudan; but I do think +that we are bound to hold the river from Korti downwards to protect the +tribes that have been friendly to us, and to save this town from<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_280" id="Page_280">[Pg 280]</a></span> ruin +and desolation. Not only this town, but all the peaceful villages down +the river. Besides, so long as we are here the Arabs will see that the +Mahdi is not all-powerful, and may sooner or later rise against his +tyranny. Well, I never thought this campaign was going to end in the +disgraceful abandonment of the Nile Valley from Korti to Wady Halfa. +However," he went on, checking himself suddenly, "it is of no use +talking of that now; we have got to think about your expedition, which +to us three is a far more important business. How does your Arabic get +on?"</p> + +<p>"Fairly well. I don't say that I can talk a great deal, but as I have +learnt it by ear I speak with a fair accent, at least so Ibrahim says. I +have taken particular pains with what you may call salutations, such as +one man gives another as they pass each other on a journey, or what one +says on entering a house or a village. I can ask for food all right, +return thanks for hospitality, ask the way, and all that sort of thing; +and Ibrahim said that in all these things I could pass very well as a +native, especially as there are slight distinctions and differences +between the language of the various tribes. They are a very mixed +people, of Arab, Egyptian, and Negro blood. So that as far as it goes my +language will pass, and of course every day I travel I shall improve. I +intend, as I have said, to pretend to be dumb whenever we come across +strong parties of strangers, and my sheik will shield me as much as +possible by sending me out to look after the camels and to gather wood +and to fetch water, or on other business, whenever we are with +strangers. I really think, Easton, I have a very fair chance of getting +through it without being found out. Major Kitchener tells me that the +sheik only has two or three of his tribesmen with him, and that he has +no doubt picked men he can trust to hold their tongues, otherwise he +would get into a mess when he went back again among his people. Of +course the men will be promised a reward also if I get safely through. +The trouble on my mind is more the difficulty there will be in finding<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_281" id="Page_281">[Pg 281]</a></span> +Edgar and getting him off than about myself. In the first place there is +no saying as to the direction in which the men who have got him have +gone. They have probably gone to some out-of-the-way place, so as to be +out of the way of the Mahdi's people.</p> + +<p>"Ibrahim tells me that there are no people more pig-headed than these +Arabs, and if they once make up their mind to a thing nothing will turn +them. That is all the better, as far as the risk of Edgar falling into +the hands of the Mahdi is concerned, only it makes it all the more +difficult to find him. There is no saying where he may have moved to; he +may have gone far south of Khartoum, he may have pushed away near the +borders of Abyssinia, he may be within a few miles of Suakim, he may be +in the desert we crossed. I don't disguise from myself that it is likely +to be a long search; but that is nothing if I am but successful at last. +Of course the great thing will be to endeavour to pick up a clue near +Metemmeh.</p> + +<p>"The tribe is a very scattered one, and is to be found dispersed among +other tribes all the way from Berber to Khartoum on the eastern side of +the river, and I hear that there is a branch of it who live in the +desert to the west. Well, it is likely that Edgar's master will have +stopped in some of these villages among his own people, if only for a +few hours, and it is from them I hope to get some clue as to the general +direction at least in which they were travelling. Unless they disguised +Edgar, and wrapped him up as a woman, or something of that sort, the +fact of a white prisoner passing through is certain to have caused talk. +However, it is impossible to say where or how I may find a clue.</p> + +<p>"At any rate I shall stick to it. I shall tell my father, that as it may +take me a year to find Edgar he need not even begin to feel anxious +until the end of that time, and that as I shall be continually improving +in my knowledge of the language, the risk of detection will become less +and less every month, and that I anticipate no difficulty whatever when +the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_282" id="Page_282">[Pg 282]</a></span> time comes in passing down to Suakim or Massowah, or should any +difficulty arise in that direction, in either working down to Wady Halfa +or through Abyssinia."</p> + +<p>They sat and talked until far into the night, and then lay down for a +few hours' sleep, and at daybreak Rupert said good-bye to his friends +and took his place in the boat, which, spreading its sails, rapidly made +its way up stream. The two friends stood for a long time looking after +it.</p> + +<p>"By Jove, Clinton has turned out a fine fellow," Skinner said; "a grand +fellow! I hardly thought he had it in him. Of course I knew he was +plucky, and all that sort of thing; but this is a tremendous +undertaking."</p> + +<p>"It is," Easton said. "Of course now the die is cast I would not say a +word last night to discourage him; but the risk is tremendous. However +he is going about it in the right spirit, and somehow I feel almost +confident that he will pull through it, and that we shall shake his hand +in England again. May God protect him on his journey!"</p> + +<p>Skinner responded with an earnest Amen, and then they walked slowly back +to the camp.</p> + +<p>As soon as he arrived at Korti Rupert made his way to Major Kitchener's, +and was greeted with a cheery welcome by that officer.</p> + +<p>"Things are going well, Clinton. I have bought the two riding camels. I +was a whole day haggling over the price with the chief. I had to pay a +stiff price after all, but that I expected. But it won't come quite so +heavy, because he wanted to take it out in goods, and as we don't mean +to take all the things back to the coast again, I got an order from the +chief for our quarter-master's department to sell me a lot of rugs, +cooking pots, and tin goods, and also some powder and ball and a dozen +muskets. As I get them cheap the camels won't cost you more than half +what they would if you had had to pay in silver for them. In the next +place, the sheik arrived yesterday afternoon and I had a long talk with +him.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_283" id="Page_283">[Pg 283]</a></span> He is willing enough to undertake the business and to wander about +with you for as many months as you may choose, and to assist you in +getting off your brother if you find him, if he thinks that you can +disguise yourself well enough to pass as a native, but of that he is to +be the judge. He won't take you at any price unless you satisfy him in +that respect."</p> + +<p>"I think I can do that, major," Rupert said. "I will go back to my tent +and dress now. I took in my two friends of the Guards, and I think I can +pass inspection even by a native." In half an hour Rupert returned in +his native get-up, carrying as usual a spear and a sword and two or +three knives stuck into his girdle. Major Kitchener was inside his tent, +and Rupert squatted down outside and awaited his coming out. When the +major issued from his tent his eye fell upon him.</p> + +<p>"Hullo!" he said in Arabic, "what do you want? Where do you come from?"</p> + +<p>"I am my lord's servant," Rupert replied in the same language.</p> + +<p>"Yes, that is all very well, but I suppose you want some thing."</p> + +<p>"I am ready to go for my lord to Khartoum, and to bring him news."</p> + +<p>Major Kitchener shook his head. "I don't want to send anyone up at +present," he said; "we know all about it."</p> + +<p>"Then you think I shall do, major?" Rupert said in English.</p> + +<p>"Bless me!" the officer exclaimed; "is it you, Clinton? I did not +suspect you for a moment. You will do, lad, you will do. The sheik +himself won't know you to be white with that wonderful head of hair of +yours. It is a splendid imitation. One would think you had scalped one +of these natives and put his hair on. Come along with me. You will see +how we shall take in the sheik."</p> + +<p>He went across to a small group of camels by the side of which a sheik +and two natives were seated talking and gesticulating violently. The +sheik rose to his feet as they came up<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_284" id="Page_284">[Pg 284]</a></span> and began to talk volubly; he +was evidently in a rage with his followers, for he pointed to them with +open hand and was complaining of their conduct. Presently they began to +interject angry denials, and then sprang to their feet and excitedly +poured out their view of the question. Rupert could not catch a word, +and had no idea of the subject of the dispute, although he saw that +Major Kitchener was listening with some amusement. The combat rose +higher and higher. At last, with a sudden gesture, the sheik, who had +looked furtively at this disguised stranger several times, seized the +two men by the arm and whirled them round until they faced Rupert, who +was leaning on his spear. "There!" he shouted. "Where are the eyes you +boast of? You say that anyone could in a moment detect a white man +through his disguises. What! are you then blind or idiots that you do +not see that this is a white man standing here?" The Arabs stood +motionless, wondering and incredulous, while the chief broke into a +triumphant laugh at his own superior sagacity.</p> + +<p>"Is he white?" one of the men asked, turning to the major.</p> + +<p>"Yes, this is the officer who is to travel with you."</p> + +<p>"What is it all about, major?" Rupert asked as the three natives +proceeded to walk round him and examine him from every point.</p> + +<p>"The sheik was declaiming against the obstinacy of his followers. He +really wants to take you, and was in vain trying to persuade his men +that such clever people as the whites could disguise themselves so that +they would not be known. The two men protested against the risk, and +maintained that anyone could tell a white from a native a mile off. +Really the sheik did not suspect you in the slightest, but I thought it +was well to let him have a triumph over his followers, and so as he was +going on I gave a little nod towards you and he caught it at once; but I +could see at first he thought he was mistaken, and while the others were +having their say I nodded to him and said, 'Yes it is he.'"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_285" id="Page_285">[Pg 285]</a></span></p> + +<p>With many interjections: "It is wonderful! Can such things be! Eyes have +never seen it!" the three Arabs had continued to gaze at Rupert while +the officer was speaking.</p> + +<p>"It is a white man," the sheik said at last; "there is more flesh on his +limbs than on those of a young Arab. But who ever saw such hair on a +white man; by what miracle did it grow thus?"</p> + +<p>"It is what is called a wig," Major Kitchener explained. "It was made +for him at Cairo; he can take it off and on. Take it off, Clinton."</p> + +<p>Rupert pulled off his wig and stood before them in his closely-cropped +head. The natives made a step or two backwards in astonishment and awe.</p> + +<p>"The whites are great people," the sheik said; "they can turn a white +man into a black. They can put an Arab's hair on to their heads, so that +they can take it on and off like a turban. It is well, my lord, we will +take the young officer with us; but he must remember that though when he +is standing still he may look so like an Arab that no eyes could detect +him, it is the movements and the ways and the tongue, and not the skin +and hair only, that make a man. He will have to keep a watch always over +himself and be ever careful and prudent, for were he discovered it would +cost him his life, and would go hard with us also for bringing him as a +spy into the land."</p> + +<p>"We know that, sheik," Major Kitchener said; "and all that has, you +know, been considered in the handsome terms we have offered you."</p> + +<p>"If he spoke the language as you do, my lord, it would be easy."</p> + +<p>"It will not be long before he does so, sheik; you will see that he +speaks with a fair accent already. Just suppose that you are the sheik +of a village and that he has come in to get something. Now, Clinton, +begin with the usual Arabic salutations."</p> + +<p>Rupert at once addressed the sheik, and the usual ceremonial<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_286" id="Page_286">[Pg 286]</a></span> +salutations which precede all conversation were exchanged between them.</p> + +<p>"I have wandered from my camp," Rupert went on; "my camel has travelled +far, and I am hungry and athirst. I would buy meal and dates for my +further journey, and a feed of grain for the camel," he continued, with +a dozen other sentences that he had committed to heart and gone over +scores of times with Ibrahim.</p> + +<p>The sheik nodded his approval. "It is good," he said. "For a time, as +you have said, he will not talk, but will go as an afflicted one who has +lost his speech, but even now he could pass through a village with us +without exciting suspicion. We will take him. What say you?" he asked +his followers, who replied together, "We will take him."</p> + +<p>Then there was a long discussion in Arabic between the sheik and Major +Kitchener. "He has seen your camels," the major said turning to Rupert, +"and wants them thrown into the bargain when it is all over. I have told +him that this is quite out of the question. The terms I have already +agreed upon are ten times as high as he could earn with his camels in +any other way; besides it is, as I pointed out to him, probable that you +and your brother may have to ride away alone on the camels. But I have +said that if you should arrive together at any port or place where the +sum agreed upon can be paid to him, and if you are thoroughly satisfied +with the way in which you have been treated, you will let him have them, +deducting from the amount to be paid half the sum that you have just +given for them, and as you paid for them in goods that will really be +about the price they cost you."</p> + +<p>"That will be an excellent arrangement," Rupert said; "the hope of +getting the camels at the end of the journey will certainly be a great +inducement to him to be faithful. I know that the Arabs think as much of +these fast camels as we do of race-horses at home. And will you tell him +too that if we have to leave him and take the camels, I will see that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_287" id="Page_287">[Pg 287]</a></span> +they are left, to be given up to him on his arrival, at some place he +may name. I think that it would be as well that he should feel that he +will get the camels anyhow in addition to payment; otherwise the +temptation to seize them might be so great that he might get rid of me +on the first opportunity."</p> + +<p>"Yes, that would be as well, Clinton. A pair of such camels as these are +certainly a great temptation to an Arab. I have great faith in this man, +for he was very highly recommended to me by some Egyptian merchants at +Cairo who had travelled with him right down to the great lakes. At the +same time it is always better to throw no temptation in people's way. He +wanted a portion of the money down, but I would not hear of this. I said +that he knew he was certain of it when the duty was performed, and that +therefore there was no reason whatever for his making any demand +beforehand, except that he should have a sum just sufficient and no more +to enable him to pay any expenses he might incur for his own food and +that of the camels. That is little enough: dates, meal, a kid sometimes +for the men, and an occasional feed of grain for the camels, who as a +rule pick up their own living except when engaged on hard work."</p> + +<p>What Rupert had said was explained to the sheik, who, although he showed +little outward satisfaction, was evidently pleased with the prospect of +some day owning the two fast camels. There was now a long discussion +between Major Kitchener and the sheik as to the best route to be +pursued, and the probabilities as to the course that Edgar's captors had +followed, and then the conference broke up, the sheik saying his camels +required another two days' rest, and that on the third day at daybreak +he should be ready to start. At the last moment Rupert suggested, that +as the Arabs had, they said, two spare camels before, and would now have +three, he should present them with a sufficient load of rugs, powder, +and other things they valued to form light loads for the three spare +animals. There would be nothing suspicious in their possess<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_288" id="Page_288">[Pg 288]</a></span>ing such +goods, as many of the loaded camels had, especially on the night march +to Metemmeh, strayed away or fallen, and their loads had been plundered +by the Arabs. For twenty pounds he could get from the quarter-master's +stores plenty of goods for the purpose, and as these could be used for +barter it would obviate the necessity of carrying silver. The offer +added to the good temper of the sheik and his followers, and as Rupert +walked back to Major Kitchener's tent with him the latter said, "I +think, Clinton, you have won your fellows fairly over. I could see by +the way they discussed the routes to be followed, that they have got +thoroughly interested in the matter themselves, and will throw +themselves heartily into it. I really think you have a very fair chance +of getting through this business safely. I did not think so when you +first proposed it to me, but the difficulties seem to have disappeared +as we have gone on; and now that I have seen you in disguise, I think +that, unless from some unforeseen accident, or some forgetfulness on +your own part, there is no reason why you should not travel with those +Arabs from end to end of the Soudan."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XVII.</h2> + +<h3>A RUNAWAY SLAVE.</h3> + + +<p>Negroes have an immense respect for strength, and the, to him, +astounding manner in which Edgar had struck down his comrade as by a +stroke of lightning completely cowed the other negro, and he resumed his +work with Edgar with an air of timidity; but he soon recovered from +this, and before long was laughing and joking at the speed with which +the bucket was being raised and emptied, the water pouring out at a rate +vastly exceeding that usually achieved by their<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_289" id="Page_289">[Pg 289]</a></span> leisurely movements. +Indeed, he entered heartily into the fun of the thing, repeating Edgar's +English words of "Now, then, up she goes!" "Over with her!" and working +until the perspiration rolled down his black skin as fast as it did down +Edgar's white one. The other man had thrown himself down by the trough, +and lay there bathing his face with water till at an angry shout from +the sheik he rose to his feet and joined in the work sullenly and +silently.</p> + +<p>"There is no great harm done," Edgar said cheeringly to him. "You had no +beauty to spoil, so you will be none the worse that way. You have had a +lesson, and it will do you good. I daresay we shall get on very well +together in future." Hamish gave an angry growl; he was in no mood for a +reconciliation, and continued to work silently until the sun went down. +As soon as it sunk below the sand-hills the negroes ceased work, and +signified to Edgar that their time of labour was over.</p> + +<p>The sheik had several times looked out from his tent to see how the work +was getting on. "My capture was indeed a fortunate one, Amina," he said. +"Never did I see men work as they have done this afternoon. Three times +the usual amount of water has been poured over the field; truly he is a +treasure."</p> + +<p>When the slaves had ceased work they went to the lower end of the +valley, where, on some ground covered with coarse grass, separated from +the growing crops by a thorn hedge, a herd of goats and some twenty +camels were grazing, and proceeded to milk the females. Edgar was a +passive spectator, for the animals all showed their aversion to his +white skin, and would not let him approach them. When the work was over +they returned to the tents with the calabashes of milk, and were +rewarded for their extra work with large platefuls of meal. Before +eating his share Edgar filled a tin pannikin Amina had given him for his +special use with water, boiled it over the fire, and dropped in a +spoonful of tea, and going up<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_290" id="Page_290">[Pg 290]</a></span> to Amina asked for a little milk, which +she readily gave him, surprised that a spoonful or two was all that he +required.</p> + +<p>"If I use it sparingly," he said to himself as he sat down to his meal, +"that ten pounds of tea will last me over a year, and before it is gone +I hope I shall see some way of getting off." As soon as he had finished +it the woman whose child was ill came to him and took him off to see +her. She was, as even Edgar could see, better; her skin was soft and her +pulse was quieter, but she was evidently very weak. The woman held out a +bowl of the arrow-root, and signified that she would not eat it, which +Edgar was not surprised at, for it was thick and lumpy.</p> + +<p>"I suppose the water didn't boil," he said to himself. "No wonder the +poor little beggar cannot eat that stuff. I should think the Liebig +would be the best for her, at any rate better than this stuff. I will +get a tin or two from Amina, or rather she had better get it; I don't +want to be always asking for things."</p> + +<p>He had noticed where he had thrown the little pot the evening before, +brought it to the woman, and then pointing to the sheik's tent said, +"You fetch."</p> + +<p>The woman understood and went off, and presently returned with two of +the pots. Boiling water was required. This is not an item to be found in +an Arab tent. Edgar therefore boiled some in his own tin over the fire +in front of the sheik's tent, and showed the woman how much of the paste +was to be used and how much water. When this was made he asked her for +milk; this also he boiled and made some arrow-root, and told the woman +to give that and the Liebig alternately every three or four hours. The +benefit the child had received had created a most favourable impression +towards Edgar in the community, and several of them came round him as he +left the tent to ask for medicine. Edgar was sorely puzzled, and +determined that if he could do no good he would certainly do no harm. He +thought it likely that most of the illnesses<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_291" id="Page_291">[Pg 291]</a></span> were imaginary, "For why," +he said to himself as he looked at three of them who were all placing +their hands on their stomachs and twisting about to show that they were +suffering great pain, "should they be all bad together?" There was in +the chest a large bottle of pills marked "blue-pills," and of these he +gave two to each applicant.</p> + +<p>One case of those who applied was of a very different character. It was +a boy some fifteen years old. He crawled up on his hands and knees, and +sitting down took off some bandages and showed him his leg. It was +terribly inflamed from the instep up to the knee, with a great sloughing +wound that showed the bone for two or three inches. It was evidently the +result of a serious graze, perhaps caused by falling on to a sharp rock. +Had it been attended to at first it would have been trifling, but +doubtless the boy thought nothing of it and had continued to get about +as usual. The sand and dirt had got into the wound, inflammation had set +in, and the leg was now in a very serious state.</p> + +<p>Edgar felt a little more certain of his ground this time, for he +remembered that one of the fellows at River-Smith's house had had a bad +leg after a severe kick on the shin at football, and he knew what had +been done for it. The lad's father, who was one of the elderly men who +had remained in camp, had accompanied him. Edgar told him that, in the +first place, he wanted a good deal of water made hot. The chest +contained a half-gallon bottle of carbolic acid, and searching among the +smaller bottles Edgar found one containing caustic. When the lad's +father returned with the hot water, Edgar bathed the wound for a long +time; then he poured a little of the acid into a calabash of cold water, +dipped a piece of cotton cloth into it, folded it several times, and +laid it on the wound, then wrapped another cloth soaked in water round +and round the limb, and explained as well as he could to the father that +as often as the bandage became dry the one must be dipped in the +calabash with the lotion, the other in water, and applied again. For<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_292" id="Page_292">[Pg 292]</a></span> +two or three days this treatment was continued, and then Edgar burned +the unhealthy surfaces with caustic, continuing the carbolic poultices.</p> + +<p>In a week the inflammation had greatly abated, and the sore assumed a +healthy aspect. The process of healing would in England have been a long +and tedious work, but in the dry air of the desert it healed with a +rapidity that surprised Edgar, and in a fortnight the boy was able to +walk again. The girl too had gained strength rapidly, and Edgar was +regarded in the encampment as a Hakim of extraordinary skill; and even +the children who had at first shouted Kaffir after him, and thrown +stones at him whenever they could do so unobserved, now regarded him +with something like awe, while the friends of the boy and girl showed +him many little kindnesses, often giving him a bowl of camels' milk, a +handful of dates, or a freshly-baked cake of meal. With one of the negro +slaves he got on very well. He could not be persuaded to continue to +work with the energy which he had displayed the first afternoon, but he +seconded Edgar's efforts fairly, and his merry talk and laughter, +although he could understand but a small portion of what he said, +cheered Edgar at his toil.</p> + +<p>The other negro remained sullen and hostile. For some days after his +encounter with Edgar his face was so swollen up that he was scarcely +able to see. He would have been compelled to work as usual, for humanity +is not a characteristic of the Arabs; but Edgar told the sheik's wife +that if the man was forced to work at present he would be very ill, and +that he must for a time remain quiet and apply bandages soaked in hot +water to his face. Under this treatment the swelling gradually abated, +but the nose did not resume its normal shape, the bridge having been +broken by Edgar's blow. Any presents that the latter received in the way +of milk or other articles of food he shared with the negroes, the +allowance of food served out being very scanty and of the coarsest +description.</p> + +<p>"Kaffirs are dogs," the sheik said to his wife as he one day<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_293" id="Page_293">[Pg 293]</a></span> saw Edgar +dividing some milk and dates with the others; "but there is good in +them. That Muley," for so they had named Edgar, "divides all that is +given him with the others, even giving Hamish a share. I could +understand his giving it to the other, so that he might do some of his +work for him, but not to Hamish, who I can see has not forgiven him that +blow."</p> + +<p>"I don't think the other does his work for him," Amina said. "He works +for me of a morning and then goes into the fields; and when I watch them +to see that they are doing their work it seems to me that he does more +than any of them."</p> + +<p>"He does," the sheik agreed; "he is a willing slave. I am glad I did not +give him up to the Mahdi. Kaffir as he is, I think he brings good luck +to the village. If he would change his religion and follow the Prophet I +would adopt him as my son, seeing that you have only girls."</p> + +<p>Edgar made very rapid progress with the language. It was well for him +that he had picked up a few words and sentences at Suakim and Cairo, for +this enabled him to make far more rapid progress than he would have done +had he been ignorant of the language. He attempted to keep up a constant +conversation with the negro, and although the latter often went into +screams of laughter at his mistakes he was ready to help him, correcting +his errors and repeating sentences over and over again until he was able +to pronounce them with a proper accent. In two months he was able to +converse with tolerable fluency, and the sheik was meditating broaching +the subject of his conversion to him when an event occurred that for a +time gave him other matters to think of.</p> + +<p>One morning when the encampment woke Hamish was found to be missing, and +it was ere long discovered that the best camel in the encampment had +been stolen, and that two water-skins had been taken from the sheik's +tent, and a perfect hubbub arose in the village when this became known. +The sheik seizing a stick fell upon the other negro and showered blows<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_294" id="Page_294">[Pg 294]</a></span> +upon him, exclaiming that he must have known of and aided his companion +in his flight, although he declared he had not the least idea of his +intentions. As soon as his first burst of rage was over the sheik +ordered four of the best camels to be saddled and water-bottles to be +filled.</p> + +<p>"The fellow must be mad," he said as he walked up and down before his +tent; "he must know that he cannot escape; he would be known as a slave +by the first people he comes upon, and it would only be a change of +masters, and he would be long before he finds one so gentle as I have +been with him."</p> + +<p>"I do not think he has gone away to make a change in masters," Amina +said. "It is worse than that, I fear."</p> + +<p>"What is it, Amina? What do you mean?"</p> + +<p>"I fear that he has made for Khartoum to report that you have a white +slave here. He hates Muley, and I think that it is to obtain vengeance +on him that he has fled."</p> + +<p>"You are right, Amina; that is what the son of Sheitan intends to do. +Quick! bring up those camels," he roared.</p> + +<p>Three of the men were ordered to accompany him. Then he gave orders that +the rest of the camels should be loaded at once with his goods, the +valuables of the village, and a portion of the crops, and that they +should start without delay to the oasis of Wady El Bahr Nile, or the +valley of the Dry River, two days' journey to the west, driving with +them the herd of goats.</p> + +<p>"If I do not catch him we must break up the donar," he said, "and all +who do not wish to be found here by the Mahdi's men had best be in +readiness to start when we return. Let half a dozen men and women go to +the wady to look after the goats and guard the property. The camels must +be brought back as soon as they get there."</p> + +<p>Ten minutes later he and his three companions had disappeared from sight +over the brow of the nearest sand-hill, while all in the encampment were +busy in preparing for their depar<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_295" id="Page_295">[Pg 295]</a></span>ture. A camel was allotted to each of +the ten tents of which the camp consisted; three camels were claimed by +Amina for the sheik's possessions; the remaining six were to carry the +food. All who were not engaged were at once set to work gathering the +maize that was fit to pluck and cutting and tying up into bundles the +forage for the camels.</p> + +<p>In three hours a great change had been effected in the appearance of the +little valley. The sheik's tent and three others remained standing, but +the rest were levelled to the ground, their occupants preferring to +start at once rather than risk being caught by the Mahdists. It was +mid-day when the party started. Edgar could hardly help smiling at the +appearance the camels presented, each animal being almost hidden by the +pile of baggage, bundles, cooking-pots, and articles of all kinds, at +the top of which were perched a woman and two or three children. The men +walked, as did many of the younger women and boys and girls.</p> + +<p>It would be a fatiguing journey, for they would travel without a halt +until morning, then rest until the sun was low again, and again journey +all night, when they would reach the wells soon after daybreak. As it +was but a two days' journey the camels carried far heavier loads than +would have been placed upon them had it been one of longer duration. +Amina took the lead in the whole matter. She gave orders to the men, +scolded the women, and saw that everything was done in order.</p> + +<p>"Do you think that the sheik has any chance of catching Hamish?" Edgar +asked her as they stood together watching the retreating line of camels.</p> + +<p>She shook her head.</p> + +<p>"Very little," she said, "unless the camel breaks down, which is not +likely, or he misses the track. When he once gains the cultivated land +he will turn the camel adrift and will make his way on foot to Khartoum. +He will avoid all villages where he might be stopped and go straight to +the city, where he will tell<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_296" id="Page_296">[Pg 296]</a></span> his story to the first officer of the +Mahdi he meets. If the sheik does not overtake him before he gets beyond +the limit of the desert he will pursue no further. It would be useless. +He would never find him in the fields, where he might lie down among the +crops. It would only be waste of time to search for him."</p> + +<p>"Does Hamish know of the other wady?"</p> + +<p>She nodded. "It may be that the Mahdists will not follow further. It +will depend upon the orders they have received. Of course we shall leave +someone here to watch, and if they start for the wady he will bring us +news before they get there."</p> + +<p>"Are there any other wells?"</p> + +<p>"None nearer than six days' journey to the south. Then there is a great +cultivated country with many villages and towns, but the journey would +be terrible. I do not know what we shall do. But do not be afraid, +Muley; whatever we do you will not be given up until the last thing. +When my lord once sets his face one way he never turns it. He has said +the Mahdi shall not have you, for you are his captive and none other's, +and he will never go back from that."</p> + +<p>"You have been very good to me," Edgar said, "and I would rather run my +own risk than that suffering and perhaps death should fall upon the +women and children of the douar."</p> + +<p>"My lord will never hear of it," she said. "When he has said a thing he +has said it. There is nothing to do now but to wait until we learn what +force is coming against us. There is another encampment of the tribe in +a wady two days' journey to the north, and we may summon help from there +if the party is not too strong. The great thing will be to kill Hamish, +for the Wady El Bahr Nile is known only to a few of our own tribe, and +were he not with them they would not be able to find their way there. +Even this wady is known to few, for it lies altogether beyond the track +of caravans. But now there is nothing to do but to wait until my lord +returns. It will be, I think, on the fourteenth day. You were eight days +coming<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_297" id="Page_297">[Pg 297]</a></span> across the desert. They will do it in six but will be eight on +their return, for there will be no occasion for haste. Hamish will take +two more days to get to Khartoum; it may be a day or two before a party +is sent out from there, and they will take ten days getting here, so +that it should be some days at least after my lord's return before they +appear."</p> + +<p>"I am sorry, indeed, to have been the cause of so much trouble falling +upon you," Edgar said.</p> + +<p>"It is not your fault. It was the will of Allah that you should be +brought here. But anyhow we should not have stopped here much longer. We +have been here six months now, and my lord was saying but a few days +since that as soon as the rest of the crops were gathered he should send +those who are not fit to travel to El Bahr Nile, and should leave you +there and should start with the camels to Khartoum, sell our crops +there, and then carry merchandise to El-Obeid or some other distant +place. He has been waiting for things to settle down; we have only been +stopping here so long because trade has been stopped by the siege of +Khartoum, and since then he has not ventured to go there lest his camels +should be seized by the Mahdi; but, as he said, he must risk something. +Of what use is it to have camels if you do not employ them. They are +getting fat and lazy; never have they had so long a rest before. It +matters nothing our having to leave this wady. The worst is that the +Mahdi will be set against us, and that we shall have to move away far +from here to get trade."</p> + +<p>"It is possible that at the present time Khartoum is in the hands of the +English," Edgar said. "We have heard no news from without since I came +here three months ago now, and by this time our expedition may have +arrived there and the Mahdi's power may be altogether broken."</p> + +<p>"I hope it may be so," the woman said; "before the Mahdi came the +country was peaceful and prosperous; there was employment and trade for +our camels, and all went about their occupations unmolested. Now +everything is changed; trade is<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_298" id="Page_298">[Pg 298]</a></span> at an end, the villages are destroyed, +and the fields deserted. I know not how it will end. If the tribes would +all turn together against them they would soon drive them out of the +land. But there is no hope of this; we have our own quarrels, and cannot +unite even when everything is at stake. The Mahdi may be the Mahdi, but +what is that to us? He tells his followers that he will lead them to +conquer Egypt, and to go to Jerusalem and Roum (Constantinople). But how +is he to do it when a handful of white soldiers defeated thousands of +his men in the desert? What would it be were he to meet a great army of +them? It is one thing to fight the Egyptians as they did at El-Obeid, +but another when it is your soldiers. I hear that multitudes of Osman +Digma's men were slain down by the sea, and yet they say they fought +well."</p> + +<p>"They did fight well," Edgar said. "I was there and saw it; no men could +have been braver; but we have terrible weapons, and it was impossible +for them to stand against them. The Mahdi may say what he likes, but +there is no more chance of his taking Egypt as long as we stay there +than there is of his flying."</p> + +<p>"Well, well!" the woman said, "it will be as Allah chooses. You do not +believe in Allah, Muley, you are a Kaffir."</p> + +<p>"I beg your pardon," Edgar said; "we and you worship the same God. We +call him God, and you call him Allah; but it is the same. Your Prophet +acknowledges Moses and Christ to be prophets. The only difference +between us is that you believe that Mohammed was also a prophet, and the +greatest of all, while we do not acknowledge that, but in other respects +there is no great difference between us."</p> + +<p>"My lord will talk to you, Muley; I am but a woman, and these things are +not for us."</p> + +<p>Each morning one of the boys remaining at the douar was sent up to the +crest of the sand-hills, and there remained all day on watch. At the end +of the thirteenth day the sheik's wife gave orders that everything +should be in readiness for instant<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_299" id="Page_299">[Pg 299]</a></span> departure. The camels had returned +on the previous day from El Bahr Nile, having made two journeys there +and back, and were now ready for a fresh departure. There was a further +cutting of the crops until as much was gathered as would, with the +remaining tents and goods, make up a full load for the camels, for as +the party had not arrived it was almost certain that they had not +succeeded in overtaking the fugitive. On the evening of the thirteenth +day a shout from the boy on the hill proclaimed that he saw figures +coming.</p> + +<p>"How many of them?" one of the men shouted to him.</p> + +<p>"There are five camels, but only four of them are ridden."</p> + +<p>There was a shout of satisfaction. This looked as if the party had +overtaken the fugitive, in which case they would have brought the camel +back and left the body of Hamish in the desert.</p> + +<p>A shout of welcome greeted the chief as he rode up. "You have overtaken +him, El Bakhat, I see; Bishmillah, God be praised, we are safe from the +trouble the treacherous dog would have brought upon us!"</p> + +<p>The sheik shook his head. "The son of Sheitan has escaped. We caught +sight of him just at the edge of the desert, having ridden with scarce +an hour's rest from the time we started. As soon as we did so Aboo and +myself dismounted and started in pursuit; but he must have seen us as +soon as we caught sight of him, for when we came up to his camel it was +alone. We followed him to the edge of the cultivated lands, but the +grass was long and the crops stood in some places as high as our heads, +and it would have been useless searching for him, so we brought the +camels on, gave them water and a night's halt to fill themselves in the +fields, and then started back. Has all been well?"</p> + +<p>"All has been well," his wife replied. "The camels made three journeys, +have rested, and are ready to start afresh. We have cut down as much as +they can carry, and have indeed left but little remaining."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_300" id="Page_300">[Pg 300]</a></span></p> + +<p>"We will start the day after to-morrow," the sheik said. "Our camels +need a rest, and time does not press. Before we leave the wady we will +set fire to the dry stalks and grass. There is little that will not +burn. We must destroy all that we can, so that when they arrive here in +search of us they shall not be able to sit down here, but must turn and +travel back with all speed, unless they decide to push on in pursuit of +us to Wady El Bahr Nile."</p> + +<p>Two days later the tents were struck and the camels loaded up; then when +they had moved away, the dried grass and corn stalks were fired at the +windward end of the valley and in a few minutes the flames swept along +in a broad sheet, and in a quarter of an hour a coating of gray ashes +covered the soil where lately the encampment with its surroundings of +cultivation stood. Two of the men were left behind with fast camels. +They were to leave the animals a mile from the camp on its northern +side, so that they would neither be on the line by which the enemy would +come or that leading to the wady. They had forage for their camels and +food for themselves for a fortnight. One was to remain by the camels, +the other to keep watch concealed among the sand-hills near the well.</p> + +<p>If an enemy was seen approaching the watcher was to return at once to +the camels, take his own animal, and ride to the wady with news as to +their strength; the other was to remain on watch until they either +retired or set out on the track of the fugitives, when he was to push +forward with all speed with the news. A messenger was also sent off to +the douar to the north saying that an expedition of the Mahdi's men was +on its way out to plunder and destroy the encampments of the tribe, and +begging them to send to El Bahr Nile all their fighting men in order +that the dervishes should have such a lesson that they would be well +content to leave the tribes alone in future.</p> + +<p>As before, the women and children were perched on the summit of their +household goods on the top of the camels.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_301" id="Page_301">[Pg 301]</a></span> Contrary to their usual +custom most of the men walked, as the camels were loaded to the full +extent of their powers.</p> + +<p>Edgar had manufactured for himself, soon after his arrival at the camp, +a pair of sandals from the skin of a goat that had been killed for food, +and he was therefore able to keep up with the camels with comfort. As it +was considered that there was no occasion for hurry, and as the camels +were very heavily laden, three days instead of two were devoted to the +journey, and even then it was a very fatiguing one for those on foot. On +arriving at El Bahr Nile Edgar found that the oasis was much smaller +than that they had quitted. The soil was rocky, and although there were +two large pools of clear water there was but little ground round them in +any way suitable for cultivation. Acacias and other shrubs, however, +grew thickly down the valley, showing that there was a certain amount of +moisture below the surface. The tents were soon erected by the side of +those of the first party, and when the fires were lighted and the camels +unloaded, taken to the water and then turned loose to browse among the +trees, the place assumed a home-like appearance.</p> + +<p>"You can shoot, Muley," the sheik said to Edgar. "If I give you a gun +will you fight against these dervishes?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly I will, sheik."</p> + +<p>"Your guns carry a long way; they are wonderful weapons. At Metemmeh men +were killed two miles away."</p> + +<p>"Yes, they are good weapons, sheik, and I wish I had one of them here, +for I am afraid I should not be able to do much with your guns."</p> + +<p>The sheik turned to his wife: "Fetch out that Kaffir gun, Amina." And to +Edgar's surprise she brought out from the tent a Martini rifle and a +pouch filled with cartridges. This gun had been found strapped on to one +of the camels that had been captured, and the sheik had appropriated it +for his own use, concealing it in one of the bales, so that Edgar had +not noticed it when the camels were unloaded.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_302" id="Page_302">[Pg 302]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I do not understand it," the sheik said; "it is much stranger to me +than our guns would be to you. I tried to put these brass things with +the bullet sticking out into it, but they would not go into the barrel. +You shall show me how to use it, but if the dervishes come I will hand +it to you, for you understand it and will do much better with it than I +should; but show me how it works."</p> + +<p>The sheik's astonishment was great when Edgar pushed the lever, opened +the breech, inserted a cartridge, and closing the breech said that it +was now loaded and could be fired at once.</p> + +<p>"Fire at that rock," he said, "and then load again as quickly as you +can."</p> + +<p>Edgar did so, and in a few seconds was again ready to fire.</p> + +<p>"Inshallah!" the sheik exclaimed, "but it is wonderful. No wonder that +they tell me that the roar of the guns was like never-ceasing thunder, +and that the sound of one shot could not be heard from another. Can you +take out the cartridge without firing?"</p> + +<p>Edgar showed him how this was done, and the sheik then repeatedly loaded +and unloaded the gun until he could manipulate it quickly. "And what is +this thing?" he asked, touching the back sight.</p> + +<p>Edgar explained to him that the sight was raised or lowered according to +the distance of the object to be aimed at.</p> + +<p>"The Franks are wonderful men," the sheik said gravely; "if they had but +the true faith, and Allah was with them, no one could stand against +them. When the ammunition is used up can you make more?"</p> + +<p>Edgar shook his head.</p> + +<p>"If I had caps to fit in here and a mould for the bullets I could refill +these cases two or three times, but after that they would be useless. +Powerful machinery is used for making these cases. It might be possible +to have them made by hand by a skilled worker in brass in Khartoum, but +it would be very expensive, and I am afraid, sheik, when the ammunition +is<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_303" id="Page_303">[Pg 303]</a></span> gone the gun would be useless unless you can procure some more +cartridges from traders in Egypt; unless, indeed, my countrymen have +retaken Khartoum, in which case I could obtain for you any quantity of +cartridges."</p> + +<p>"Your countrymen have retired to Korti," the sheik said.</p> + +<p>Edgar gave a cry of disappointment. He had feared that when the news of +Gordon's death was known the expedition might be abandoned; but he had +still retained some hope that it might advance to Khartoum. The news +that they had already fallen back to Korti came as a shock.</p> + +<p>"How did you learn the news, sheik?" he asked presently. "You did not +say that you had spoken to anyone."</p> + +<p>"Yes, we went a little way into the fields in hopes of catching sight of +Hamish, and came upon two peasants who were gathering the crop. They had +seen nothing of the negro. Upon questioning them as to what was going on +at Khartoum they said that the Mahdi was still all-powerful; that the +Kaffirs had fallen back from Metemmeh and were scattered along the river +between Korti and Dongola; and that the Mahdi had announced that his +forces would ere long advance, conquer Egypt, and destroy the Kaffirs."</p> + +<p>"Do you mean to wait for the attack of the Mahdi's men here or to go to +meet them?" Edgar asked after a long pause.</p> + +<p>"If they come here too numerous to fight we must fly; but if they are +not too strong we will give them battle here. Why should we go to meet +them?"</p> + +<p>"It is for you to decide," Edgar said. "I know nothing of your Arab ways +of fighting. But it seemed to me that it might be better, if they are +not altogether too strong, to meet them as near the other wells as we +can."</p> + +<p>"But why so, Muley? They would have water close to them and we should +have none. If one was wounded he would have to be carried a long +distance. Why do you advise that we should fight them there?"</p> + +<p>"You told me, sheik, that the existence of this well was only<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_304" id="Page_304">[Pg 304]</a></span> known to +you and your people and a small section of the tribe."</p> + +<p>"That is so, Muley. It is a secret that has been well guarded. The wady +has served as a retreat many times in our history."</p> + +<p>"If they come on and any of them go back again the secret will be a +secret no longer," Edgar said. "It is for this reason that I thought +that we had better go out and meet them. There is but one man with them +who knows the way hither, and against him our balls should be all +directed. If we kill him they would be without a guide and would be +unable to find the way, for they would never venture into this desert +knowing that if they failed to find our well they might all perish for +want of water."</p> + +<p>"You speak well," the sheik said. "I had not thought of this; but I see +that your plan is a good one. As soon as I learn that they have arrived +at the wells we will set out to meet them unless their force is +altogether too strong for us."</p> + +<p>On the seventh day after their arrival at the wady the messenger who had +been despatched for aid returned. His news was that the greater part of +the men were away; they were expected in a few days, but it might be a +week or more before they came back. The sheik was unwilling to send off +the few men at the douar, but promised that as soon as his main force +returned he would set out with the whole strength of his fighting men to +their assistance.</p> + +<p>Upon the following morning one of the men left to watch the wells also +returned. He had come through without stopping, and reported that late +in the evening before he left he and his companions had seen a line of +camels with some horsemen coming towards the wells. He had waited until +morning in order to discover their force; he put it down as forty men.</p> + +<p>"That is very bad news," the sheik said. "We can only muster eighteen +fighting men, and some of these are old and others mere lads. They are +two to one against us, and if we were beaten and forced to fly their +horsemen would overtake<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_305" id="Page_305">[Pg 305]</a></span> us and destroy us. Think it over, Muley; you +are full of expedients."</p> + +<p>"How many men do you expect to get from the other douar?"</p> + +<p>"Their encampment is the same size as ours; they are sure to leave some +of the old men to guard it, perhaps fifteen will come. That will make +our force nearly equal to theirs, and we might defend this wady, though +I doubt it, but I am sure that they would beat us easily in the desert. +They are almost all armed with the rifles that they took at El-Obeid +from Hicks Pasha's men, and will have found an abundance of arms at +Khartoum; besides, these dervishes fight desperately. The faith they +have in the Mahdi gives them strength and courage; they do not care +whether they die or live, and doubtless picked men have been sent on the +expedition. I fear there is nought before us but flight, unless you with +your knowledge of the Frank method of war can hit upon some plan."</p> + +<p>"I will think it over, sheik, but at present I see no way in which we +can withstand them. We might, of course, cut down trees and make so +strong a fort here that we might beat them off; but in that case they +might return in much greater numbers, therefore it seems to me that if +we fight we must fight at the other wady."</p> + +<p>"Then we cannot fight at all," the sheik said decisively. "There are two +to one against us, and it would be madness to attack them when they +could with their horsemen cut off all retreat."</p> + +<p>"I will think, sheik," Edgar said, rising and walking away.</p> + +<p>In half an hour he returned. "I have thought of a plan, sheik, but it is +not without great danger."</p> + +<p>"I care not for danger," the sheik said, "so that it be but possible."</p> + +<p>"My idea is this: that we should load up all your camels with +closely-pressed bundles of forage; then that we should advance a day's +march across the desert; and there that we<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_306" id="Page_306">[Pg 306]</a></span> should form a zareba. With +the forage we should, of course, take water-skins with us, with +sufficient to last for at least a week. I should send the camels back +again as soon as they are unloaded, and should order those who remained +behind to load all their goods upon them and to set out either for the +other douar of your tribe or for the villages to the south. I should +send a messenger to the other douar to say that we are going to defend +the zareba to the last and praying them to come at once to our rescue, +promising the moment they appear to sally out and fall upon the +dervishes while they attack them in rear. Your messenger should point +out that before they arrive a number of the enemy will certainly have +fallen in their attack upon us, and we shall, therefore, be decidedly +superior to them in point of numbers."</p> + +<p>"The plan is a bold one," the sheik said; "but do you think that it +would be possible for us to defend the zareba?"</p> + +<p>"I think so, sheik. It need be but a small one some twelve feet square +inside. They will have to cross the open to attack us, and outside we +can protect it by a facing of prickly shrubs."</p> + +<p>"We will do it!" the sheik said in a tone of determination, springing to +his feet. "One can but die once, and if we succeed it will be a tale for +the women of our tribe to tell for all time."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XVIII.</h2> + +<h3>THE ZAREBA.</h3> + + +<p>No sooner had the sheik decided to carry out Edgar's plan than he +rapidly issued his orders. In five minutes the whole of the inhabitants +of the douar were at work, the boys going out to fetch the camels, the +men cutting down the long grass near the well and laying it in great +bundles very tightly pressed together, the women cooking a large supply +of flat<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_307" id="Page_307">[Pg 307]</a></span> cakes for the party. In two hours the preparations were +completed and the twenty men moved off from the oasis. They travelled +until ten o'clock in the evening. By the light of the moon, which was +four days short of full, the sheik and Edgar selected a point for the +erection of the zareba. It was a patch of rock cropping up from the +summit of a sand-hill that fell away from it on all sides, and was just +about the size required for the zareba. The camels were unloaded and the +bundles of forage laid down side by side and formed into a square, the +wall being some four feet thick and two feet high. The whole party, +including the boys who were to take back the camels, then set to work to +cut thorny bushes. These were piled thickly at the foot of the rock all +round, being kept in their places by stakes driven into the sand and by +ropes interlacing them. The work was only completed just as daylight +broke.</p> + +<p>"I don't think," Edgar said, walking round the little fort, "that any +men can get through this hedge of thorns until they have pulled it away +piece by piece, and that, with us lying in shelter above and firing down +upon them, will be a difficult task indeed."</p> + +<p>The Arabs, who had obeyed the chief's orders with reluctance and had +been very silent upon the journey out, were now jubilant, feeling +convinced that they could beat off the attack of such a force as that +which they heard was advancing. The camels were now sent off, and they +had scarcely disappeared among the sand-hills when an Arab was seen +approaching on a camel.</p> + +<p>"It is our scout," the sheik said; "he brings us news."</p> + +<p>He tied a cloth to the end of a spear and waved it. A minute later the +camel's course was changed and the rider soon arrived outside the fort.</p> + +<p>"What is your news, Yussuf?"</p> + +<p>"They are going to start this morning," the man said. "I crept in as +soon as it became dark last night and made my way<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_308" id="Page_308">[Pg 308]</a></span> close up to them, and +I gathered that they have decided to march this morning on to Wady El +Bahr Nile. They could not stay where they were any longer as they had +only brought with them sufficient food for the camels for the march to +the wady, where they made sure they should find an abundant supply, and +having given them a day's rest they were going to push forwards at once +to the next wady, where they made certain of finding the fugitives."</p> + +<p>"Will they be here to-night?" Edgar asked the sheik.</p> + +<p>"I should think not, Muley. The regular halting-place is five miles +away, and as that is about half-way they will probably stop there and +start perhaps an hour before daybreak."</p> + +<p>The scout was sent off to the wady with the news, and the little +garrison spent the day in strengthening their fort, making another hedge +of bushes three or four yards beyond the other, and gathering a large +number of the heaviest stones they could find. These were laid on the +grass rampart, which was thus raised in height nearly a foot, openings +being left in the stones through which the defenders could thrust their +guns and fire without exposing their heads to the shots of the +assailants. This still further added to the confidence of the Arabs, and +when all was completed they indulged in defiant gestures and wild yells +signifying contempt, in the direction from which the enemy would +probably advance.</p> + +<p>At nightfall two of the men were posted as sentries, as it was possible +the Mahdists might push straight forward. There was, however, no alarm +during the night; but just as day broke the sentries reported that there +were horsemen to be seen in the distance. As there was no object in +concealment all leapt to their feet. Nine horsemen were seen on the brow +of a sand-hill some two miles away. They were presently lost sight of as +they descended into a dip, and a minute or two later the line of camels +was seen following in their steps. The spear with the cloth was elevated +as a flag; and when the horsemen appeared on the next sand-hill, it was +evident by the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_309" id="Page_309">[Pg 309]</a></span> suddenness with which they pulled up their horses that +they saw it.</p> + +<p>Half a minute later they started again, this time at a canter. When they +came within half a mile the sheik asked, "Why do you not fire, Muley; +your gun will carry that distance easily?"</p> + +<p>"Double that distance if necessary, sheik. It is better not to let them +know that we have such a gun here until they get close. It will be +better for you to fire."</p> + +<p>The sheik levelled his long gun and fired, and the horsemen at once drew +up, and after a little consultation two or three of them rode off on +each flank so as to make a circuit of this unlooked-for obstacle, while +one of the others rode back at full speed to meet the camel train. As +soon as it arrived the riders, of whom there were two on each animal, +dismounted. The camels were led back to a hollow where they would be +safe from any stray bullet, and after a short pause one of the horsemen +again advanced and at a rapid pace made a circle round the fort at a +distance of two or three hundred yards only. A scattered fire was opened +by the defenders, but the speed at which he was riding disconcerted +their aim, and having completed the circuit he rode off with a yell of +defiance to rejoin the party.</p> + +<p>For half an hour no move was made. It was evident that the strength of +the position had disconcerted the dervishes, who had expected to gain an +almost bloodless victory. As, however, Hamish assured them that at the +very utmost the sheik could put but twenty men in the field, including +several boys and old men, it was finally decided to attack, and headed +by the horsemen the dervishes started forward at a run, uttering shrill +yells as they did so. Edgar had persuaded the chief that it would be +useless to open fire until they were within two or three hundred yards, +as but few shots would tell, and the men would be discouraged by finding +that their fire did not check the advance. The sheik therefore commanded +his followers on no account to fire until he gave the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_310" id="Page_310">[Pg 310]</a></span> order. The +dervishes, however, were not sparing of their ammunition, and fired as +they ran, the balls going for the most part wide, although a few +whistled over the heads of the defenders and two or three struck the +rampart.</p> + +<p>"Now I think they are near enough, sheik," Edgar, who had levelled his +rifle at one of the horsemen, said. As he spoke he pulled the trigger, +and simultaneously with the sharp crack of the piece the Arab threw up +his arms and fell from his horse. The sheik and five of his men fired +almost at the same moment. Kneeling as closely as they could, there was +room for but seven along the face of the fort fronting the enemy, and at +Edgar's suggestion the chief had divided the men into three parties, +each of which after firing was to fall to the rear and reload, their +places being taken by the others in succession. Thus there would always +be a reserve and the fire could be kept up without interruption. Volley +after volley was fired, Edgar loading quickly enough to repeat his fire +with each squad.</p> + +<p>So rapidly did the Arabs pass over the intervening ground that they +reached the outside hedge of thorns just as the party who had first +fired had again taken their places in front. Five of the dervishes had +fallen and several were wounded, but this had not checked their speed +for a moment, and under the orders of their leaders they at once fell to +work with their swords and knives to destroy the hedge. The work was +done far more rapidly than Edgar had thought possible, and they then +fell upon the more formidable obstacle piled up against the rocks, +attacking it on three sides simultaneously. The defenders now fired +independently, each as fast as he could load, Edgar shouting +continuously "Steady! steady! take a good aim each time," and the sheik +re-echoing his words.</p> + +<p>The Arabs, however, were too excited to obey, and the greater part of +their shots were thrown away. Several of the dervishes had fallen, but +the process of clearing away the hedge proceeded with alarming rapidity. +The work was, however,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_311" id="Page_311">[Pg 311]</a></span> speedily abandoned at the face where Edgar was +stationed, for at each crack of his rifle a dervish fell. Leaving three +of the men to defend that face the rest joined the defenders at the +sides, the sheik taking the command on one side, Edgar on the other. The +fire now became more steady, the sheik enforcing his orders by vigorous +blows with the staff of his spear, while Edgar's rifle on his side more +than made up for his want of influence with the men.</p> + +<p>In their fury several of the dervishes sprang boldly into the midst of +the thorns and strove to climb up, but they were met by the spears of +the defenders, and not one gained an entrance. It was less than ten +minutes after the first shot had been fired when the leader of the +dervishes, seeing how fast his men were falling and that they would soon +be no stronger than the defenders of the fort, called them off from the +attack. As they turned and ran the defenders leapt to their feet with +yells of triumph; but the dervishes, turning round, fired several shots. +The sheik received a ball in his shoulder and two of his companions fell +dead. The others at once took to their shelter again, and kept up their +fire until long after the last of the dervishes was out of range. The +moment the retreat began Edgar looked out for his man, of whom he had +not hitherto caught a glimpse in the heat of the conflict. He soon +caught sight of him, and taking a steady and careful aim with his rifle +on a stone, fired, and Hamish fell headlong forward, the ball having +struck him fair between the shoulders.</p> + +<p>A yell of triumph rose from the Arabs. The traitor who had brought the +Mahdists down upon them was punished; the one man who could guide the +foe to the wady was killed. As soon as the enemy got out of reach of +shot they gathered in consultation. The defenders could see that the +discussion was excited and violent; they waved their arms, stamped, and +seemed on the point of coming to blows with each other. While they were +so engaged the garrison looked out at the field of battle round the +fort. No less than fifteen<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_312" id="Page_312">[Pg 312]</a></span> of the assailants had been killed, while of +the defenders but two, the one an old man and the other a boy, had +fallen. The sheik begged Edgar to bandage his shoulder; he seemed to +feel the pain but little, so delighted was he with the issue of the +contest. Edgar soaked a pad of the cotton cloth and laid it on the +wound, and then with long strips of the same material bandaged the arm +tightly to the side, and with other strips fastened as well as he could +the pad in its place.</p> + +<p>"They are scattering over the sand-hills," one of the Arabs said just as +he had finished, and in a short time a dropping fire was opened at the +fort.</p> + +<p>The Arabs would have replied, but the sheik said that it was a waste of +powder, for their guns would not carry as far as the rifles in the hands +of the dervishes, and it was better that they should lie quiet behind +their shelter and allow the enemy to throw away their fire.</p> + +<p>"What will they do next, do you think, sheik?"</p> + +<p>"I do not think they will make another attack, Muley; at any rate not in +the daytime. They must know they are not greatly superior to us in +force, being now but twenty-five to our eighteen, and no doubt many of +them are wounded. They may try to besiege us. They will know that we +have a supply of water—we should never have shut ourselves up here +without it—but that will fail in time."</p> + +<p>"But their own supply will fail," Edgar said. "Probably they have only +brought enough with them for what they supposed would be a two days' +march to the wady."</p> + +<p>"I should think, Muley, they will send all their camels back to the +wells, perhaps with one of their wounded men and another. The wounded +man will remain there in charge of them, the other will bring two or +three of them out with full water-skins; he can make the journey there +and back every two days and can bring enough water for the men and +horses. I don't think they will send the horses away. They will do with +a small portion of water, and if greatly needed they<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_313" id="Page_313">[Pg 313]</a></span> could start from +here at sunset, keeping among the sand-hills until out of sight, reach +the wells, drink their fill, and be back in the morning. If they attack +at night it will be between the setting of the moon and daybreak."</p> + +<p>"I should hardly think they would do that," Edgar said. "We shall soon +restore the thorn hedge, and they would scarcely be mad enough to attack +us when they know that we have that protection and are almost as strong +as they are. If it were not that we do not want them to know the way to +the wady I should say that we could venture to sally out and march back, +but that would cost us a good many lives, for the horsemen could ride on +ahead, dismount, open fire on us from the sand-hills, and be off again +on their horses when we went up to attack them. No, I think we cannot do +better than follow our original plan. Our water will hold out for a +week, and by putting ourselves on short allowance at the end of a day or +two if we find that they are determined to wait, we can make it last for +nearly a fortnight, and long before that your tribesmen ought to be +here, and in that case only the mounted men will escape us. Three of +their horses lie dead outside, so there are but five left."</p> + +<p>"Ah! if we could but cut them all off," the sheik said in a tone of +fury, "then we might be safe for a long time. If any of them get back to +tell the tale the Mahdi will send a force next time that there will be +no resisting."</p> + +<p>Edgar sat thinking for a minute or two.</p> + +<p>"I have an idea, sheik," he said at last. "Send off one of your boys as +soon as the moon sets, let him go to El Bahr Nile. When your friends +arrive he will tell them of the repulse we have given the dervishes, and +that there are now but twenty-five of them, several of whom are +doubtless wounded. Tell them that if but ten men come to aid us we can +defeat them; let the other ten, that is if twenty arrive, start first, +and turning off the track make a detour and come down at night upon the +wady. There they will find but one man with the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_314" id="Page_314">[Pg 314]</a></span> camels; but they must +not show themselves, but must hide close at hand. Then when the horsemen +arrive they must make an ambush, and either shoot them down as they pass +or let them go through to the wells. They are sure to wait there for a +few hours, and they can fall upon them there. Let the men be ordered to +fire only at the horses; they can deal with the men after they have +dismounted. The great thing is to prevent the horsemen getting away."</p> + +<p>"Mashallah, Muley, your plan is a grand one. Had you been bred in the +desert you could not have better understood our warfare. What a pity it +is that you are a Kaffir! You would have been a great sheik had you been +a true believer."</p> + +<p>"Gordon Pasha was a Kaffir," Edgar replied, "but he was greater than any +sheik."</p> + +<p>"He was a great man indeed," the sheik said; "he was a very father to +the people; there was no withstanding him. We fought against him, for +our interest lay with the slave-dealing, but he scattered us like sheep. +Yes, Gordon was a great man though, as you say, he was a Kaffir;" and +the sheik sat in silence, meditating upon what seemed to him an +inscrutable problem.</p> + +<p>While the conversation had been going on, the bullets of the enemy +continued to whistle round the zareba.</p> + +<p>"I will try and put a stop to that," Edgar said; "we have a rifle here +as much better than theirs, as theirs are superior to the guns of your +tribesmen."</p> + +<p>The nearest hill was some four or five hundred yards away, and on this +several of the Arabs could be seen. Sure that they were nearly out of +gun-shot, they took but little pains to conceal themselves. Edgar rested +his rifle on a stone and took a steady aim at three of them who were +sitting together. He fired. A yell of dismay came across the air; two of +the figures leapt to their feet and ran back. A moment later four or +five others who had been firing from among the bushes also dashed away, +while a triumphant yell rose from the zareba.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_315" id="Page_315">[Pg 315]</a></span></p> + +<p>"That is one enemy the less," Edgar said, "and I don't think the others +will trouble us much in future. They must know that they can be doing us +no harm, and now they discover they are not going to have it all their +own way we shall not hear much more of them."</p> + +<p>Shots were indeed fired occasionally from the bushes and eminences, but +the discharges were far apart, and seemed to be intended rather to show +the defenders of the zareba that they were surrounded than for any other +purpose. The day passed without any further event. As soon as the sun +had fairly set the defenders sallied out and repaired the hedge. The +enemy probably guessed that they were so employed, and kept up a much +heavier fire than they had done during the day. Edgar, lying in the +zareba, replied, steadily firing at the flashes, and after a time the +firing of the enemy slackened, and the defenders, when they had +completed the hedge, re-entered the zareba through a very narrow gap +that had been left for the purpose, carrying with them one of their +number whose leg had been broken just above the ankle by one of the +enemy's bullets. Under the sheik's instructions some rough splints were +made to keep the bone in its proper position, and bandages were then +applied.</p> + +<p>Four sentries were posted, one at each corner of the fort, and the rest +of the garrison lay down to sleep. Twice during the night they sprang to +their feet at the discharge of the gun of one of the sentries, but as no +movement of the enemy followed they soon lay down again, supposing that +either the alarm had been a false one, and that the sentry had fired at +some low bush, or that, if he had really seen a man, the latter had made +off as soon as he had discovered that the garrison were awake and +vigilant. As soon as the moon set the sheik despatched one of the young +men to the wady. His instructions were to crawl carefully, taking +advantage of every bush until he deemed himself well beyond any of the +enemy who might be watching, and then to start at full speed. If he were +fired at, he was, if the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_316" id="Page_316">[Pg 316]</a></span> enemy were still in front of him, to run back +to the zareba; if they were behind him, to press forward at full speed.</p> + +<p>For an hour after he had left the garrison listened anxiously. They were +all under arms now, lest the enemy should try and attack during the +darkness. No sounds, however, broke the stillness of the plain, and they +were at last assured that their messenger had got safely through. For +four days the blockade continued, an occasional exchange of shots being +kept up. The dervishes, however, since they had learnt the range of +Edgar's rifle, seldom showed themselves, but crept among the rocks and +bushes, fired a shot, and then crawled off again to repeat the operation +fifty or a hundred yards away. When the hedge had been repaired on the +night after the fight the defenders buried their own dead in the sand a +short distance off, and had dragged the bodies of their fallen enemies +fifty yards away, as, had the siege lasted many days, the fort would +have otherwise become uninhabitable.</p> + +<p>In the morning one of the Arabs had yelled to the besiegers that the +bodies were lying fifty yards away in front of the fort, and that four +of them were free to come and carry them away or bury them as they +chose. The invitation passed unregarded, but during the next night the +bodies were all removed. The sentries were ordered not to fire if they +heard any noise in that direction, for, as Edgar pointed out to the +sheik, it was important that the bodies should be carried away. The next +day several of the Arabs went out and raised heaps of sand over the +horses that still lay just outside the hedge.</p> + +<p>The fourth night after his departure the messenger returned with the +news that the tribesmen, eighteen in number, had arrived in the +afternoon. They would carry out the sheik's orders. They were mounting +fresh camels just as he started. Nine of them would hide among the +sand-hills two or three miles away, and would there remain for +twenty-four hours so as to give time for the others to get up to the +wells. The sheik commanding the party had suggested that soon after +daybreak<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_317" id="Page_317">[Pg 317]</a></span> the defenders of the fort should sally out and advance in the +direction where the dervishes' camp was situated, as if intending to +make an attack. This would bring in all the enemy who might be scattered +among the sand-hills near the zareba. As soon as the engagement began +he, with his men, would fall upon the rear of the dervishes.</p> + +<p>"Do you think that that is a good plan, Muley?"</p> + +<p>"I think so, sheik. You see, if we merely wanted to defeat them one +would not wish them to rally into one body; but as our great object is +to prevent any from returning, it is much better to do as the sheik +suggests and let them get all together."</p> + +<p>The day passed as usual, and the next morning shortly before sunrise the +defenders of the fort issued out. The assailants were on the watch, and +from four or five different points round the zareba shots were fired. +Taking advantage of every bush the Arabs advanced slowly under the +direction of their sheik. The dervishes, believing that the garrison +must have been driven from their defences by thirst, and that they were +now in their power, rapidly gathered their force and advanced to meet +their opponents. At first they did so carelessly, but they were checked +by the fall of one of their leaders by a ball from Edgar's rifle. They +then advanced a little more cautiously. Edgar kept close to the sheik.</p> + +<p>"They will make a rush soon," he said; "tell the men not to fire till +they rise to their feet."</p> + +<p>"Where are the others?" the sheik growled; "if they do not come we shall +be outnumbered."</p> + +<p>"Not by much, sheik; one or two of their men are certainly away with the +camels, and we shall drop two or three more of them at least when they +make their rush; the others are sure to be up directly. There, look! +There they are on the top of the sand-hills the dervishes have been +firing from."</p> + +<p>The enemy had now approached to within a hundred yards, and were just +preparing for a rush when a shout of welcome<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_318" id="Page_318">[Pg 318]</a></span> broke from the party in +front of them and was at once echoed from the rear. The dervishes sprang +to their feet in surprise and alarm, but one of their leaders exclaimed, +"There are but a few of them! Slay these in front first, then we will +destroy those in our rear!"</p> + +<p>With a yell of defiance the dervishes dashed forward. The sheik's party +poured in a volley as they did so, and then grasping their spears sprang +to their feet, Edgar alone remaining prone, and firing four more shots +as the dervishes traversed the intervening space. There was little +disparity of numbers when the parties met. The sheik had, at Edgar's +suggestion, ordered his men to form in a compact group with their spears +pointing outward, as the great point was to withstand the rush until +their friends came up. But the dervishes recklessly threw themselves +upon the spears, and in a moment all were engaged in a hand-to-hand +fight. Edgar, feeling that with a clubbed rifle he should have no chance +against the spears and swords of the Arabs, kept between the sheik and +two of his most trusted followers, and loading as quickly as he could +throw out and drop in the cartridges, brought down four men who rushed +one after another upon them.</p> + +<p>It seemed an age to him, but it was scarce more than a minute after the +combatants had closed that, with a shout, the ten new-comers arrived on +the scene. Edgar dropped a fresh cartridge into his rifle and stood +quiet; he had no wish to join in the slaughter. The dervishes fought +desperately, and none asked for quarter, and in two or three minutes the +combat was over and all had fallen, save three or four men who had +extricated themselves from the fight and dashed off at the top of their +speed, quickly pursued by the exultant victors. To Edgar's surprise they +did not run in the direction of the sand-hill behind which he had +thought their camp was made, but bore away to the south.</p> + +<p>Pursuers and pursued were soon out of sight, and Edgar turned to see how +his companions had fared. Three of them<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_319" id="Page_319">[Pg 319]</a></span> had been killed and six of the +others had received spear-thrusts or sword-cuts more or less severe.</p> + +<p>"It would have gone hard with us, sheik, if our friends had not come +up."</p> + +<p>"We should have beaten them," the sheik said. "That gun of yours would +have turned the scale. Had it not been for that they would have been too +strong for us, for they were all fighting men in their prime, and five +or six of my men were no match for them in a hand-to-hand fight. +Mashallah! it has been a great day; it will be talked of long in our +tribe, how, with but twenty men, and many of these not at their best, we +withstood forty dervishes, and so beat them that when a reinforcement of +eight men came to us we destroyed them altogether."</p> + +<p>"Four may have got away," Edgar said; "they must have left their horses +in the direction in which they fled. I suppose they feared that some of +us might crawl out and hamstring them did they picket them near their +camp. When I first saw our friends on the hill my first thought was that +we had done wrong not to bid them secure the horses before they +attacked. Now I see that they could not have found them; and it was well +you sent no such orders, for had you done so they might have lost time +looking for them and have arrived late."</p> + +<p>For half an hour those unwounded of the party were occupied in bandaging +up the wounds of the others. At the end of that time the men who had +pursued the fugitives had arrived.</p> + +<p>"Have you caught them?" the sheik asked as they approached.</p> + +<p>"We overtook two and killed them, but the others reached the horses. A +man was waiting there in charge of them, and the three rode off leading +the fourth horse; but never fear, our men will catch them at the next +wells."</p> + +<p>The bodies of the fallen dervishes had been examined, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_320" id="Page_320">[Pg 320]</a></span> it was found +that among the fallen were all the leaders, these being distinguishable +by their gay garments from the others, who simply wore the long white +shirt that formed, with a coloured straw skull-cap, the uniform of the +Mahdi's men. The two men who had escaped belonged to the rank and file. +The joy of the Arabs was extreme. They loaded and fired off their +muskets, yelled, danced, and gesticulated. They did not believe in the +Mahdi, but his followers had come to be considered among them as +invincible. It was therefore a triumph indeed for the tribe that this +invading party had been annihilated.</p> + +<p>The new-comers were surprised at finding a white man among the defenders +of the fort; and the sheik was so proud of his possession that he did +not hesitate to say that their successful defence was chiefly due to the +advice of this slave, whom he described as being, although so young, a +great captain. Preparations were now made for a start. The camels of the +new-comers were brought up from the spot where they had left them on +advancing to take part in the fight. The six wounded men each mounted a +camel behind its rider. The sheik and three of his principal followers +mounted behind the riders of the other four camels. The rest proceeded +on foot, two men being left behind at the fort with instructions that +when the eight men who had gone on to the other wady returned with their +own camels and the seventeen camels of the dervishes, all were to be +loaded up to the extent of their power with the bundles of forage that +had done such good service as the basis of the fort, for the supply at +the wady had been very nearly all cut down, and food would be required +for the camels until a fresh supply sprang up.</p> + +<p>The wady was reached at sunset, and a messenger was at once sent off to +the spot where, in accordance with the sheik's orders, the women and +children with the camels were halted until news should arrive of the +result of the fight. It was six miles away, and it was midnight when the +party arrived.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_321" id="Page_321">[Pg 321]</a></span> Great fires had been lighted, and there was a scene of +the liveliest rejoicing as the women and children arrived. There was no +thought of sleep that night. The story of the battle was told over and +over again, every incident being rehearsed with appropriate gesture, and +even the friends of the six who had fallen restrained their grief for +the time, partly from pride that they had died so honourably, partly +because any show of grief would have been out of place amid the +rejoicings for so great an exploit.</p> + +<p>With the exception of the children Edgar was the only occupant of the +douar who closed an eye that night. He had waited up until the return of +the camels and women, had assisted to unload the animals with the +sheik's tent and baggage, and to put things into something like order, +and had then withdrawn himself from the groups of excited talkers by the +fire, and thrown himself down among the bushes some distance away.</p> + +<p>He had had but little sleep from the time the party had marched to meet +the dervishes. It was upon his advice that they had gone, and he felt +himself to some extent responsible for the result. During the time the +siege had lasted scarce half an hour had passed without his rising to +see that the sentries were vigilant, and to assure himself that the +silence of the desert was unbroken. The night before he had not thought +of sleep. He had no doubt that the Arabs who were coming to their +assistance would do their best to arrive at the right moment; still, +something might occur to detain them a little, and although the Arabs +had behaved with great bravery hitherto, he felt sure that in a fight in +the open they would be no match against the fanatical dervishes, who +always fought with a full assurance of victory, and were absolutely +indifferent as to their own lives. He had seen them three times at work, +and held their courage in the deepest respect.</p> + +<p>The next day there was a grand feast, several kids being slaughtered for +the purpose. The following morning a cara<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_322" id="Page_322">[Pg 322]</a></span>van was seen approaching, and +the whole encampment turned out to meet it, the men discharging their +guns and shouting cries of triumph and welcome, to which the new-comers +replied with many shouts. In front of the caravan two horses were led; +then followed the camels of the dervishes, behind which came those of +their captors.</p> + +<p>The sheik pressed forward to the leader of the party.</p> + +<p>"There were four horses and three men," he said; "have you them all?"</p> + +<p>"Two of the horses and the men were killed," he replied. "The others, as +you see, we captured."</p> + +<p>"Allah be praised!" the sheik said fervently; "then not one of the +dervishes has escaped, and the secret of our place of refuge here is +preserved."</p> + +<p>Some more kids were killed and another grand feast was held. The +captured camels were divided between the two parties. The sheik took one +of the horses and the leader of the other party the second, and on the +following morning the rescuing party started on their return journey to +the wady they had left a week before, greatly satisfied with their +journey. They had lost three men in the fight with the dervishes, but +were the richer by eight camels, a horse, and the arms and ammunition of +ten of the dervishes, that being the number they had accounted for, +while thirty had been killed by the defenders of the zareba.</p> + +<p>Edgar had been fully occupied during those days assisting the negro +slave who had remained with the party left behind in looking after the +camels, drawing water, and fetching wood for the fire. The sheik had +spoken little to him since his return, being busied with the duties of +entertaining his guests; but it was evident that he had highly commended +him to his wife, who bestowed upon him night and morning a bowl of +camel's milk in addition to his ordinary rations. After the caravan had +started the sheik called him into his tent.</p> + +<p>"Muley," he said, "you have done us great service. I acted<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_323" id="Page_323">[Pg 323]</a></span> upon your +advice and it has turned out well; and you have shown that you are a +brave fighter as well as one strong in counsel. I have no son, and if +you are willing to accept the true faith I will adopt you as my son, and +you will be no longer a slave but one of the tribe."</p> + +<p>Edgar was silent for a minute or two, thinking over how he had best +couch his refusal in terms that would not anger the sheik. Then he said, +"I am indeed grateful for your offer, sheik, which does me great honour, +but were I to accept it I know that even in your eyes I should be viewed +with contempt. Had our people captured Metemmeh when you were there, and +carried you off a prisoner, I know well that you would have treated with +scorn any offer my people might have made you of a post of honour and +wealth among us if you would have abjured Mohammed and become a +Christian. You would have died first."</p> + +<p>"That would I indeed!" the sheik exclaimed hotly.</p> + +<p>"Honourable men do not change their religion for profit, sheik. You were +born a follower of the Prophet, I was born a Christian. We both believe +what we were taught as children; it is in our blood and cannot be +changed. Were I to say the words that would make me a Mohammedan, you +know well that I should say them with my lips and not with my heart, +that I should be a false Mohammedan as well as a false Christian. I +could as easily change the colour of my skin as my religion, and you in +your heart would be the first to condemn and despise me did I do so."</p> + +<p>The sheik sat for some time stroking his chin in silence. "You are +right, Muley," he said at last; "a man cannot change his religion as he +can his coat. I did not think of it when I made the offer; but as you +say, I would rather die a thousand deaths than abjure Mohammed; and +though I now think you worthy to be my son, and to become a sheik after +me, I might not think you worthy did you become a renegade."</p> + +<p>"Believe me, sheik," Edgar said, rising, "I feel deeply the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_324" id="Page_324">[Pg 324]</a></span> kindness of +your offer, and so long as I remain with you I shall take as much +interest in the tribe as if I were a member of it, and I shall do my +best to prove myself your faithful slave. You saved my life by refusing +to hand me over to the Mahdi. I shall never forget it, and shall be +ready at all times to risk it for you, for my kind mistress, and for the +tribe."</p> + +<p>"You have spoken well, Muley, and although I am sorry, I cannot feel +angered at your decision."</p> + +<p>Edgar saw that the interview was over, and left the tent, well content +that he had been able to refuse the offer without exciting the anger of +the sheik. For another two months the tribe remained in the wady. By +that time forage was running short, and the sheik announced his +intention of leaving it for a time and of going to El-Obeid, where he +might obtain employment for his camels by some trader. Edgar was pleased +at the news. His chances of escape from their present position in the +desert were small indeed, but opportunities might present themselves +during a trading journey.</p> + +<p>He knew that some time must yet elapse before he could speak the +language sufficiently well to hope to pass as a native, although he +could make himself understood fairly and comprehend the purport of all +that was said to him; still he would gain an acquaintance with the +country and learn more of its peoples. He saw that he could not hope to +pass as one of the Arab tribesmen, but that if his escape was to be made +at all it must be in the disguise of a trader in one of the towns. Four +days later the tents were levelled, the belongings of the tribes packed +on the camels, and the caravan left the wady on its march across the +desert.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_325" id="Page_325">[Pg 325]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XIX.</h2> + +<h3>A LONG SEARCH.</h3> + + +<p>It was with mixed feelings that Rupert turned on his camel to take a +last view of the camp at Korti. When should he see his countrymen again? +Should he ever see them? His journey was sure to be a long one, and +there would be the constant danger of discovery. He had to trust +entirely in the fidelity of the three men riding ahead of him. It was +true that their love of gain was also enlisted on his side, but it might +well be that they would in time conclude it would be as well to be +contented with the goods they had already received in part payment and +with the two valuable camels, instead of continuing to run the risk of a +prolonged journey in his company in order to earn the sum promised upon +his arrival in Egypt or at a port on the Red Sea. However the die was +cast, and he had no wish to withdraw from the task he had undertaken; +and, with a wave of his hand towards the distant camp, he turned and set +his face forwards to the desert.</p> + +<p>The sheik was seated upon one of the heiries, two laden camels followed, +each tied with his head-rope to the tail of the one in front. Then +followed one of the tribesmen on the other heirie with two laden camels; +three more were led by the other Arab. Rupert himself and Ibrahim +brought up the rear of the procession, each with three loaded camels +following that upon which he was riding. He wore a cotton cloth which +passed over one shoulder and was wrapped round the waist, while a second +formed a sort of petticoat. The sheik would have preferred that he +should have dispensed with the cloth over his shoulder, but Rupert +pointed out that this was really essential to him, as he could while +travelling wrap it round both shoulders and so protect his skin from the +rays of the sun,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_326" id="Page_326">[Pg 326]</a></span> which, were he naked from the waist, would in a very +short time raise blisters over the whole of his body. His wig, with its +wild tangle of long hair, acted as a capital protection to his head.</p> + +<p>On the saddle was fastened a long Arab gun, a sword and knife were stuck +into his girdle, and he carried a long spear in his hand. One of the +baggage camels was laden with stores for his personal use on the +journey, consisting of a number of jars of Liebig, cocoa, and milk, some +tins of tea, a box or two of biscuits, some tins of preserved +vegetables, a case or two of arrow-root, and a store of medicine, +chiefly saline draughts, quinine, and ipecacuanha. The eatables he +calculated would afford him a morning meal for many months—for the main +articles of his diet, he depended of course upon such food as the Arabs +would obtain—by the end of which time he hoped to have fallen +completely into native habits, and to be able to content himself with +such food as his guides might subsist upon.</p> + +<p>At nightfall they halted at some wells. These were farther to the east +than those which the desert column had used in its march to Metemmeh. +Rupert had observed that a short time after they had got fairly into the +desert the sheik had altered the line on which he was proceeding. He had +had but little talk with him since the bargain had been concluded, as +the Arab had considered it better that they should not be seen together, +as some of the other natives in camp might notice it, and should they +meet afterwards the circumstance might lead to his detection.</p> + +<p>To Rupert the course taken was absolutely indifferent. He knew that the +journey must be a very long one, and as he had only to trust to chance +and the sagacity of his companions, there had been no discussion +whatever as to the route to be taken. After a time Ibrahim, weary of the +silence, urged his camel on until he came up level with that of Rupert.</p> + +<p>"Well, Ibrahim, we are fairly on our way."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_327" id="Page_327">[Pg 327]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Yes, my lord, we have cut our stick and no mistake."</p> + +<p>Rupert smiled. Ibrahim had picked up his knowledge of English at +Alexandria, and his conversation abounded with slang phrases which he +used in perfect seriousness.</p> + +<p>"There is no objection to your calling me my lord when we speak in +English, Ibrahim, but when we are talking in Arabic be sure you always +call me Hamza; that is what I am now. What do you think of this journey, +Ibrahim?"</p> + +<p>Ibrahim shrugged his shoulders. "It is all the same to me; better here +than in boat. Soldier man good to fight, but very rough in tongue; call +Ibrahim all sorts of names, sometimes Darkie, sometimes Mate, sometimes +call him Nigger, that very bad, sah. One man call him Cockalorham. What +is Cockalorham, sah?"</p> + +<p>Rupert laughed. "Cockalorum means nothing in particular, Ibrahim; it is +rather a friendly sort of address: it means good sort of fellow. That +wasn't so bad."</p> + +<p>"No. That not so bad. Then one soldier call him Jocko; that name for a +monkey, sah; these things very unpleasant."</p> + +<p>"But they don't mean anything, Ibrahim. They call each other all sorts +of names too."</p> + +<p>"That so," Ibrahim said, nodding his head, "very funny names; often call +each other blooming something or other. Ibrahim always carry a +dictionary; he look out blooming; blooming same as blossoming, means +plants out in flower. Ibrahim could not make head or tail of them. Lots +of other words, bad words, Ibrahim could not understand."</p> + +<p>"They do not mean anything, Ibrahim; it is just an ugly way of talking. +They all mean the same, 'very much' or 'very great,' nothing more or +less. Now we had better go on talking Arabic."</p> + +<p>"No words like those in Arabic," Ibrahim said. "Arab man say what he +wants to say, proper words."</p> + +<p>"I don't know, Ibrahim. When I have seen Arabs quarrelling they shout +and scream at each other, and though I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_328" id="Page_328">[Pg 328]</a></span> don't know what they say I +should think they were using pretty strong expressions whatever they may +be."</p> + +<p>"Yes, when angry call bad names, one understand that, my lord; but white +soldier and sailor use bad words when not angry at all."</p> + +<p>"It is habit, Ibrahim, and a very bad habit; but, as I tell you, it +doesn't really mean anything. You see we have turned east," he went on +in Arabic.</p> + +<p>Ibrahim nodded. "Not go straight to Metemmeh," he said. "I expect the +sheik is going round by Berber."</p> + +<p>Such proved to be the case, for when they halted for the night the sheik +explained to Rupert, by means of Ibrahim, that he intended to follow the +course of the river for the present. He should keep on the edge of the +desert until they had passed the point at which the boat expedition had +arrived. There would be no chance of the prisoner having been brought +down anywhere in the neighbourhood of the British, but as most of the +tribes had sent contingents to fight the whites as they advanced against +Metemmeh, the captive might be anywhere beyond the point reached by the +expedition, and it would be better to search regularly on their way up, +as they might otherwise leave him behind them.</p> + +<p>Another advantage was that the regular caravan track left the Nile a +hundred miles below Dongola, and struck across the desert to the elbow +of the river below Berber, and that when he got upon that route it would +be supposed that he had travelled all along by it, and he would thereby +avoid the suspicion of having been trading with the British camp. Rupert +quite agreed with the justice of this reasoning. The sheik selected a +route that led them through a desolate country, and they reached the +elbow of the Nile without encountering any natives, save two or three +small parties at wells, from the time they left camp. This course was +dictated not only by the reason that he had given Rupert, but by a fear +for the safety of the caravan.</p> + +<p>The tribes along the main routes of travel respected the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_329" id="Page_329">[Pg 329]</a></span> traders that +passed along them; free passage was essential to all the towns and +peoples lying further in the interior, and any interference with the +caravan routes would have been resented and punished; but the tribes +lying within the great loop formed by the bend of the river were true +Ishmaelites, whose hand was against every one, and who regarded all +passing through their territory as lawful prey. The sheik therefore +conducted the march by routes but little traversed even by the natives, +avoiding all localities where they were likely to be met with, and he +was greatly pleased when, after ten days' travel, they encamped on the +banks of the river just above the elbow. The main caravan track lay upon +the opposite side, but at this season of the year, when the Nile was +very low, it was fordable at several points, and caravans often selected +the western bank of the river for their passage. They were now again in +a comparatively populous country; villages surrounded by belts of +cultivated land occurred at short intervals, and at these they were +received with a hearty welcome, for since the war had begun trade had +come almost to a stand-still.</p> + +<p>Two or three of the camels were loaded with merchandise specially fitted +for the wants of the natives: cheap cottons, tinware, trinkets, iron +heads of tools, knives, cheap silk handkerchiefs and scarves for the +women. These had been bought from some enterprising traders who had set +up a store at Korti. A few of the bales were unpacked at the first +village at which they arrived; small presents were given as usual to the +chief man of the place, and a brisk trade at once commenced. As the +camels were fully loaded, Rupert wondered what the sheik would do with +the goods he obtained in exchange, which consisted chiefly of native +cottons and other articles considerably more bulky than those which he +gave for them; but he found that he had entered into an arrangement with +the head of the village by which the latter agreed to take charge of all +the merchandise until his return.</p> + +<p>"It will be perfectly safe," the sheik said, "if I do not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_330" id="Page_330">[Pg 330]</a></span> return for a +couple of years. If I never return it will be no great loss, since I +have purchased the goods with the monies I have received from you. If I +return this way my camels will be unloaded, and I shall pick up the +goods at the various villages through which I pass and bring them all +down here, and then sell them to some trader who has boats in which he +will take them down the river."</p> + +<p>Rupert was now called upon to play his part in earnest. He and Ibrahim +were treated by the sheik when in the villages as two slaves, and while +he and his companions exhibited their goods and drove bargains with the +villagers, Rupert and Ibrahim unloaded the camels, drove them out to +pasture, and took them down to the river to drink, taking their meals as +they could apart from the rest. On these occasions the stores were +untouched, and Rupert and his companion made their meals on dry dates +and cakes of coarse flour baked in the ashes of their fire. Ibrahim was +fortunately a light-hearted fellow and made the best of matters, joking +at the idea of the Arabs feasting upon their stew of kid or mutton while +they had to content themselves with coarse fare.</p> + +<p>Rupert cared nothing about the food one way or the other. He was now +really engaged in the search for Edgar. There was, moreover, the +excitement caused by the risk of discovery. When in the villages he +seldom opened his lips except to reply briefly to his companion's talk, +for a chance word might be overheard. When he spoke it was in a guttural +voice, as if he suffered from some affection of the tongue or +malformation of the mouth which prevented him speaking clearly; and +thus, had any villager overheard the conversation between him and +Ibrahim, his defective Arabic would pass unnoticed. Each day after +getting away from their halting-place he learned from the sheik what he +had gathered in the village. The natives were all heartily sick of the +present state of affairs. They had no market for their goods, and were +deprived of the trade upon which they had hitherto relied. A few +restless<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_331" id="Page_331">[Pg 331]</a></span> spirits had joined the Mahdi's people and had gone to the war; +but the cultivators in general sighed for a return of the old state of +things, and of the peaceful days they enjoyed while under the rule of +Egypt.</p> + +<p>Even the tribesmen of the interior were highly dissatisfied. None had +gained anything from the war except those who had taken an actual part +in the capture of Berber, Khartoum, or other cities. These had obtained +a considerable amount of plunder. But beyond this all were worse off +than before. There was no longer any profitable employment for their +camels for trade purposes, and the promises of the Mahdi had been +altogether falsified. Many of the tribes on the other side of the river +had gone down to fight under Osman Digma at Suakim, but instead of the +promises of victory being fulfilled they had suffered terribly, had lost +vast numbers of men, and Suakim was as far off being taken as ever. +Berber itself, the great market and centre of trade of that part of the +country, was, all said, like a dead city. The shops were closed, the +traders had been either killed or fled, the markets were empty; the +Mahdi's soldiers treated the inhabitants as slaves. The sheik satisfied +himself that there was no rumour current of there being any white +prisoners in the hands of the tribesmen.</p> + +<p>"There are white prisoners at Khartoum," the people said. "Gordon was +killed, and great numbers with him; but others of the Egyptian officers +and traders with their wives and families were made slaves and divided +among the Mahdi's officers. But of the white soldiers who had come +across the desert, they had heard of no prisoners being taken."</p> + +<p>"Why should there be?" they asked. "They beat the Arabs in two battles, +they carried off their wounded on their camels, and had any been left +behind them they would have been killed at once. Why do you ask?"</p> + +<p>The sheik had replied that the merchant far down the river from whom he +had purchased his goods had told him that the whites were always ready +to pay a good ransom to recover any<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_332" id="Page_332">[Pg 332]</a></span> of their colour who might have been +taken captive, and had advised him if he should hear of any prisoners in +the hands of the Arabs to ask what they would sell them for, so that on +his next journey he might bring money or goods to redeem them.</p> + +<p>The villagers had told him that this could not be, for that the Mahdi +required all captives to be sent to him, and that all who refused to +acknowledge him as the Prophet were at once put to death. He had always +appeared perfectly satisfied with this explanation, and had turned the +conversation to other topics.</p> + +<p>"This does not show," he said to Rupert, "that there are no captives in +the hands of the tribesmen in the interior. If they had them they would +keep it secret, at any rate as long as the white troops are on the +river. They can only be holding them for the sake of obtaining a ransom, +but I do not think that there would be much chance that your brother is +in these parts, for had he been his captors would before now have sent +in a messenger to one of your camps saying that he was in their hands +and asking what ransom would be given for him. It is far to the south +that we must look for him; but at the same time it is wise to make every +inquiry as we go along, so that we shall be always looking before us and +not wondering whether we have left him behind."</p> + +<p>When they reached a village a few miles below Berber they stopped for +three or four days. The sheik's two followers went alone into the city +to make inquiries. They returned after being absent for three days, +saying that it was certain that there was no white captive in the hands +of the Mahdi's people there. They had talked to several tribesmen who +had fought at Metemmeh. These knew that a white prisoner had been taken +by a party of Arabs of the Jahrin tribe. Trouble had arisen owing to the +sheik refusing to give him up, and he had fled in the night with his +party, taking the prisoner with him; but beyond the fact that he had +crossed the river none had heard anything of him.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_333" id="Page_333">[Pg 333]</a></span></p> + +<p>As there was now no motive for going to Berber, and permission to trade +could only be obtained by a large present to the Mahdi's governor, the +party started early the next morning, struck out into the desert, and +made a long detour before, two days later, they came down again upon the +river bank above the city. Then they continued their journey, and some +days later crossed the river at a ford some miles below Metemmeh. It was +certain, wherever Edgar might be, it would not be in the neighbourhood +of that town.</p> + +<p>For some weeks the journey continued. At times they left the river bank +and journeyed considerable distances to visit tribes or villages +situated in the interior. Sometimes the caravan was divided in two, a +portion remaining in charge of one of the sheik's followers with Ibrahim +and Rupert with the bulk of the camels and baggage, while the sheik with +his other follower and two or three camels made excursions to villages +at a distance. In that case he took but few goods with him, so as not to +tempt the cupidity of the tribesmen or of any parties of the Mahdi's men +he might come across.</p> + +<p>By this time Rupert had made considerable progress in Arabic, thanks to +his continually conversing in that language, and his risk of detection +had greatly decreased. Once or twice a week fresh dye was applied to him +from head to foot. He was now accustomed to the scantiness of his +clothing, and had completely caught the manners and gestures of the +natives. The colour of his eyes was the sole point that even a close +observer would detect as being peculiar in his appearance, and he had +fallen into the habit of keeping them partly closed and the darkened +eye-lashes greatly lessened the chance of their colour being noticed. He +had, moreover, by the advice of one of the doctors before leaving, taken +with him a bottle of belladonna, and a small dose of this prior to +entering any populous village had the effect of enlarging the pupils and +thus of darkening the general effect of the eyes. The sheik frequently +crossed the river with one of his followers and made excursions<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_334" id="Page_334">[Pg 334]</a></span> among +the tribes on the opposite bank, but with all their inquiries no news +whatever was obtained of any white captive.</p> + +<p>It was not until three months after leaving Korti that the caravan +approached Khartoum. It was more likely that news would be obtained here +than elsewhere, but the sheik had been unwilling to enter the town until +Rupert's Arabic would fairly pass muster; but even he now agreed that +there was little chance of his detection in any sort of casual +conversation. In Khartoum there would be people from all parts of the +Soudan, and any slight peculiarity of accent would be little likely to +be noticed; besides, in a city there would be less chance of any one +closely questioning the slave of a passing merchant than would be the +case in a village. Before going into the town one of the sheik's +followers was sent on ahead with a camel with presents for some of the +Mahdi's officials, and upon his return with a document authorizing the +sheik to enter the city and dispose of his merchandise the caravan set +forward.</p> + +<p>It was with mingled emotions that Rupert entered the town. Here perhaps +Edgar was a captive, or had possibly been put to death for refusing to +acknowledge the Mahdi. Here Gordon had fallen a victim to fanatical +zeal, the hesitation of the English government, and the treachery of +some of the troops he had led to victory. Here hundreds of Egyptian men, +women, and children had been slain. Here were the head-quarters of the +false Prophet who had brought such ruin and destruction over fertile +provinces.</p> + +<p>Upon showing the pass to the officials at the ferry leading across to +the city a soldier had been told off to accompany them, and he conducted +them to an empty caravansary in the city. One of the Arabs was +despatched with two unladen camels to the market-place, where he bought +a store of provender brought in by the country people. On his return +Rupert and Ibrahim fed the animals, which were fastened by ropes from +their head-stalls to rings in the wall of the court-yard, and then +sallied out with one of the Arabs into the town.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_335" id="Page_335">[Pg 335]</a></span></p> + +<p>It was still a busy place, although its aspect had greatly changed since +its capture. There were no Egyptian soldiers in their gray cotton +uniforms and fezes, no officials or traders in European costume in the +streets, and the shops which had formerly held large assortments of +goods brought up from Egypt were occupied by natives vending the +absolute necessaries of life. The Mahdi's soldiers in their cotton +shirts, decorated with rags of coloured cloth, and carrying guns, +lounged about the streets, and the poorer part of the native population +went about with a cowed and dejected air. Food was scarce and dear, for +although the Mahdi by promising protection to all coming in to trade had +endeavoured to induce the agricultural population to bring in their +produce for sale, the invitation was very partially accepted. The +country round, indeed, had been swept clean of its grain during the +progress of the siege, and the fear of the Mahdi's followers was so +great that the peasants contented themselves with tilling only +sufficient for their needs. The Arab muttered curses beneath his breath +as he walked along, while Rupert and Ibrahim followed in silence, +seemingly paying no attention to what was going on around them.</p> + +<p>When they returned to the caravansary they found the sheik with several +of the native shop-keepers engaged with him in conversation. At his +orders Rupert and Ibrahim at once began to undo some of the bales and +held up the goods for inspection. The sheik named the prices he +required. These were at once declared by the natives to be impossible. +The sheik simply ordered his assistants to fasten up the bales again. "I +have brought them all the way from Egypt and I am not going to give them +away. It is not every one in times like this who will risk his beasts +and his goods on such an adventure. The traders have all gone down the +river with the white men. It may be months or years before a caravan +route is open again. Who is going to bring up goods to sell when there +is nothing for his camels to carry down again and when the whole country +is disturbed? There is neither law nor order in the land. I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_336" id="Page_336">[Pg 336]</a></span> shall +journey on to El-Obeid or Kassala; I shall get what price I like to ask +there."</p> + +<p>The traders poured out a torrent of expostulation. They would see the +goods again; doubtless they were of a better quality than they supposed; +and so the bargain was recommenced, and after some hours a considerable +portion of the goods that had been brought up were disposed of. In each +case the traders arranged to come late in the evening with their +servants to fetch away the goods they had bought.</p> + +<p>"It would never do," one said, "to let it be known that we had money +sufficient to make such purchases. It is only by assuming the greatest +poverty that we can carry on our business unmolested, and only a few of +the cheapest goods can be displayed to the eyes of the public, the rest +being hidden away to be brought out privately for the benefit of some +special customer."</p> + +<p>The sheik was well pleased with the result of his traffic. The prices he +had charged were five or six fold more than those that the goods had +cost, and he sent out one of his followers to purchase a kid, which was +presently converted into a stew. After this was eaten he went out with +one of his followers, leaving the other to deliver the goods to their +purchasers. When it became quite dark the traders arrived one by one, +each with one or two porters to carry away the goods. These were paid +for in cash drawn from buried hoards.</p> + +<p>The sheik was late before he returned. He told Rupert that he had met a +kinsman of his who was now an officer of the Mahdi, and had had a long +conversation with him. "He believes in the Mahdi," he said, "and has +faith that he is going to conquer the world. I told him that finding no +traders would hire my camels I had this time brought up a load on my own +account, and that it seemed to me there was money to be made if one +could purchase some of the people who had been enslaved when the city +was taken. He said that this could not be, that the greater part of the +traders had been killed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_337" id="Page_337">[Pg 337]</a></span>, and that all who remained were now zealous +followers of the Mahdi. Lupton Bey was held as a slave by the Mahdi +himself, and had to run before him when he rode. There would be no +possibility of releasing him or the others in the Mahdi's hands.</p> + +<p>"I inquired whether any of the Kaffirs who had come to Metemmeh had been +taken prisoners. He said they had heard of but one, who was reported by +a black slave to be in the hands of a petty sheik who was living at an +oasis in the desert some nine days' journey from here. It had already +been reported to the Mahdi that this man had taken a Kaffir prisoner at +Metemmeh and had refused to give him up, and had escaped with the Kaffir +in the night; and strict orders had been issued for his arrest, but +nothing had been heard of him until the slave brought the news. The +Mahdi sent off three officers and forty men on camels with orders to +destroy everything, and to kill all they found with the exception of the +sheik himself and his white captive, who were to be brought here to +await his pleasure. They went, but though this is two months ago they +have never returned.</p> + +<p>"Another party was sent three weeks later to the place to order them to +return instantly, but when they arrived there they found the oasis +deserted. Two skeletons were found, but the sun and the vultures had +done their work, and whether they had belonged to the troop that went or +to the Arabs there none could say. It may be they found that this sheik +and his party had travelled to El-Obeid or elsewhere and had pursued +them, but so far no news has been heard of them and the whole matter is +a mystery."</p> + +<p>"What do you think has happened, sheik?"</p> + +<p>"I know not what to think. My kinsman said that the black slave reported +there were but twenty men in all with the sheik, and not more than half +of these could be considered as fighting men, therefore they could not +have resisted for a moment the force against them. It is possible they +may have<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_338" id="Page_338">[Pg 338]</a></span> fled into the desert. The tribes know of wells whose existence +is kept a secret from all, and it may be that such a well was known to +the sheik and that he has made for it. It may be that the negro guide +led the party in pursuit. Misfortune may have happened; they may have +lost their way and all perished from thirst, though it would be strange +indeed were none able to make their way back to the oasis."</p> + +<p>"What think you we had better do, sheik? This gives us some indication +at least of a direction in which my brother was taken."</p> + +<p>The sheik sat for some minutes without answering. "It is difficult," he +said at last; "this sheik El Bakhat is, as I have told you, a wanderer. +I have heard of him though I have never met him. His father was a +powerful sheik, but as a young man El Bakhat killed the son of another +sheik of the same tribe and fled. Later on he gathered a few followers +and was in the service of the slave-dealers who go down to the great +lakes. Of late years, since Gordon broke up the slave-trade, he has +returned at times and remained for weeks and sometimes for months in the +part of the country occupied by his tribe, for it is so many years now +since he killed his man that vengeance is no longer hot against him. He +has the name of being a headstrong man, and indeed he must be so or he +would never have embroiled himself with the Mahdi's people, for if he +had been driven out of his oasis he would know that there is no safety +for him anywhere near here; but where he has gone to no man could say. +One might as well try to follow the flight of a vulture. He may have +gone down near the coast; he may have made his way to the confines of +Abyssinia; he may have journeyed away towards the lakes where Emin Pasha +still rules in the name of Egypt. There is just one chance, he may be +hiding in the desert, and before he starts on a long journey he may +return to the oasis or may send a messenger to see if it is still +occupied by the Mahdi's men. I think that our best chance is to proceed +thither at once, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_339" id="Page_339">[Pg 339]</a></span> to wait there for a while to see if any come from +him. If at the end of a fortnight or three weeks none come we can then +decide in which direction to set out upon the search again."</p> + +<p>This proposal seemed to Rupert to offer more prospect of success than +any other, and on the following morning the caravan started, the camels +now carrying scarce half the weight with which they had left Korti. As +the sheik had learned from his kinsman the name of the oasis to which +the troop had been sent, he had no difficulty in obtaining from some of +the tribesmen in the city precise directions as to the route to be +pursued, and ten days after leaving Khartoum they arrived there. The +place was absolutely deserted, but they established themselves near the +well, and the camels found abundant grazing, as the crops had shot up +again with great vigour during the time that had elapsed since they had +been cut.</p> + +<p>The sheik at once pointed out to Rupert that although El Bakhat and some +of his followers were down at Metemmeh, the probability was that his +people had occupied the place for some time, as cultivation had been +carried on to a considerable extent. "Here are where the tents stood," +he said; "and see, he evidently brought back a good deal of plunder, for +here are some empty tins and jars scattered about."</p> + +<p>They remained for three weeks in camp. One of the party had been always +on the watch, but no human being had been seen to approach. During that +time the sheik and Rupert had many discussions as to the direction in +which the fugitives had probably travelled, and finally decided that the +probabilities were in favour of his having taken the southern route and +made for the country ruled over by Emin. In the first place he was +familiar with this line, and in the second he would be safe from the +Mahdi when he reached Emin's country.</p> + +<p>"It is rich and fertile" he said; "and probably Emin when he finds he is +altogether cut off from the north will try to open a way down to +Zanzibar, and El Bakhat may find good em<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_340" id="Page_340">[Pg 340]</a></span>ployment for his camels." As, +at any rate, there were reasons why the fugitives should have chosen +this route more than any other, it was decided to follow it.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XX.</h2> + +<h3>FOUND!</h3> + + +<p>Before starting upon their journey the sheik said to Edgar, "On our +journey here we travelled by unfrequented tracks, and it was sufficient +to cover you up so that none who passed us should notice you; but it +will be different now, therefore we must dress you in our own fashion. +Your hair can never be made to look like ours and must be bound in a +turban. With that and a burnoose your face and hands only will be +visible. These are now so darkened by the sun that their fairness will +scarce be noticed, but the women will prepare a dye which will darken +you to our shade. I wish you to dress like us for another reason. You +have done us great service, and though you will not change your religion +I regard you almost as one of the tribe, and do not wish you henceforth +to consider yourself as a slave. You are improving fast in our language, +and if you speak but little you will pass unnoticed. Some men are more +silent than others, and you need speak but little when strangers are +with us. As one of ourselves you will attract less notice than as a +slave. None will say, 'Where did you get that fellow? To what part did +he belong? Was he brought from the Great Lakes? Are you inclined to sell +him? He is a likely youth. What will you take for him?'"</p> + +<p>"I am ready to do what you think best, sheik," Edgar said, "and indeed +there can be no doubt that I am far less likely to be noticed if wrapped +up in your fashion than if I went half clothed as a slave."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_341" id="Page_341">[Pg 341]</a></span></p> + +<p>Accordingly a low close-fitting turban was wound round Edgar's head, and +he was wrapped up in loose cotton garments covered with a burnoose, the +hood of which came over his head. His face, hands, and neck were +slightly stained, and when this was done the Arabs admitted that they +would not for a moment have suspected him of being other than he seemed. +Most of the women, children, and old men were left behind at the wady; +the goats and sheep would supply them with milk and cheese; there was a +sufficient supply of grain for their use until the crops that had been +sown as soon as they arrived should come into bearing; and when all +preparations were complete the party started on its way.</p> + +<p>It consisted of twelve men mounted on camels, while two other animals +followed behind each of these. The sheik rode at the head of the party +upon the horse that had been captured from the Mahdists. Amina also had +a camel to herself, while the four other women who accompanied the party +rode two on a camel. Yussuf and five or six lads of from fifteen to +seventeen years old walked by the side of the camels. The led camels +were but lightly loaded, carrying only the tents, cooking utensils, +provender for the journey, and food and water for the party; and Edgar +could see no reason why Yussuf and the boys should not have ridden, +except that it was the custom for slaves and lads to walk.</p> + +<p>It was a six days' journey to the point they aimed at, and the marches +were long ones. The supply of water carried was ample for the wants of +the party, and the camels were given a good drink before starting on the +fourth day's journey. They were turned loose each evening on arriving at +a halting-place, and left to pick up what subsistence they could from +the bushes, a good feed being given to them each morning from the +provender they carried. As they could have carried much more, Edgar +inquired why enough had not been brought to give them a feed at night as +well; but the Arab of whom he had asked the question said that it was +better for them to browse<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_342" id="Page_342">[Pg 342]</a></span> at night, as the moisture in the herbage +enabled them to do with much less water than if they had been fed +entirely upon grain.</p> + +<p>Edgar was very glad when the desert journey was over. The glare of the +sun from the sand and the rocks was almost blinding, and the wraps in +which he was muffled up greatly added to his discomfort. On arriving at +the cultivated land the same picture presented itself that he had seen +near Khartoum. Everywhere the villages were almost entirely deserted and +the fields lay waste; the blighting influence of the Mahdi seemed to +weigh upon the whole country. The few natives that remained fled in fear +at the sight of the strangers, and the old people they met with in the +villages were crushed with grief and despondency. Of what use to +cultivate the land when the Mahdists might at any moment sweep off the +crops? Even should they gather the grain, where could they sell it? +There were markets indeed still open, but the Mahdi's tax-gatherers +would demand a proportion of the proceeds, which would sweep away all +their profits. What was to become of them Allah alone knew.</p> + +<p>Edgar was filled with pity for these poor creatures, and over and over +again thought with astonishment of the policy which, after sending a +force to within a short distance of Khartoum amply sufficient to have +crushed the Mahdi and to have restored peace and comfort to the +population of the Soudan, had withdrawn them when the goal was all but +reached, and left the unhappy people to their fate.</p> + +<p>After journeying for some days they passed a plain strewn with +skeletons.</p> + +<p>"You see these," the sheik said; "they are the remains of the army of +Hicks Pasha. Here they were attacked by the Mahdi's army. They defended +themselves bravely, but they could neither advance nor retreat, and at +last they were vanquished by thirst and fatigue. They were slaughtered +as they stood. Hicks Pasha and a band of officers rode right into the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_344" id="Page_344">[Pg 344]</a></span><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_343" id="Page_343">[Pg 343]</a></span> +midst of the Mahdists, and died fighting there. There were, I heard, two +or three Kaffirs with him, besides many Egyptian officers. The black +troops fought splendidly, but the Egyptians made a poor stand; but it +came to the same in the end. What could they do against the followers of +Allah!"</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> + <a id="image09" name="image09"> + <img src="images/09.jpg" + alt="THE ARMY OF HICKS PASHA ON THE MARCH." + title="THE ARMY OF HICKS PASHA ON THE MARCH." /></a><br /> + <span class="caption">THE ARMY OF HICKS PASHA ON THE MARCH.</span> +</div> + +<p>"But the Egyptians are followers of Allah too," Edgar said, "and yet, as +you say, they are but poor fighters. No, no, sheik; I admit the +extraordinary bravery of the tribesmen. I fought against them at Suakim +and saw them charge down upon our square at Abu Klea. They had no fear +of death, and no men ever fought more bravely. But it was a matter of +race rather than religion. Your people have always been free, for the +rule of Egypt was after all a nominal one. The Egyptians have been +slaves for centuries and have lost their fighting power. In the old, old +days, thousands of years ago, of which we have records in our sacred +book, and which we have learned from other sources, the Egyptians were +among the most war-like of people and carried their arms far and wide, +but for many hundreds of years now they have been ruled by strangers. It +was not very long ago that our people fought a great tribe in the south +of Africa—a tribe who knew nothing of Allah, who had in fact no +religion at all, and yet they fought as stoutly and as well as your +people have done here. It is a matter of race. They were just as ready +to die as were your tribesmen, and that not because they believed, as +you do, that death in battle would open the gates of paradise to them, +but simply because it was the will of their king."</p> + +<p>"Mashallah!" the sheik said, stroking his beard, "they must have been +brave indeed to throw away their lives if they knew nothing of paradise, +merely at the will of one man. That was folly indeed. A man has but one +life, it is his all; why should he part with it? Did they love this king +of theirs?"</p> + +<p>"I do not know that they loved him," Edgar said, "but they feared him. +Their laws were very cruel ones, and it was death to turn back in +battle."</p> + +<p>"They had better have cut his throat and have gone about their own +business," the sheik said. "Why should one man be master of the lives of +all his people. Is this so among the whites?"</p> + +<p>"It is so in some countries, but not in others," Edgar said. "Some +countries are ruled over by men chosen by the people themselves, and the +power of peace and war and of making laws of all kinds is in the hands +of these men, and the king has very little power. In other countries the +king is absolute; if he says it is war, it is war."</p> + +<p>The sheik was silent.</p> + +<p>"But why should people fight and die because one man tells them?" he +said after a pause; "it is astonishing."</p> + +<p>"But it is just the same thing with the people here and the Mahdi," +Edgar said; "he tells them to fight, and they fight; if he told them to +scatter to their homes they would do so."</p> + +<p>The sheik made no further remark, but it was evident to Edgar that he +was thinking out the problems that had presented themselves to him, for +some hours afterwards he suddenly remarked, "We who live in tents and +wander where we will are the only free men; it is more clear to me than +ever."</p> + +<p>When they were within a day's journey of El-Obeid they met one of the +sheik's followers who had left the wady four days before the rest with +instructions to go to the city and find out whether it would be safe to +enter. He halted his camel when he reached that of the sheik.</p> + +<p>"You must go no nearer the city, my father," he said. "I have learned +that orders have been received by the Mahdi's governor to arrest you and +all with you should you present yourselves there. There is much talk +about a party of soldiers who went into the desert to arrest you having +disappeared altogether; others have been sent to find them, but have +discovered no traces of them, so there are orders that any of our tribe +from the desert are to be closely questioned. Any who<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_345" id="Page_345">[Pg 345]</a></span> admit a knowledge +of you are to be sent to Khartoum. I was questioned at the gates, but as +I said that I had come straight from Khartoum and knew nought of what +was passing in the desert I was passed in without further inquiry. I +took up my abode with the people you told me of, and they have found out +for me what I have told you. It is but three days since the orders +concerning you were received."</p> + +<p>"I thought there might be danger at El Obeid," the sheik said calmly. +"We will turn off so as to avoid the city, and will make south to join +the white pasha. For a while it would not be safe anywhere here."</p> + +<p>Without further words he turned his camel from the track they had been +following, and bore away more to the south.</p> + +<p>"Think you that the white pasha will be able to maintain his position?"</p> + +<p>The sheik shook his head.</p> + +<p>"For a time he may, but in the end he must either surrender or try to +strike down to the sea. His troops will weary at last even if they are +not beaten by the army the Mahdi will send against them. They will say, +'Why should we go on fighting? What good can come of our holding out +when no aid can possibly reach us from Egypt?' The Mahdi will be glad to +come to terms with them and allow them to live there in quiet with their +wives and families and their possessions, if they will acknowledge him +and hand over the white pasha with the two or three white officers he +has with him. But that will make no difference to me. I know all the +country by the Great Lakes. There are Arab traders there in plenty who +buy slaves and ivory and take them down to the coast. I can find +employment with them for my camels, and can stay with them until it is +safe to return. This cannot go on for ever. Besides, in times of trouble +events pass quickly out of men's minds, and in a year the Mahdists will +have forgotten my name. As to the loss of their forty men, what is it? +They have lost thousands since the war began."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_346" id="Page_346">[Pg 346]</a></span></p> + +<p>"When we get to the white pasha, sheik, would you hand me over to him if +he offered you a ransom for me?"</p> + +<p>"No," the sheik said decidedly, "I should not take you near him. Why +should I part with you? You have brought us good fortune. Thanks to you +we defeated the Mahdists and captured their camels and all that they +had. Besides, I like you. Why should I part with you? What good would it +do you? With me you are no longer treated as a slave, but as one of my +own people. What would you be with the white pasha? An officer of his +troops, getting no pay, and running the risk of being one day seized and +sent with the others a prisoner to Khartoum."</p> + +<p>"I have no desire to stay with the white pasha," Edgar said; "I would +rather be with you than in so hopeless a position as he is; but I might +make my way down to the coast?"</p> + +<p>"Never," the sheik said; "at least never alone. There are fierce tribes +between the lakes and the sea. No white man could get through alone. He +could only do it by going with a great band of fighting men and +carriers, and by buying his way by presents through the great tribes and +fighting his way through the small ones. You may travel down to the sea +some day with me if I join the caravans of the Arabs, and then if there +are countrymen of yours on the coast, as I have heard, and they would +pay me a good ransom for you, we may see about it. You are ungrateful to +wish to leave me."</p> + +<p>"Not ungrateful, sheik, for you and your wife have treated me with great +kindness; but it is natural that one should wish to go to one's own +people. Had you been taken a prisoner and carried to England, however +well you were treated you would sigh for your free life in the desert, +for your people and friends, and would escape if you saw a chance. It is +human nature to love the land where one was born, whatever that land may +be."</p> + +<p>"That is true," El Bakhat admitted; "but you cannot escape now; there is +nowhere for you to go to."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_347" id="Page_347">[Pg 347]</a></span></p> + +<p>"That is true, sheik; and I should be well content did I know that you +were travelling straight either for Suakim or Zanzibar, for at either +place I know that I could obtain from my countrymen money to pay any +ransom you might set upon me, even a sum that would buy you fast camels +and much goods, and make you a wealthy man in your tribe; but I am not +content to wait for years."</p> + +<p>"You are not thinking of making your escape now?" El Bakhat asked, +looking scrutinizingly at Edgar under his heavy eyebrows.</p> + +<p>"No, sheik," Edgar answered. "From the day that you captured me I made +up my mind that I would escape sooner or later, whatever the risk; but I +knew well that I could never traverse the country until I could speak +the language like a native. I have made great progress, and can now +understand all that is said and can talk freely and easily, but not so +that I could travel alone as a native. It will be months yet before I +can do that. Nor, after the kindness with which you have treated me, +would I leave you suddenly without warning. When I feel that I can +safely travel alone I shall give you fair warning. I shall say to you, +Sheik, if you will now travel with me to Suakim or some other port where +I can obtain money for paying you a fair ransom I will remain with you +until such ransom is paid into your hands; if you will not do so I shall +consider myself free to escape when I can. Of course it will be open to +you to treat me again as a slave, and to use all vigilance to prevent my +leaving you, but I shall consider that by giving you fair warning I +shall be free to use my best endeavours to get away."</p> + +<p>"You speak boldly," the sheik said, "but you speak fairly. Do you give +me your promise not to attempt to escape until after warning me?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I give you that promise, sheik."</p> + +<p>"It is well," El Bakhat said gravely. "I know that you would not lie to +me. After you have given me warning I shall<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_348" id="Page_348">[Pg 348]</a></span> know what to do." So saying +he got up and walked away to his tent.</p> + +<p>Three days later, as the caravan was halting at a well, Yussuf, who had +gone out with the camels, ran in.</p> + +<p>"There is a large body of men, some on foot and some on horses, +approaching from the south."</p> + +<p>"How far are they off?" the sheik asked as he leapt to his feet.</p> + +<p>"Scarce half a mile," the negro replied.</p> + +<p>"Then it is too late for flight," the sheik said, reseating himself; +"they would be here long before we could saddle our camels. It is +doubtless a body of the Mahdi's troops, but if they come from the south +they will have heard nothing against us."</p> + +<p>When the Mahdists rode up the sheik rose and saluted their commander.</p> + +<p>"Who are you?" the officer asked.</p> + +<p>"I am an humble person, one El Bakhat of the Jahrin tribe, travelling +with my camels and some little merchandise."</p> + +<p>"Have you the permit of one of the Mahdi's officers to trade?"</p> + +<p>"No, my lord, I did not know that it was needful."</p> + +<p>"Assuredly it is needful," the officer said. "Your camels and goods are +forfeited, and you yourself and your people must travel with us to +El-Obeid, where inquiries will be made about you."</p> + +<p>"My lord," the sheik said, "I am a poor man and have done no harm. After +fighting against the infidels I went back to my people with such spoil +as we had taken and have dwelt there quietly, and was ignorant that it +needed a permission for me to journey with my camels."</p> + +<p>"Well, if you can prove that when you get to the city," the officer +said, "the governor may take a lenient view of the case, and may content +himself by taking a portion only of your camels as a fine; but if you +are lying it will be worse for you.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_349" id="Page_349">[Pg 349]</a></span> Remember now that you are +prisoners, and will be shot down if one of you attempts to escape."</p> + +<p>The sheik bowed submissively. The officer ordered some of his men to +keep a rigid watch over the prisoners, and then paid no further +attention to them.</p> + +<p>The sheik re-entered his tent and sat down stern and silent without +speaking. Amina, who had heard what had passed, was in the greatest +state of alarm, but saw that her husband was not to be spoken to at +present. She went to the door of her tent and beckoned to Edgar, in whom +she felt the most implicit confidence.</p> + +<p>"You heard what has passed, Muley?"</p> + +<p>"I heard, lady; the position is full of danger."</p> + +<p>"You are fertile in expedients. Can you not suggest some thing? You see +if we are taken to El-Obeid, where they have had news of the expedition +sent from Khartoum, and its disappearance in the desert, my husband +would be sent in chains to the Mahdi, and you know what his fate would +then be, while the least that will befall us all will be to be sold into +slavery. What then do you advise?"</p> + +<p>"With your permission I will think it over," Edgar replied. "The +position is a difficult one; the danger is, as you say, great."</p> + +<p>"Go, then, and think it over, Muley."</p> + +<p>Edgar went out of the tent and squatted down (a position which had at +first been very fatiguing, but to which he was now accustomed) by the +embers of the fire before it, and thought over what had best be done. +For himself, he felt sure that he could make his escape, for though a +general watch might be kept, one man could doubtless crawl away in the +darkness; but he felt that he could not abandon the sheik in a moment of +danger. It was, in fact, owing to himself that the sheik was now in his +present position. It was true that the Arab had refused to give him up +to the Mahdi's people at Metemmeh, not from any love towards him, but +of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_350" id="Page_350">[Pg 350]</a></span> his own obstinate and headstrong disposition. However, that refusal, +whatever its motive, had undoubtedly saved his life; and, moreover, the +sheik had behaved with great kindness to him since, and he felt that it +was clearly his duty to do all in his power to assist him now; but how?</p> + +<p>It was upwards of an hour before he rose from the fire and again entered +the sheik's tent. The sheik was sitting smoking gravely. Amina was +baking some bread over the embers in the middle of the tent.</p> + +<p>"What is your counsel, Muley?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"I see no plan," he said, "by which my lord can get away with all his +followers and camels. One or two might steal out from the camp, and I +thought at first that if Yussuf and myself—who would not be so closely +watched as he will be, for there are two sentries outside the +tent—could manage to steal out with our guns and to open fire in the +darkness upon the camp, the Mahdists, thinking they were attacked, would +seize their arms and run out, and in the confusion my lord and you and +some of the others might make their escape. But this plan is full of +danger, and it might not succeed, for they might suspect that those who +attacked them were of your party, and a portion would remain to keep +guard over you. This, then, should be the last resource, for if the +attempt was made and failed, escape would be more difficult than ever.</p> + +<p>"It appears to me that the first thing to do is to try and bribe the +chief. At present he only suspects you of trading without a license, and +were my lord to see him and to offer him half the camels and the +burdens, to let him go free with the remainder, he might accept it. If +that failed, we can still try my plan. I would take my gun and crawl out +with Yussuf. I would go two or three hundred yards away to the right, +and would then fire as quickly as I could, moving while I did so; so +that they might think that there were many attacking them. Then, my +lord, in the confusion you and your wife with the child should try to +make your escape. As soon as the camp is<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_351" id="Page_351">[Pg 351]</a></span> aroused and they are advancing +against us we would move round to the left of the camp, and you would +join us there and make straight across the country and be far away by +daylight."</p> + +<p>"But how could we travel without camels?" the sheik broke in +impatiently; "they would surely overtake us before long."</p> + +<p>"There are deserted villages in which we might hide until the pursuit is +over," Edgar said. "As they would gain all the camels and goods it would +matter little to them that three or four persons had escaped."</p> + +<p>"Not until they reached El-Obeid," the sheik said. "Then they would +learn who we were, and would scour the country for us. Camels we must +have if we are to escape. Besides, I should be a ruined man, and might +as well be killed at once."</p> + +<p>"Not altogether ruined, sheik," Edgar said. "You remember that we buried +many of your valuables and arms at the wady."</p> + +<p>"We could never get there without camels," the sheik said gloomily.</p> + +<p>"It might be done, sheik. Several men accompanied the camels on foot, +and we could perform the journey so on our way back; but I should not +counsel that. My idea was that we should get as far away from here as +possible, and should then leave your wife and child in some village. We +could take with us goods which would be quite sufficient to ensure a +welcome for her until you return. Then I should propose that you and I +with Yussuf, who is certainly faithful, should make our way down on foot +as Arab fighting men to Berber, and then on to Osman Digma, who is, we +know, close to Suakim. Thence we might readily find means of escaping +him and entering the town, and then, as I told you, I can promise you a +ransom that would enable you to buy more camels and goods than you have +lost here, to return to your wife and child and take them with you to +your wady. As to camels, I do not altogether despair of getting some. +They are, as usual, grazing outside the camp, they know Yussuf's voice +and mine, and when we first escape<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_352" id="Page_352">[Pg 352]</a></span> we might lead four of them away and +take them to the left of the camp, where you are afterwards to meet us. +Before morning we could be very many miles away."</p> + +<p>"Ah! if you could do that!" the chief said, showing for the first time a +lively interest in the matter, "it might be possible. However, I will +try first of all if the officer will accept a bribe. If he will do so it +will give us two days' start, and we can then arrange matters as you +say."</p> + +<p>Without another word he rose and went to the door of the tent. The two +sentries placed there stepped forward and told him that their orders +were that he was not to leave it.</p> + +<p>"I wish not to leave it," he said; "I desire only to speak to your +commander. I have something of importance to say to him. Will you pray +him to come to me?"</p> + +<p>One of the sentries at once went across to the commander's tent and +shortly returned with him.</p> + +<p>"Master," the sheik said, "I have done wrong in journeying without a +license, but I came from the desert and did not know the law. I must pay +for my fault, though I cannot think that the commander at El-Obeid would +be hard upon one who has erred from ignorance. However, as it is urgent +for me to press on my journey, I will relinquish to you one-third of my +camels and their burdens if you will let us travel on with the others, +and give us a permit from yourself so that none may molest us in +future."</p> + +<p>As the officer had no suspicion that the Arab's first story was untrue +he hesitated; then he said, "Not so; all your camels are forfeited for +breaking the laws of the Mahdi."</p> + +<p>"But those who err in ignorance are surely not punished like those who +err wilfully," the sheik urged. "But I am pressed for time. I am +journeying south to the tents of my wife's father, who has sent to say +that he is sick unto death and wishes to see her before he dies. Be +content, my lord, and take half the camels." The officer thought that +the offer was a good one. It was probable that the governor of El-Obeid<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_353" id="Page_353">[Pg 353]</a></span> +would not fine the Arab more than half his camels, seeing that he had +broken the law inadvertently, and in that case he himself would have but +a small share in the spoil; whereas if he consented to the proposal, the +camels would all fall to himself, saving one or two he might give to his +officers to induce them to keep silence as to the affair.</p> + +<p>"I will be more merciful than you deserve, Arab," he said; "I will take +half your camels with their loads; but see that you cheat me not; if you +do, it will be worse for you. Divide the animals and goods to-morrow +morning in two equal parts. I will take that which pleases me most. I +have spoken;" and turning upon his heel he went back to his tent.</p> + +<p>Edgar, standing within, heard the conversation. "You have heard," the +sheik said when he had entered; "half my property is gone, but I have +freedom and the other half. I have had worse misfortunes than this. So +far your counsel has turned out well, Muley. Now about the future. We +shall have but four days' start. He will reach El-Obeid by evening the +day after to-morrow. There he will hear that he has let slip through his +fingers the man for whom all the country is in search, and horsemen will +be despatched instantly in pursuit; probably they will be here the next +evening; it is but a reprieve. Journey as fast as we will they will soon +overtake us."</p> + +<p>"Yes, if we pursue our course in the same direction, sheik, but this we +must not do. I should say that as soon as the division is made we should +start south; it is as well that they should see the direction in which +we are travelling. Then as soon as we are well out of sight of the camp +I should say let us break up the party into six or eight parts and bid +them travel in different directions east and west, and then make to the +point where we arrived from the desert, and strike across to the wady. A +party like ours would be noticed at once, but two or three persons each +with a camel carrying their belongings would be scarce observed; and the +Mahdi's horsemen, asking if a caravan of ten camels had passed, would +be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_354" id="Page_354">[Pg 354]</a></span> told that no such party had been seen. At any rate most of your men +would be able to regain the wady and there to await your return. Then I +should propose that you on one camel and your wife and child on another, +with such goods as you require to pay your way, with myself on foot +dressed as formerly as a slave, should strike in the direction of +Khartoum, but keeping this side of the river until we reach Berber. Of +course you could take Yussuf with you or not as you might choose; but I +think that you would find him useful."</p> + +<p>"You would like him to go?" the sheik asked in a tone of suspicion, for +it flashed across him that if Edgar and Yussuf made common cause he +would be at their mercy.</p> + +<p>"I should like him to go, sheik. The negro has always been civil and +obliging to me from the day when I thrashed his companion, and if when +we arrive at a port on the Red Sea you are willing to part with him I +will gladly arrange to buy him of you at any reasonable price that you +might name."</p> + +<p>"So be it," the sheik said; "the matter is settled."</p> + +<p>Next morning the sheik and his followers were on foot early. They +divided the camels with the greatest care into two portions, debating +earnestly on the merits of each animal; then the goods, which were of +but trifling value, were also divided. When all was done the Mahdi's +officer came down and closely inspected both lots of animals.</p> + +<p>"There is nothing to choose between them," he said; "you have made a +just division. I will take the right-hand lot, and the horse is of +course mine;" and to the disgust of the sheik he ordered one of the +followers to take it to his tent. "Here is a permit for you to journey +and trade as you will." The soldiers were already under arms, the Arabs +hastily packed their tents and cooking-pots on the camels that remained +to them, and the two parties set off almost at the same instant in two +opposite directions. When they had travelled for an hour the sheik +halted his caravan and explained the situation to his followers.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_355" id="Page_355">[Pg 355]</a></span></p> + +<p>"As soon as the Mahdists reach the town they will hear of us, and hot +pursuit will be instantly set on foot; therefore it is necessary for the +present to abandon our plans and for you to return at once to the wady +from which we started. But if our pursuers obtain news of a caravan of +our size they will be sure to overtake us; therefore it is also +necessary that we should separate at once. Let each man, therefore, take +his camel, his wife, and his belongings, and journey singly. Let some go +east and some west, and making a circuit to avoid El-Obeid reach the +edge of the desert as best you may. Do not wait there for each other, +but let each as he reaches it strike across to the wells. When you reach +the wady wait there for me. I go with my wife and Muley and Yussuf. We +shall take two camels and journey north. There I hope to obtain a sum +for the surrender of Muley, which will more than repay us the loss we +have suffered to-day."</p> + +<p>The Arabs at once obeyed the orders of the sheik and in a few minutes +were speeding across the country.</p> + +<p>"We will go on for another three or four hours' march," the sheik said, +"before we turn to the east. Our pursuers will be sure to inquire for us +at every place they pass, and if they hear that solitary camel men have +been seen making their way across the country they will turn off at once +in pursuit. It is therefore better that they should move off some +distance before we turn off." The sheik had chosen two camels which, +though not remarkable for their looks, were of better blood than the +rest, and more capable of performing long journeys. He and his wife and +child rode on one of the animals, Edgar with Yussuf behind him on the +other. At noon they turned off from the southern course they had before +been pursuing. They continued their journey until long after sunset, and +then halted for a few hours to rest the camels.</p> + +<p>The moon rose at eight o'clock, and as soon as it was up they started +again, travelling now in a north-easterly direction in order to throw +their pursuers off their track. At daybreak<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_356" id="Page_356">[Pg 356]</a></span> they halted again, this +time in a grove. A fire was lit and Yussuf cooked some meal cakes, and a +bountiful feed of grain was given to each animal. As speed was less an +object than secrecy no move was made until nightfall, in order that they +might pass through the villages unobserved. The journey was continued +until the following morning, when they again halted. They were now +following a track which would, the sheik said, lead them after a few +miles into the main road between El-Obeid and Khartoum.</p> + +<p>This time the halt was of but a few hours' duration, as they hoped that +they had baffled their pursuers and could now travel without attracting +any special attention. They had reached the road and were proceeding +along it when Yussuf saw dust rising in the distance. He called the +attention of the sheik to it, and the camels were pressed forward to +their utmost speed. But camels will seldom go far beyond their +accustomed walk; and it soon became apparent that they were being +rapidly overtaken by the strangers who were pressing on behind. By this +time it could be seen that the party following them were also mounted on +camels. Two riders had detached themselves from the main body and were +coming on at a rapid pace.</p> + +<p>"They must be mounted on heiries," the sheik said; "see how they come +along! There is no avoiding them."</p> + +<p>"They are not the Mahdi's men," Yussuf said presently; "I can see by +their dress that they are in Arab robes."</p> + +<p>"They are riding for a purpose," the sheik said, "or they would not +travel so fast, and yet if their purpose were hostile they would hardly +leave their followers so far behind. If they know aught of El Bakhat +they will know that he is not a man to surrender without resistance. +Prepare your gun, Muley. Methinks there are but two men with the four +camels behind, and if we slay these first we shall have no difficulty +with them."</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> + <a id="image10" name="image10"> + <img src="images/10.jpg" + alt="IT IS RUPERT'S VOICE, BUT IT CANNOT BE RUPERT!" + title="IT IS RUPERT'S VOICE, BUT IT CANNOT BE RUPERT!" /></a><br /> + <span class="caption">"IT IS RUPERT'S VOICE, BUT IT CANNOT BE RUPERT!"</span> +</div> + +<p>The strangers came rapidly up, and as they approached the sheik saw that +they were an Arab trader and a wild-looking<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_357" id="Page_357">[Pg 357]</a></span> native. As they came up +they reined in their camels and the trader gave the usual Arab +salutation, which was responded to by the sheik. Two or three of the +usual ceremonial sentences were repeated on both sides.</p> + +<p>"My brother's name is El Bakhat?" the new-comer said.</p> + +<p>"My name is my own," the sheik replied, "and is no concern of +strangers."</p> + +<p>"I come as a friend," the Arab said. "I arrived at El-Obeid yesterday +and heard that a body of horsemen had set out in pursuit of you. +Yesterday evening some returned with a prisoner, who said that your +party had separated and that you were travelling north. Two parties of +horsemen were ordered to start at daybreak. Thinking that you might make +for Khartoum, I set out at once to warn you."</p> + +<p>By this time the wild-looking young native had slipped from his camel +and walked up to Edgar, staring fixedly at him. Edgar, not knowing what +to make of the movement, shifted his rifle forward, when the native gave +a wild cry, "Edgar!"</p> + +<p>Edgar gazed at him with stupefaction. It was Rupert's voice; but how +could this wild figure be Rupert? how could he be here?</p> + +<p>"Edgar, do you not know me? I am Rupert!"</p> + +<p>Edgar could doubt no longer. He flung himself from his camel and rushed +into his brother's arms.</p> + +<p>"Am I mad or dreaming?" he exclaimed, as he still failed altogether to +recognize Rupert in his disguise. "It is Rupert's voice surely, but it +cannot be Rupert."</p> + +<p>"It is me, sure enough, Edgar; and you are neither mad nor dreaming."</p> + +<p>"But this hair?" Edgar said, still bewildered, gazing at the wild, +unkempt locks.</p> + +<p>"It is a wig, neither more nor less, Edgar, made for me at Cairo; and a +first-rate job too."</p> + +<p>Edgar could doubt no longer, but with the certainty and joy<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_358" id="Page_358">[Pg 358]</a></span> a strange +weakness seemed to come over him, and he would have fallen had not +Rupert seized him.</p> + +<p>"Stand up, old boy; it is all right, and natural enough. We heard at +Metemmeh of your having been carried away, and as of course I wasn't +going to let you remain a slave among these fellows, I got leave of +absence from Wolseley, got a disguise and a first-rate guide, and, thank +God, I have come to you at last."</p> + +<p>The surprise of El Bakhat at seeing this meeting between Muley and this +young native was much greater than that of the other Arab, who had heard +at El-Obeid the evening before that the white slave was journeying in +disguise with his captor.</p> + +<p>"This is my brother, sheik," Edgar said to him. "He has come all this +way in disguise to look for and rescue me."</p> + +<p>"He has done well," the sheik said warmly, while Amina clapped her hands +in pleasure.</p> + +<p>"Is the story about the pursuit after us true?" Edgar asked.</p> + +<p>"Yes, quite true. The horsemen will not be many hours before they +overtake us."</p> + +<p>A hurried consultation was held between the two sheiks, and it was +decided to strike off to the south-east again, and as soon as the +followers arrived with the camels the united parties left the road and +made across the country, Edgar taking his place on the camel behind +Rupert. He still felt like one in a dream, and even now could scarce +believe that it was really Rupert who was riding before him. The latter, +who had been looking forward to the meeting, was yet scarcely less +surprised at what had taken place. It had seemed such a hopeless task +looking for Edgar over so wide an expanse of country that he could +scarcely credit that he had succeeded in finding him, and for a time the +feelings were so deep on both sides that hardly a word was spoken. It +was not, indeed, until the camels came to a halt late in the evening +that they began to talk naturally.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_359" id="Page_359">[Pg 359]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XXI.</h2> + +<h3>HOME!</h3> + + +<p>"You are a nice fellow, ain't you, Edgar, to give us all this trouble," +Rupert said, as he held him at arm's-length and gazed at him in the +light of the fire that Yussuf had lighted.</p> + +<p>"I see now that I made an awful ass of myself," Edgar said; "but I think +you would have done the same if you had been in my place, Rupert, and +had heard what I heard."</p> + +<p>"I have no doubt I should," Rupert agreed; "it must have been an awful +thing to hear. Still you must have seen by the advertisements that +father did not believe the woman's story."</p> + +<p>"I did not see the advertisements," Edgar said. "I would not look at a +paper, because I thought he would advertise for me to come back, and I +felt I could not do so, and it would have been harder to keep away if I +had seen them. You told me they were all well at home."</p> + +<p>This was the first question he had asked after he had mounted Rupert's +camel.</p> + +<p>"Quite well when I last heard. I wrote and told them all about you."</p> + +<p>"Then the sergeant was found, and did not die?"</p> + +<p>"He died the first day after we found him," Rupert said gravely. "He was +insensible when we discovered him; and I should have known nothing about +him if they hadn't found two letters upon him, one to me and one to +father, saying that his wife's story was a lie, and that he could swear +that neither of them could in any way identify either of us from the +other. He recovered consciousness before he died, and signed in the +presence of witnesses a deposition to the same effect. So you<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_360" id="Page_360">[Pg 360]</a></span> saw me at +Korti, Edgar, and would not make yourself known? I would not have +believed it of you."</p> + +<p>"Well, you see, Rupert, I did not know at the time that the sergeant was +who he was, and still believed the woman's story to be true. Besides, I +had gone my own way, and did not mean to see any of you again until I +had got on and could do without assistance. It seemed to me to be like +asking for help, and after all that I had had under false pretences I +would have rather died than do that."</p> + +<p>"But you see it wasn't under false pretences, Edgar, and you had as much +right to consider yourself father's son as I had. You must have known +that from the sergeant afterwards."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I did learn that," Edgar allowed, "but I think that made me even +more disinclined than before to show myself; it would have looked as if +I had come back only to put in a claim."</p> + +<p>"You are the most pig-headed fellow I ever saw, Edgar. However, I hope +you have got out of all that feeling now."</p> + +<p>"Quite, Rupert; I am quite ready to go back with you and beg their +pardon at home for all the trouble I have given them. And to think that +you have run all this awful risk to find me!"</p> + +<p>"Stuff and nonsense, Edgar! When I found that you had been carried away +as a slave, as a matter of course I determined to get you out as soon as +possible, just as you would have done had I been caught by them; but I +could have done nothing if it hadn't been for this Arab I am travelling +with. Of course he will be well paid; but still men are often tempted to +be unfaithful however well they are paid;" and then he went on to tell +Edgar of the arrangement that had been made with the sheik. Edgar in +return gave him a short sketch of his life since they had parted at +Cheltenham, and told him of the promises he had made to El Bakhat if he +would take him down to one of the Red Sea ports.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_361" id="Page_361">[Pg 361]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I suppose they are discussing the matter together," he said, glancing +at the two Arabs, who were deep in conversation on the other side of the +fire. "Well, sheik, what plan have you determined upon?"</p> + +<p>"We both think that it will be impossible for us to travel north either +to Egypt, or to Berber and thence to Suakim. They will be on the watch +for us everywhere. Our best plan will be to make for Massowah."</p> + +<p>"Well, sheik, you have heard that Ben Ibyn has agreed to deliver us at +one of the ports for a handsome reward. He knows that Englishmen's words +can be relied upon, and that there is no fear of his not getting the +amount promised him. My brother and I agree to give you an equal sum to +that which he will receive there."</p> + +<p>"He has not told me the sum," El Bakhat said.</p> + +<p>"Tell him the terms, Ben Ibyn," Rupert put in. "Not of course those you +have already received for your expenses, but the sum that is to be paid +you when you arrive at a port."</p> + +<p>The sheik repeated the terms to El Bakhat, who at once expressed himself +as perfectly satisfied with them.</p> + +<p>"The English are rich and generous," he said. "El Bakhat will do his +best to take them where they wish to go."</p> + +<p>"Are you thinking of travelling with all this train?" Rupert asked Ben +Ibyn.</p> + +<p>"No, there is no occasion to do so. I have friends at a village on the +Nile, and there my followers and their camels will remain, and El +Bakhat's wife and child will remain with them also. We four will then +travel on alone, taking with us Yussuf to cook for us and look after the +camels. We shall separate from the others at once, as it will be much +safer to travel in two small parties. There will be no fear as to their +safety, as they will take my regular permit to trade, and no one will +connect them in any way with El Bakhat. You and your brother<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_362" id="Page_362">[Pg 362]</a></span> will ride +the heiries. I have a half-bred camel that will carry me well, although +it will not compare in speed with yours. El Bakhat's camel is also a +good one. If we are pursued, we have agreed that our best plan will be +to turn off and find a hiding-place, and for you to push on alone. On +those camels you may defy pursuit. If pushed they will travel a hundred +and fifty miles a day. When you get to Massowah you will wait until we +join you there. We are content to trust to your word. Still we hope that +we may keep together; for although your brother now speaks Arabic so +well that he could pass as a native in casual conversation, it is better +that we should be together, in which case it will be we who will do the +talking."</p> + +<p>"Have you two heiries?" Edgar asked Rupert.</p> + +<p>"They are not quite full bred. It is very rare to meet with them, and +the price is extremely high; but these are nearly full bred, and can +swing along as fast as a horse can trot, and keep it up for twelve hours +at a stretch."</p> + +<p>The march was resumed at midnight. The two sheiks rode ahead, Edgar and +Rupert followed on the heiries, while Yussuf was mounted on one of the +spare camels, and rode with the other Arab in the rear. The two brothers +talked by turns, and both were surprised when the first streak of +daylight appeared. The party now separated, the sheik's wife and child +taking their seats on one of the camels. She took a warm farewell of +Edgar.</p> + +<p>"Amina will never forget the young white man who has lived in her +tents," she said. "He is brave in war, and is a wise counsellor; he will +be a great man among his own people."</p> + +<p>"And I shall never forget you," Edgar replied, "and your kindness to the +white slave. When the sheik returns from Massowah he shall bring with +him tokens of my remembrance."</p> + +<p>As soon as the party had separated the sheiks put their camels to their +best speed. Yussuf had been taken up by<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_363" id="Page_363">[Pg 363]</a></span> Edgar and rode behind him, the +heiries carrying the double weight with ease. At sunset they halted.</p> + +<p>"We are now," El Bakhat said to Edgar, "beyond the reach of pursuit. We +may be stopped and arrested by others, but those from El-Obeid will +never see the tails of our camels."</p> + +<p>"I wish," Edgar said as they were riding along the next morning, "that +you could get rid of that wig and your dye for five minutes, Rupert, so +that I could see what you really look like. You are such an awful object +with that bush of hair that I do not seem to recognize you at all. It is +different with me. I am only brown, while you are a sort of dirty black, +and when this cloth round my head is off you really see me as I am."</p> + +<p>"We should not have known each other by our figures. It is nearly three +years since you left Cheltenham, and of course we have both widened out +a lot since then. You have widened more than I have, but I have grown +most."</p> + +<p>"Yes, you are quite two inches taller than I am, Rupert. What are +you—six feet?"</p> + +<p>"About half an inch under."</p> + +<p>"Ah! then you are just the two inches taller. I am forty, chest +measurement."</p> + +<p>"I am not more than thirty-seven, Edgar."</p> + +<p>"Ah! I expect you will be forty before you have done, Rupert; you see +neither of us is anything like his full width yet. I have had harder +work than you have."</p> + +<p>"Ah! Edgar, if we could both play in the house team now it would make a +difference, wouldn't it? You remember how Skinner was always lamenting +our want of weight."</p> + +<p>"I don't think," Edgar said with a laugh, "that he has gained much in +weight. He was about our size before, but he looked to me quite a little +chap when I saw him on the march."</p> + +<p>"He is tough," Rupert said; "he is like whip-cord all over;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_364" id="Page_364">[Pg 364]</a></span> he is a +capital fellow, not a bit changed. Easton has turned out first-rate; he +was awfully good to me after you went away, and took no end of pains to +cheer me up, had me down to his place in the holidays, and was a real +friend. He is a big fellow now, and in another two or three years will +make a splendid man. They will be delighted when we both turn up again. +I don't think either of them thought, when they said good-bye to me, +that I should ever get back. They thought the language would floor me, I +think. You have got on wonderfully that way. I thought I had picked it +up pretty quickly, but you jaw away as if you had been years at it."</p> + +<p>"I have been more with them, Rupert; besides, I had picked up a little +in the year I was at Cairo. You see I had nearly four months start of +you, and in the life I led among them of course I had a lot more +occasion to talk than you have had, always on camel back and only +talking in the encampment at night. El Bakhat says that in a casual +conversation now no one would notice that I was not a native. So if we +do get into any mess and have to ride for it by ourselves, we shall have +no difficulty in making our way across the country; but I do not see +much chance of that. If we should fall in with the Mahdists your sheik +can give his name and appear to be the head of the party, and as there +is nothing against him I don't see why we should have any trouble."</p> + +<p>"I daresay we shall fall in with some Mahdists," Rupert said. "I got up +the maps thoroughly before I started, and specially studied the routes +leading to the coast. I fancy the line we shall travel will take us down +by Kassala. The Mahdists were besieging it, but I don't know whether it +has fallen or not. The safest route would certainly be to go through +Abyssinia, but the Arabs wouldn't like to travel that way if they could +help it. There have been troubles for years between Abyssinia and the +Soudan, and it is by no means certain what<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_365" id="Page_365">[Pg 365]</a></span> sort of treatment we should +meet if we got there. Massowah is certainly the best place to strike +for. Suakim would have been the best place in some respects, because +there are lots of English there and we should have no difficulty in +getting money to pay the sheiks; but after all it is only a question of +a week or two's delay at the most. I have letters from my father +authorizing me to draw upon him for any amount, and if we cannot get it +at Massowah we shall only have to send up to the officer in command at +Suakim; he would cash a draft out of the pay-chest; or if he could not +do it that way, would get some merchant there to do it."</p> + +<p>They no longer hurried, but made moderate marches, stopping only at +small villages. There was no difficulty in obtaining food and shelter, +as Rupert's conductor had brought on with him a sufficient store of +merchandise to pay their way down to the coast. On these occasions Edgar +and Rupert kept in the background looking after the camels, while Yussuf +waited upon the sheiks, and afterwards cooked a meal for the two +Englishmen. He did most of the talking with the poorer villagers, +gossiped with them about the state of the country, the chance of peace +being re-established, and retailed all sorts of wonderful stories of the +doings of the Mahdists.</p> + +<p>Both branches of the Nile were crossed in their journey, but no incident +of any kind occurred until they had passed the eastern arm. They were +now getting into a more dangerous country. Bodies of the Mahdi's troops +going to and from Kassala, which had, they learned, at last surrendered, +were encountered, and questions were asked as to where they were going +and what was the object of their journey.</p> + +<p>Upon these occasions Ben Ibyn acted as spokesman and represented that +they had friends among the Hadendowah tribesmen, and wished to learn +whether any trade could be opened with the coast. When within a day's +march of Kassala they<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_366" id="Page_366">[Pg 366]</a></span> met a number of camels laden with spoil from that +town on their way to Khartoum, accompanied by a number of foot soldiers +and ten or twelve horsemen. Riding twenty or thirty yards behind the +sheiks Edgar saw one of the horsemen look earnestly at El Bakhat, and +then spur forward to speak to the others who were a short distance +ahead.</p> + +<p>"That fellow has recognized El Bakhat!" he exclaimed; "ride on, Rupert!"</p> + +<p>They both shook the halters and the heiries broke into a trot.</p> + +<p>"Ride, sheiks!" Edgar exclaimed as he came up to the others; "one of the +horsemen has recognized El Bakhat."</p> + +<p>A minute or two later they heard a shout behind them, but paid no +attention.</p> + +<p>"We have got four or five hundred yards start," Rupert said, looking +back, "but the horsemen will overtake us; they can go faster than the +camels for a burst. Ride, sheik," he said; "push on to the utmost. If we +can get a mile away from the footmen before they come up to us we can +thrash the horsemen."</p> + +<p>The start they had obtained while the man who had recognized El Bakhat +was explaining to the others who he was and how much his capture was +desired at Khartoum, was invaluable to the fugitives, and the horsemen +started in a body, shouting and yelling and firing their guns. The +bullets whistled harmlessly round the fugitives.</p> + +<p>"Make for that clump of trees on rising ground," Edgar said; "then +spring off the camels and fight them on foot. What arms have you, +Rupert?"</p> + +<p>"I have two revolvers besides this rifle. You take one of them; we shall +beat them off easily enough, they are only about two to one."</p> + +<p>When they reached the trees they were but a hundred yards<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_367" id="Page_367">[Pg 367]</a></span> ahead and +less than a mile from the caravan, which had halted when the horsemen +commenced the pursuit. They leapt from their camels.</p> + +<p>"Do you hold their bridles, Yussuf," Edgar said; "we will beat them +off," and steadying his rifle against the trunk of a tree he fired at +the nearest horseman, who fell instantly from the saddle.</p> + +<p>Rupert's rifle cracked a moment later, and the two sheiks added their +fire. Had the horsemen been coming up in a close body they would have +gained the wood, for the leader was but fifty yards away when Edgar +fired; but they were scattered, and the leaders being shot down the +others wheeled their horses and galloped back towards the caravan at +full speed.</p> + +<p>"Now we will be off again," Rupert said, and in a minute they had +mounted and continued their flight.</p> + +<p>"There is no fear of the footmen overtaking us," Ben Ibyn remarked. "Our +camels are not like yours, but they can trot at a good pace for forty +miles. It is fortunate we had them, for they would soon have been up to +them had we only had common camels. Of course we must strike off +straight for Massowah now. The danger is not over; some of the horsemen +will bear the news to Kassala and a troop will be sent out in pursuit of +us. It is well that we have journeyed quietly and that the beasts are in +good condition."</p> + +<p>Hour after hour passed. The camels kept on with unswerving gait until +long after nightfall.</p> + +<p>"My beast smells water," Ben Ibyn said as his camel, after waving his +head backwards and forwards, suddenly quickened its pace.</p> + +<p>Another quarter of an hour they stopped at a small pool in what during +the rainy season was the bed of a river, and here they halted. The +camels having drunk their fill were given an ample allowance of corn +from the saddle-bags, and were then<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_368" id="Page_368">[Pg 368]</a></span> picketed close at hand, while +Yussuf prepared a meal for their masters.</p> + +<p>"What is the country like that we have to traverse?" Edgar asked.</p> + +<p>"By to-morrow night," Ben Ibyn said, "we shall have reached the +mountains. We are on very high land now, and have a great descent to +make to reach the coast. We must inquire the way to the pass by which +the road from Kassala descends to Massowah. If we strike it without +failure we shall be safe; but if we miss our way, and the horsemen from +Kassala get there first, we shall be in a bad position. They will have +heard of our arms and strength, and are sure to have too strong a force +for us to attack. If we fail to find the road at once, our best plan +would be to turn and travel north until we reach a road going down to +Suakim."</p> + +<p>"Would that one of us had travelled here before!" El Bakhat said. "If we +could but have continued our journey to-night we should be safe. Upon +the desert one can travel by the stars, but the ground is getting far +too broken to cross at night; we should only weary our camels in vain."</p> + +<p>"How far is it to the gorge you speak of, El Bakhat?"</p> + +<p>"I know not for certain. Those who travel the road have told me that it +is three or four days' journey with laden camels from Kassala. Our +camels can easily do three days' march in one, and if we have the good +fortune to strike the road near the mouth of the pass we may pass +through it before dark to-morrow; but by that time they may be there +from Kassala."</p> + +<p>"Well, I suppose we must take our chances," Rupert said.</p> + +<p>He and Edgar soon lay down and were fast asleep, but the two Arabs +talked together for a long time before they followed their example. At +daybreak the party were on their feet.</p> + +<p>"We talked it over last night," Ben Ibyn said; "and we<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_369" id="Page_369">[Pg 369]</a></span> both think that +it were best not to proceed. The horsemen would have reached the town +with the news three hours after noon, and had they sent off at once +horsemen and fast camelmen down the road to Massowah, we think that they +would be at the pass before we could possibly reach it. Had we known the +country and could have travelled all night, we should have been there +long before them. As it is, the risk would be too great. We are already +some distance north of the Massowah road, and it will not be so many +days longer a journey to Suakim than to Massowah. Osman Digma is lying +at Handoub and Tamai, so we cannot come down by the Berber road; but +there are passes by which we can descend to the low country near Tokar. +Once down there we can cross from the foot of the hills to the sea by +night, and then follow the coast until we arrive at Suakim."</p> + +<p>"I think that is the best plan, sheik," Edgar said. "A few days will +make no difference, and it would be as well to avoid all risks."</p> + +<p>Accordingly, on mounting, the camels' heads were turned to the +north-east. Yussuf rode behind Rupert and Edgar by turns, so as to +divide the labour between the two heiries. A few villages were passed, +but the inhabitants fled into their houses or into the fields on seeing +the approach of the party, the arrival of strangers meaning extortion +and demands for tribute. So they journeyed for several days, until one +afternoon they came to a large village, which was evidently inhabited. +They alighted and knocked at the door of the principal house. No answer +was at first returned, but on El Bakhat shouting that he would break +down the door if it was not opened, bolts were heard to unfasten. The +door opened, and an old man presented himself.</p> + +<p>"Why did you not reply to our knocking?" El Bakhat asked angrily. "Is +this your hospitality to strangers?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_370" id="Page_370">[Pg 370]</a></span></p> + +<p>"My lord must pardon me," he said submissively; "but it was but last +week that a party of the Mahdi's soldiers came along here and stripped +the village of all it possessed, and drove off its bullocks and sheep. +Save our grain, we have nought that we can call our own."</p> + +<p>"We do not belong to the Mahdi," Ben Ibyn said, "but are peaceful +travellers. We desire only to fill our bags with grain for the animals, +for which we will pay you the full value. For ourselves we need nothing, +although, if you have peradventure a kid or a sheep left among you we +will gladly purchase it."</p> + +<p>"Enter, my lord," the old man replied briskly, evidently much relieved +at the announcement; "all that the village still possesses is at your +service."</p> + +<p>He gave an order, and a boy brought out a basket of grain, which he +emptied before the camels, while the two Arabs, Edgar, and Rupert +entered the house. Ten minutes later a villager brought in a +freshly-killed kid, which Yussuf, after lighting a fire in the +court-yard, proceeded to cut up and cook. In the meantime the Arabs had +entered into a conversation with the peasant as to the routes down to +the sea. They learned that so far they had been coming in the right +direction, and that some thirty miles farther they would come upon a +track leading down to Tokar.</p> + +<p>"You must look well for it," he said; "it is never greatly traversed, +and since the troubles all trade has ceased, and you may well cross the +track without noticing it."</p> + +<p>"Have you any in the village who know the track?" Edgar asked.</p> + +<p>"There are several here who have been down to Tokar, my lord."</p> + +<p>"We will give ten yards of good cloth to one who will go and set us on +the road. We will take him behind one of our camels, and as we shall +start at daybreak he can be back here<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_371" id="Page_371">[Pg 371]</a></span> before nightfall. I suppose when +we once find the track it will not be difficult to follow it."</p> + +<p>"I can doubtless find a guide," the peasant said; "he can give you +instructions as to the path, or he could go with you, if you choose, +still further, to show you the way. I will go and find you such a man."</p> + +<p>An active-looking young native presently arrived, and said that he was +willing to be their guide to the point where the track left the high +lands and entered the gorges leading down towards the sea. It was, he +said, four days camels' march beyond the point where they would strike +the track, and he would accompany them this distance for forty yards of +cotton cloth. The bargain was struck at once, and the following morning +they started, the guide riding behind Edgar.</p> + +<p>As there was no occasion for haste, and the camels might be required to +exert their utmost speed when they reached the low country, the journey +was performed by three easy stages, the distances being about forty +miles each day. It was well that they had a guide with them, for the +track was in most places entirely obliterated.</p> + +<p>"You cannot miss your way now," the native said at their last +halting-place by some shallow wells. "This depression leads straight +down to the pass. It is two days' march hence to the lower plains. When +the valley at last opens on them you will be about ten miles west of +Tokar."</p> + +<p>The next morning the guide started on his return journey. The cloth had +been given to him before starting, and he now carried a few pounds of +grain and a small bag full of dried dates for his five days' journey +back to his village.</p> + +<p>The journey down the gorges was an arduous one. The path had been swept +away by the last season's rains, and in some places where the valley +narrowed to a gorge but a few yards wide, with the rocks rising sheer up +hundreds of feet on<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_372" id="Page_372">[Pg 372]</a></span> either side, the bottom was filled with large +blocks of stone brought down by the floods, whose highest level could be +seen forty or fifty feet above them on the rocks. Occasionally it was +necessary to build a sloping platform with small boulders of stones to +enable the camels to get over the vast blocks that filled the space +between the walls.</p> + +<p>It took them three days of arduous labour; but the valley at last opened +out, and they saw a broad expanse of country stretching before them. No +one had either met or passed them on the way down; but here in the lower +valley there were several flocks of sheep and goats watched over by Arab +boys. These, at the sight of strangers, hastily collected their animals +and drove them up the hillside, but at a shout from Ben Ibyn, saying +that they were friends and would do them no harm, two of them presently +came down.</p> + +<p>On hearing that the travellers intended to camp for the night they led +the way to the wells, and for three yards of cotton killed and brought +in a sheep. Presently the rest of the lads came down and squatted near +the fire that Yussuf had kindled, and after the party had dined were +rejoiced by the present of some wheaten cakes and a portion of the +cooked meat. They now became very communicative. They belonged to the +Hadendowah tribe. There were three or four hundred of the dervishes at +Tokar. Osman Digma had in all four or five thousand men at Handoub, and +was soon going to drive the Kaffirs into the sea. Many of their tribe +were with him, but others were disheartened at the long delay to carry +his promise into effect. They had lost, too, a great many of their best +fighting men in the battles with the Kaffirs, but no doubt when Osman +Digma announced that the favourable time had arrived, all would again +join him in order to have their share of the plunder of Suakim.</p> + +<p>The next day they stopped at the wells, telling the boys<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_373" id="Page_373">[Pg 373]</a></span> that the +camels were sorely wearied by their journey down the gorge, and that +they needed a day's rest. In the evening as soon as the meal was over +they mounted their camels, much to the surprise of the native boys, and +started. Edgar could judge of the general position, for though he had +not been as far as Tokar he could tell pretty well the line they should +take to come down upon Trinkitat. As soon as they were fairly out of the +valley the camels were put to their full speed, and in four hours the +sea shining in the bright moonlight lay before them. Crossing a shallow +lagoon they were upon the sandy beach.</p> + +<p>The pace of the camels was now slackened, as it was useless to arrive at +Suakim before daybreak, as they would have been liable to be shot by the +sentries in the forts if they approached in the darkness. When day broke +Edgar and Rupert gave a shout of joy, for three or four miles away could +be seen the masts of shipping. Again the camels broke into a trot, and +in half an hour they approached the forts raised to defend the town on +the land side from the attacks by Osman Digma's followers. No questions +were asked them, for natives belonging to friendly tribes frequently +entered or left the town.</p> + +<p>As they crossed the ground between the forts and the town they saw a +party of marines marching out to relieve those who had occupied the fort +at night. They reined in their camels, and Rupert addressed the officer +marching at the head of the party.</p> + +<p>"Can you tell me, sir, if Lieutenant Skinner is at Suakim at present?"</p> + +<p>The officer was astounded at being thus addressed in pure English by a +wild-looking native, and the men following him were no less astonished.</p> + +<p>"Is it possible," the officer exclaimed, "that you are Mr. Clinton?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_374" id="Page_374">[Pg 374]</a></span></p> + +<p>"That is my name," Rupert replied.</p> + +<p>The officer advanced and grasped his hand warmly. "I am glad indeed to +see you," he said; "Skinner is my subaltern, and has often spoken to me +of what he considered your hopeless journey to try to find your brother, +and said that if you did get through it alive you were as likely as not +to turn up here. I congratulate you indeed. Have you been successful?" +and he looked doubtfully at Rupert's companions.</p> + +<p>"Yes, thank God, I have succeeded. This is my brother Edgar."</p> + +<p>The officer shook hands warmly with Edgar, and even the men who had +heard what was said raised a shout of welcome.</p> + +<p>"I forgot; Skinner is in the rear," the officer said; and raising his +voice shouted his name.</p> + +<p>Skinner came running up. He had been wondering what the halt was for. +Edgar and Rupert had dismounted by this time and ran forward to meet +him. He stopped in surprise and then recognized Rupert, whom he had +already seen in his present disguise.</p> + +<p>"Clinton!" he exclaimed with a joyous shout; "is it really you? Thank +God, you have got back again, and—and—"</p> + +<p>"And this is Edgar," Rupert put in.</p> + +<p>For a minute or two the three stood shaking each other's hands, too +excited and joyous to speak, while the soldiers cheered lustily. The +captain in command came up.</p> + +<p>"Look here, Skinner; it would be too bad to take you away from your +friends now, so I will take it upon myself to give you leave off duty. I +will get Thomson to stay out until to-morrow morning in your place. He +won't mind when I tell him why, and you can take his turn on duty on +shore next time."</p> + +<p>Talking excitedly together they entered the town, the Arabs following on +their camels and Yussuf leading the two heiries.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_375" id="Page_375">[Pg 375]</a></span></p> + +<p>"The first thing to do," Skinner said, "is to get you rigged out +decently. I suppose it will be some time before you can get rid of your +dye, but at any rate you can get dressed like Christians; and you can +get rid of that fearful wig, Rupert. I will send off a boat to my ship +with a note, and they will soon send you on shore a couple of suits of +clothes. Mine would be of no use; you could not get into them. This is +the only hotel in the place."</p> + +<p>"First of all we must see about these Arabs being made comfortable. +Where can they put up their camels?"</p> + +<p>"Oh! that will be all right," Skinner said; "one of the fellows here +will take them under his charge."</p> + +<p>Skinner entered and came out with a servant.</p> + +<p>"You can put your camels in the court-yard here, El Bakhat," Edgar said +after speaking to the men. "Yussuf will look after them. You had better +find a lodging for yourselves. You will be more at home there than you +would here. Get everything you want; you will have no difficulty in +finding everything in the Arab quarter. Skinner, lend me a sovereign, +will you? We have been living on barter for a long time, but they will +want money here."</p> + +<p>"This is worth five dollars," he said as he handed the money to El +Bakhat; "but, ah! I forgot, Ben Ibyn knows about the value of English +money. If you will come here at noon I may be able to tell you something +about the money."</p> + +<p>They then entered the hotel with Skinner.</p> + +<p>"Get breakfast, the best you can get," Skinner ordered; "and show me to +a room where there is plenty of water and towels. These are Englishmen, +though you would not think so from their appearance."</p> + +<p>The young fellows enjoyed a thorough wash, and Rupert got rid of his +wig, but they had to attire themselves in their former garments for +breakfast. After existing for months<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_376" id="Page_376">[Pg 376]</a></span> upon native fare the breakfast was +a luxury indeed. By the time they had finished, the messenger Skinner +sent off returned with two suits of clothes sent ashore by the officers +of his ship, and having attired themselves in these they went with +Skinner to the political officer. When he understood who they were he +received them with much warmth.</p> + +<p>"I have had letters from Captain Clinton," he said, "respecting you; +saying that it was possible that you might turn up here, and requesting +me to assist you in getting any bills you might draw on him cashed. I +will go with you to the principal merchant here. No doubt he will do it, +but if not I can manage the affair with one of the ships' paymasters."</p> + +<p>The merchant, however, was perfectly willing to honour their draft upon +their father for a thousand pounds upon the statement of the officer +that he would himself guarantee its payment, and he told them that his +servants should bring the money in silver to the hotel. Four hundred +pounds was the amount that Ben Ibyn had been promised on delivering +Rupert in safety at one of the ports, and an equal sum was to be given +to El Bakhat. This left them two hundred pounds for getting to England, +for Edgar had learned that his regiment had a month previously sailed +for India, and he considered that under the circumstances he was +perfectly justified in reporting himself at the depot at home.</p> + +<p>The sheiks on their arrival at the hotel received with great +satisfaction the bags of money containing the stipulated amount. To +these were added a brace of revolvers each, being the two Rupert had +carried and two they had purchased in Suakim, together with ten boxes of +ammunition. Edgar also gave to El Bakhat a set of jewellery and several +silk scarves for Amina.</p> + +<p>"Now, sheik," he said, "I should like to purchase the freedom of Yussuf. +What do you value him at?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_377" id="Page_377">[Pg 377]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I will give him to you," the sheik said. "You have treated me well and +honourably."</p> + +<p>"No, I will not have that, sheik; he is your property, and is a very +useful slave. I will give you two hundred dollars for him."</p> + +<p>"It is well," El Bakhat said; "he is yours."</p> + +<p>"Now," Rupert said, "there are the two heiries; they are yours by right, +Ben Ibyn, but I would fain give one to El Bakhat. I will give you three +hundred dollars to forego your claim to it. I know the beast is worth +more; but if you possess one of them it will suffice for your needs, and +you will oblige me if you will part with the other."</p> + +<p>"I can refuse my lord nothing," Ben Ibyn said, "and the possession of +two such heiries might well draw envy and enmity upon me. I will accept +his offer."</p> + +<p>"Then the other heirie is yours, El Bakhat," Rupert said, "as a special +present from me for the kindness you have shown my brother. What do you +both mean to do now?"</p> + +<p>"We have agreed to journey up the coast together and then to travel +across the mountains to Assouan, and there buy camels and goods, or we +may buy them here if we see bargains to suit us. Then we shall turn +south. I shall go on alone to Khartoum; I know many of the Mahdi's +officers, and shall by presents to them obtain a pardon for El Bakhat, +and permission for him to return to his tribe. Money will do as much +among the Mahdi's people as elsewhere."</p> + +<p>"We shall see you again to-morrow, sheiks. A steamer sails in the +afternoon for Suez, and we shall go in her. Come here to say good-bye to +us in the morning."</p> + +<p>When the sheiks had left Yussuf was called in, and Edgar told him that +he had purchased his freedom from El Bakhat. The negro threw himself on +his knees in an ecstasy of delight and poured out his thanks.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_378" id="Page_378">[Pg 378]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Now, what would you like to do, Yussuf?" Edgar went on when the negro +had quieted down. "I can recommend you here to some merchant as a +faithful man whom he can trust, or if you would like to set up a shop +here I will give you two hundred dollars with which to trade. Or I can +take you up with us to Suez and give you strong letters of +recommendation with which you can obtain employment there."</p> + +<p>"No, my lord," Yussuf cried, "none of these things. I would go with you +and be your servant; I will never leave you."</p> + +<p>"But I don't want a servant, Yussuf," Edgar said. "As I have told you, I +am a soldier, and soldiers do not have servants."</p> + +<p>"Oh, that is nonsense!" Rupert put in. "You are not going on as a +private soldier. You know you need not reckon upon that, Edgar. You like +the fellow, and there is no doubt he would make you a faithful servant; +and anyhow they could find something to do for him at home."</p> + +<p>Edgar pointed out to Yussuf that the life would be strange to him, the +climate altogether different to that to which he was accustomed, and +that he would find no one who could speak his language. But Yussuf was +unmoved, and entreated so earnestly to be taken that Edgar gave in, +saying that after all, if he repented afterwards, he could be sent back +to Egypt.</p> + +<p>Just as this was settled a messenger entered with a telegram from +Captain Clinton in answer to that they had despatched before they had +sat down to breakfast announcing their safe arrival. It contained simply +the words, "Thank God! Come home at once."</p> + +<p>They went off to dinner with Skinner on board ship, and the story of +their adventures excited immense interest among the officers. Skinner +returned with them on shore, and remained with them until the steamer +left in the afternoon.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_379" id="Page_379">[Pg 379]</a></span> Yussuf, who had been rigged out in white +trousers and jacket, a checked shirt, and straw hat, accompanying them. +The two sheiks saw them off, and stood looking after them with grave +regret until the steamer was far from land. At Suez Edgar and Rupert +provided themselves with a stock of linen and clothing; two days later +they took passage to Brindisi in a P. and O. steamer, and travelled +rapidly across Europe. Their colour excited much surprise among the +passengers on board the steamer, but as they had no wish to keep on +telling their story they kept themselves apart, and made no +acquaintances during the short voyage. Yussuf was astounded at +everything he saw: the ship and her machinery, the trains, the fertile +country through which they travelled, the frequent villages, and great +towns. There was no stay in London. They drove across from Charing Cross +to Paddington, and went down by the first train. A telegram had been +despatched from Dover, and a carriage was at the station to meet them, +and the servant handed Rupert a note. It contained a few words from his +father, saying that he had not come to meet them, as he thought it +better that they should all meet together at home. It was Edgar who +received the first greeting from father, mother, and sister, while +Rupert stood by, well content that his brother should on this occasion +come first. It was little over a year since he had said good-bye to +them, while it was more than three since Edgar had seen them, and his +own greeting, though delayed for a moment, was no less warm than that of +Edgar.</p> + +<p>"Father and mother," Edgar began as soon as they turned again from +Rupert, "I want to say that I feel how wrong I was—"</p> + +<p>"Then don't say it," Captain Clinton broke in. "We won't talk about that +time at all. You suffered, and we have all suffered; but good has come +out of it. Thank God the matter<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_380" id="Page_380">[Pg 380]</a></span> is settled now for ever, and we know +there is nothing more to be found out about it, and that there is no +fear of our ever having to look at one or other of you in a different +light to that with which we regard you, as our two sons, of both of whom +we have every reason to be proud. There now, let us talk of other +things. You have both gone through wonderful adventures, which we are +burning to hear about."</p> + +<p>"You have changed a great deal, Edgar," Mrs. Clinton said. "Of course we +have seen Rupert comparatively lately; but I think that you have changed +more than he has from what you both were three years ago. You look older +than he does, and your figure is more set."</p> + +<p>"He has gone through so much more," Rupert said; "he has been doing +man's work for three years. I have only had a year and a half of it."</p> + +<p>"You need not be in a hurry to look old, Rupert," Captain Clinton +laughed; "that will come soon enough, and you have widened out a good +deal in this last year. You had got very weedy, and I am glad to see +that you are filling up.</p> + +<p>"I have some news for you, Edgar. I saw Lord Wolseley on his return to +England, and he spoke very kindly of you both, and when I got your +telegram from Suakim I wrote to him again and received a very warm +letter of congratulation from him in reply. He told me that he had +received a most favourable report of you from your colonel, who said +that your conduct had been most exemplary since you had entered the +regiment, and that as you had been recommended for the Victoria Cross he +had intended to recommend you for a commission as soon as you had served +a qualifying time as a sergeant. But Lord Wolseley said that he thought +it would be a great pity for you to lose four or five years' seniority +by waiting to get your commission from the ranks, and that he had that +morning spoken to the Duke of Cambridge about you, and that the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_381" id="Page_381">[Pg 381]</a></span> latter +had put your name down for a Queen's Cadetship, so that if you could +pass the mere qualifying examination you could have a commission at +once. There will be an examination in two months' time, and if you go up +to a crammer and work hard you will be able to brush up your school work +and get through; if not, of course you can go in again six months later. +I am afraid you will hardly get ready in time for the first."</p> + +<p>"I don't know, father," Rupert said; while Edgar expressed his lively +satisfaction. "Edgar speaks Arabic like a native, and if he takes that +up as a subject he is sure to get full marks for it, and that will help +him tremendously. Of course he would have no chance of getting through +if he had to go in for the competition; but something like half the +number of marks are enough for the qualifying examination."</p> + +<p>"Well, we mustn't be too sanguine," Captain Clinton said; "and eight +months' quiet study won't hurt him after campaigning in Egypt for two +years. By the way, Edgar, I paid in the money for you to buy out, and +sent in an application in your name. These things take some little time +before they are carried out, but no doubt we shall soon hear. But in the +meantime you had better write at once to the officer commanding your +depôt, saying that you have returned home, and asking for a month's +leave of absence. You are sure to get your discharge before that is +over."</p> + +<p>Edgar remained at home for a week, spending much of his time, however, +over his old school-books. Then he went up to town and worked at a +crammer's until the examination came off, when, thanks in no small +degree to the number of marks he obtained for his Arabic, he just +managed to get the number necessary to qualify him. To his great +satisfaction he was at once gazetted to a regiment as if he had been +promoted from the ranks, instead of having to go through the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_382" id="Page_382">[Pg 382]</a></span> course at +Sandhurst, and thus gained several months' seniority. Three months' +leave was granted him, and at the end of that time he joined his +regiment, which was stationed at Malta.</p> + +<p>No question as to which of the Clintons is the legitimate son of the +captain and his wife has ever again troubled them. Edgar and Rupert know +that they are equally dear to those at home, and all are happy in the +knowledge that nothing henceforth can break the closeness of their tie, +and that it can never be known which is the lawful heir of the estates. +What is much more important to them both, neither of them can say which +has the first claim on the love and affection of Captain and Mrs. +Clinton, and of their sister.</p> + + +<h4>THE END.</h4> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>BLACKIE & SON'S BOOKS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE.</h2> + + +<p>"Messrs. Blackie are essentially a firm of publishers after a boy's own +heart. Their list of stories of enterprise and adventure is perhaps +unrivalled."—<i>The Daily News</i>.</p> + +<p>"The stories published by Messrs. Blackie are of the best, and the +paper, print, binding, and illustrations provided are worthy of the +stories."—<i>Guardian</i>.</p> + +<p>"The lad who owns a complete collection of Mr. Henty's writings will +have a remarkably good knowledge of the wars of the world, for all +periods of history and all parts of the globe seem equally familiar to +this able author."—<i>Graphic</i>.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>BY G. A. HENTY.</h2> + + +<p>"Mr. Henty is one of the best of story-tellers for young +people."—<i>Spectator</i>.</p> + +<p>"Surely Mr. Henty should understand boys' tastes better than any man +living."—<i>The Times</i>.</p> + +<p>"Among writers of stories of adventure for boys Mr. Henty stands in the +very first rank."—<i>Academy</i>.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Henty is one of our most successful writers of historical +tales."—<i>Scotsman</i>.</p> + +<hr style="width: 15%;" /> + +<p><b>St. Bartholomew's Eve:</b> A Tale of the Huguenot Wars. By <span class="smcap">G. A. Henty</span>. With +12 page Illustrations by <span class="smcap">H. J. Draper</span>, and a Map. Crown 8vo, cloth +elegant, olivine edges, 6<i>s.</i></p> + +<p>"A really noble story, which adult readers will find to the full as +satisfying as the boys. Lucky boys! to have such a caterer as Mr. G. A. +Henty."—<i>Black and White</i>.</p> + +<p>"What would boys do without Mr. Henty? Ever fresh and vigorous, his +books have at once the solidity of history and the charm of romance. +<i>St. Bartholomew's Eve</i> is in his best style, and the interest never +flags. The book is all that could possibly be wished from a boy's point +of view."—<i>Journal of Education</i>.</p> + +<p>"A really good story.... He is a most attractive hero, always plucky and +fine-spirited. Numerous hair-breadth escapes and a happy ending—what +more could young people want? Boys, and girls too, are strongly advised +to read the book, the best Mr. Henty has provided for them lately. The +illustrator, Mr. Draper, should have his share of their +gratitude."—<i>The Bookman</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>Through the Sikh War:</b> A Tale of the Conquest of the Punjab. By <span class="smcap">G. A. +Henty</span>. With 12 page Illustrations by <span class="smcap">Hal Hurst</span>, and a Map. Crown 8vo, +cloth elegant, olivine edges, 6<i>s.</i></p> + +<p>"Percy is always well to the front in skirmishes and pitched battles.... +His luck is as good as his pluck, and he is covered with credit and +glory."—<i>Times</i>.</p> + +<p>"The picture of the Punjab during its last few years of independence, +the description of the battles on the Sutlej, and the portraiture +generally of native character, seem admirably true.... On the whole, we +have never read a more vivid and faithful narrative of military +adventure in India."—<i>The Academy</i>.</p> + +<p>"It is well to make boys proud of the manner in which Englishmen built +up our Indian Empire, and no one knows better how to accomplish this +than this author."—<i>Daily Graphic</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>Beric the Briton:</b> A Story of the Roman Invasion. By <span class="smcap">G. A. Henty</span>. With 12 +page Illustrations by <span class="smcap">W. Parkinson</span>. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, olivine +edges, 6<i>s.</i></p> + +<p>"<i>Beric the Briton</i> is <i>the</i> boy's book of the year."—<i>Observer</i>.</p> + +<p>"We are not aware that any one has given us quite so vigorous a picture +of Britain in the days of the Roman conquest. Mr. Henty has done his +utmost to make an impressive picture of the haughty Roman character, +with its indomitable courage, sternness, and discipline. <i>Beric</i> is good +all through."—<i>Spectator</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>In Greek Waters:</b> A Story of the Grecian War of Independence (1821-1827). +By <span class="smcap">G. A. Henty</span>. With 12 page Illustrations by <span class="smcap">W. S. Stacey</span>, and a Map. +Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, olivine edges, 6<i>s.</i></p> + +<p>"There are adventures of all kinds for the hero and his friends, whose +pluck and ingenuity in extricating themselves from awkward fixes are +always equal to the occasion. It is an excellent story, and if the +proportion of history is smaller than usual, the whole result leaves +nothing to be desired."—<i>Journal of Education</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>Redskin and Cow-boy:</b> A Tale of the Western Plains. By <span class="smcap">G. A. Henty</span>. With +12 page Illustrations by <span class="smcap">Alfred Pearse</span>. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, +olivine edges, 6<i>s.</i></p> + +<p>"It has a good plot; it abounds in action; the scenes are equally +spirited and realistic, and we can only say we have read it with much +pleasure from first to last. The pictures of life on a cattle ranche are +most graphically painted, as are the manners of the reckless but jovial +cow-boys."—<i>Times</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>The Dash for Khartoum:</b> A Tale of the Nile Expedition. By <span class="smcap">G. A. Henty</span>. +With 10 page Illustrations by <span class="smcap">J. Schönberg</span> and <span class="smcap">J. Nash</span>, and 4 Plans. +Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, olivine edges, 6<i>s.</i></p> + +<p>"<i>The Dash for Khartoum</i> is your ideal boys' book."—<i>Tablet</i>.</p> + +<p>"It is literally true that the narrative never flags a moment; for the +incidents which fall to be recorded after the dash for Khartoum has been +made and failed are quite as interesting as those which precede +it."—<i>Academy</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>By England's Aid:</b> The Freeing of the Netherlands (1585-1604). By <span class="smcap">G. A. +Henty</span>. With 10 page Illustrations by <span class="smcap">Alfred Pearse</span>, and 4 Maps. Crown +8vo, cloth elegant, olivine edges, 6<i>s.</i></p> + +<p>"Boys know and love Mr. Henty's books of adventure, and will welcome his +tale of the Freeing of the Netherlands."—<i>Athenæum</i>.</p> + +<p>"The story is told with great animation, and the historical material is +most effectively combined with a most excellent plot."—<i>Saturday +Review</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>By Right of Conquest:</b> Or, With Cortez in Mexico. By <span class="smcap">G. A. Henty</span>. With 10 +page Illustrations by <span class="smcap">W. S. Stacey</span>, and 2 Maps. Crown 8vo, cloth +elegant, olivine edges, 6<i>s.</i></p> + +<p>"Mr. Henty's skill has never been more convincingly displayed than in +this admirable and ingenious story."—<i>Saturday Review</i>.</p> + +<p>"<i>By Right of Conquest</i> is the nearest approach to a perfectly +successful historical tale that Mr. Henty has yet +published."—<i>Academy</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>With Lee in Virginia:</b> A Story of the American Civil War. By <span class="smcap">G. A. Henty</span>. +With 10 page Illustrations by <span class="smcap">Gordon Browne</span>, and 6 Maps. Crown 8vo, +cloth elegant, olivine edges, 6<i>s.</i></p> + +<p>"The story is a capital one and full of variety, and presents us with +many picturesque scenes of Southern life. Young Wingfield, who is +conscientious, spirited, and 'hard as nails,' would have been a man +after the very heart of Stonewall Jackson."—<i>Times</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>By Pike and Dyke:</b> A Tale of the Rise of the Dutch Republic. By <span class="smcap">G. A. +Henty</span>. With 10 page Illustrations by <span class="smcap">Maynard Brown</span>, and 4 Maps. Crown +8vo, cloth elegant, olivine edges, 6<i>s.</i></p> + +<p>"The mission of Ned to deliver letters from William the Silent to his +adherents at Brussels, the fight of the <i>Good Venture</i> with the Spanish +man-of-war, the battle on the ice at Amsterdam, the siege of Haarlem, +are all told with a vividness and skill, which are worthy of Mr. Henty +at his best."—<i>Academy</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>With Clive in India:</b> Or, The Beginnings of an Empire. By <span class="smcap">G. A. Henty</span>. +With 12 page Illustrations by <span class="smcap">Gordon Browne</span>. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, +olivine edges, 6<i>s.</i></p> + +<p>"Among writers of stories of adventure for boys Mr. Henty stands in the +very first rank. Those who know something about India will be the most +ready to thank Mr. Henty for giving them this instructive volume to +place in the hands of their children."—<i>Academy</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>The Lion of St. Mark:</b> A Tale of Venice in the Fourteenth Century. By <span class="smcap">G. +A. Henty</span>. With 10 page Illustrations by <span class="smcap">Gordon Browne</span>. Crown 8vo, cloth +elegant, olivine edges, 6<i>s.</i></p> + +<p>"Every boy should read <i>The Lion of St. Mark</i>. Mr. Henty has never +produced any story more delightful, more wholesome, or more vivacious. +From first to last it will be read with keen enjoyment."—<i>The Saturday +Review</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>Under Drake's Flag:</b> A Tale of the Spanish Main. By <span class="smcap">G. A. Henty</span>. +Illustrated by 12 page Pictures by <span class="smcap">Gordon Browne</span>. Crown 8vo, cloth +elegant, olivine edges, 6<i>s.</i></p> + +<p>"There is not a dull chapter, nor, indeed, a dull page in the book; but +the author has so carefully worked up his subject that the exciting +deeds of his heroes are never incongruous or absurd."—<i>Observer</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>Bonnie Prince Charlie:</b> A Tale of Fontenoy and Culloden. By <span class="smcap">G. A. Henty</span>. +With 12 page Illustrations by <span class="smcap">Gordon Browne</span>. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, +olivine edges, 6<i>s.</i></p> + +<p>"Ronald, the hero, is very like the hero of <i>Quentin Durward</i>. The lad's +journey across France with his faithful attendant Malcolm, and his +hairbreadth escapes from the machinations of his father's enemies, make +up as good a narrative of the kind as we have ever read. For freshness +of treatment and variety of incident, Mr. Henty has here surpassed +himself."—<i>Spectator</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>For the Temple:</b> A Tale of the Fall of Jerusalem. By <span class="smcap">G. A. Henty</span>. With 10 +page Illustrations by <span class="smcap">S. J. Solomon</span>, and a Coloured Map. Crown 8vo, +cloth elegant, olivine edges, 6<i>s.</i></p> + +<p>"Mr. Henty's graphic prose pictures of the hopeless Jewish resistance to +Roman sway adds another leaf to his record of the famous wars of the +world. The book is one of Mr. Henty's cleverest efforts."—<i>Graphic</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>True to the Old Flag:</b> A Tale of the American War of Independence. By <span class="smcap">G. +A. Henty</span>. With 12 page Illustrations by <span class="smcap">Gordon Browne</span>. Crown 8vo, cloth +elegant, olivine edges, 6<i>s.</i></p> + +<p>"Does justice to the pluck and determination of the British soldiers. +The son of an American loyalist, who remains true to our flag, falls +among the hostile redskins in that very Huron country which has been +endeared to us by the exploits of Hawkeye and Chingachgook."—<i>The +Times</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>The Lion of the North:</b> A Tale of Gustavus Adolphus and the Wars of +Religion. By <span class="smcap">G. A. Henty</span>. With 12 page Pictures by <span class="smcap">J. Schönberg</span>. Crown +8vo, cloth elegant, olivine edges, 6<i>s.</i></p> + +<p>"A praiseworthy attempt to interest British youth in the great deeds of +the Scotch Brigade in the wars of Gustavus Adolphus. Mackay, Hepburn, +and Munro live again in Mr. Henty's pages, as those deserve to live +whose disciplined bands formed really the germ of the modern British +army."—<i>Athenæum</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>The Young Carthaginian:</b> A story of the Times of Hannibal. By <span class="smcap">G. A. +Henty</span>. With 12 page Illustrations by <span class="smcap">C. J. Staniland, r.i.</span> Crown 8vo, +cloth elegant, olivine edges, 6<i>s.</i></p> + +<p>"The effect of an interesting story, well constructed and vividly told, +is enhanced by the picturesque quality of the scenic background. From +first to last nothing stays the interest of the narrative. It bears us +along as on a stream, whose current varies in direction, but never loses +its force."—<i>Saturday Review</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>With Wolfe in Canada:</b> Or, The Winning of a Continent. By <span class="smcap">G. A. Henty</span>. +With 12 page Illustrations by <span class="smcap">Gordon Browne</span>. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, +olivine edges, 6<i>s.</i></p> + +<p>"A model of what a boys' story-book should be. Mr. Henty has a great +power of infusing into the dead facts of history new life, and as no +pains are spared by him to ensure accuracy in historic details, his +books supply useful aids to study as well as amusement."—<i>School +Guardian.</i></p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>In Freedom's Cause:</b> A Story of Wallace and Bruce. By <span class="smcap">G. A. Henty</span>. With +12 page Illustrations by <span class="smcap">Gordon Browne</span>. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, +olivine edges, 6<i>s.</i></p> + +<p>"Mr. Henty has broken new ground as an historical novelist. His tale of +the days of Wallace and Bruce is full of stirring action, and will +commend itself to boys."—<i>Athenæum</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>Through the Fray:</b> A Story of the Luddite Riots. By <span class="smcap">G. A. Henty</span>. With 12 +page Illustrations by <span class="smcap">H. M. Paget</span>. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, olivine +edges, 6<i>s.</i></p> + +<p>"Mr. Henty inspires a love and admiration for straightforwardness, +truth, and courage. This is one of the best of the many good books Mr. +Henty has produced, and deserves to be classed with his <i>Facing +Death</i>."—<i>Standard</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>Captain Bayley's Heir:</b> A Tale of the Gold Fields of California. By <span class="smcap">G. A. +Henty</span>. With 12 page Illustrations by <span class="smcap">H. M. Paget</span>. Crown 8vo, cloth +elegant, olivine edges, 6<i>s.</i></p> + +<p>"A Westminster boy who makes his way in the world by hard work, good +temper, and unfailing courage. The descriptions given of life are just +what a healthy intelligent lad should delight in."—<i>St. James's +Gazette</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>A Jacobite Exile:</b> Being the Adventures of a Young Englishman in the +Service of Charles XII. of Sweden. By <span class="smcap">G. A. Henty</span>. With 8 page +Illustrations by <span class="smcap">Paul Hardy</span>, and a Map. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, +olivine edges, 5<i>s.</i></p> + +<p>"Mr. Henty has never produced a more truly historical romance, and +scarcely ever a more piquantly-written narrative. One, at least, of his +battle-pieces is full of the old 'special correspondent' fire."—<i>The +Academy</i>.</p> + +<p>"Incident succeeds incident, and adventure is piled upon adventure, and +at the end the reader, be he boy or man, will have experienced +breathless enjoyment in a romantic story that must have taught him much +at its close."—<i>Army and Navy Gazette</i>.</p> + +<p>"Shows Mr. Henty at his best. <i>A Jacobite Exile</i> is full of life, +adventure, and movement, and admirably illustrated; it is in Mr. Henty's +best manner, and while never losing sight of the imaginative and +romantic interest, has a substantial value as a bit of historical +painting."—<i>Scotsman</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>Condemned as a Nihilist:</b> A Story of Escape from Siberia. By <span class="smcap">G. A. Henty</span>. +With 8 page Illustrations by <span class="smcap">Walter Paget</span>. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, +olivine edges, 5<i>s.</i></p> + +<p>"The best of this year's Henty. His narrative is more interesting than +many of the tales with which the public is familiar, of escape from +Siberia. Despite their superior claim to authenticity these tales are +without doubt no less fictitious than Mr. Henty's, and he beats them +hollow in the matter of sensations. The escape of the hero and his +faithful Tartar from the Samoyedes is quite the high-water mark of this +author's achievement."—<i>National Observer</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>Orange and Green:</b> A Tale of the Boyne and Limerick. By <span class="smcap">G. A. Henty</span>. With +8 full-page Illustrations by <span class="smcap">Gordon Browne</span>. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, +olivine edges, 5<i>s.</i></p> + +<p>"An extremely spirited story, based on the struggle in Ireland, rendered +memorable by the defence of 'Derry and the siege of Limerick."—<i>Sat. +Review</i>.</p> + +<p>"The narrative is free from the vice of prejudice, and ripples with life +as vivacious as if what is being described were really passing before +the eye.... Should be in the hands of every young student of Irish +history."—<i>Belfast News</i>.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>BY GEORGE MACDONALD.</h2> + + +<p><b>A Rough Shaking.</b> By <span class="smcap">George Macdonald</span>. With 12 page Illustrations by <span class="smcap">W. +Parkinson</span>. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, olivine edges, 6<i>s.</i></p> + +<p>"One of Mr. MacDonald's wonderful and charming stories."—<i>Athenæum</i>.</p> + +<p>"One of the very best books for boys that has been written. It is full +of material peculiarly well adapted for the young, containing in a +marked degree, the elements of all that is necessary to make up a +perfect boys' book."—<i>Teachers' Aid</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>At the Back of the North Wind.</b> By <span class="smcap">George Macdonald</span>. With 75 +Illustrations by <span class="smcap">Arthur Hughes</span>. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, olivine edges, +5<i>s.</i></p> + +<p>"In <i>At the Back of the North Wind</i> we stand with one foot in fairyland +and one on common earth. The story is thoroughly original, full of fancy +and pathos, and underlaid with earnest but not too obtrusive +teaching"—<i>The Times</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>Ranald Bannerman's Boyhood.</b> By <span class="smcap">George Macdonald</span>. With 36 Illustrations +by <span class="smcap">Arthur Hughes</span>. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, olivine edges, 5<i>s.</i></p> + +<p>"The sympathy with boy-nature in <i>Ranald Bannerman's Boyhood</i> is +perfect. It is a beautiful picture of childhood, teaching by its +impressions and suggestions all noble things."—<i>British Quarterly +Review</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>The Princess and the Goblin.</b> By <span class="smcap">George Macdonald</span>. With 33 Illustrations. +Crown 8vo, cloth extra, 3<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i></p> + +<p>"Little of what is written for children has the lightness of touch and +play of fancy which are characteristic of George MacDonald's fairy +tales. Mr. Arthur Hughes's illustrations are all that illustrations +should be."—<i>Manchester Guardian</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>The Princess and Curdie.</b> By <span class="smcap">George Macdonald</span>. With 8 page Illustrations. +Crown 8vo, cloth extra, 3<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i></p> + +<p>"There is the finest and rarest genius in this brilliant story. Upgrown +people would do wisely occasionally to lay aside their newspapers and +magazines to spend an hour with Curdie and the Princess."—<i>Sheffield +Independent</i>.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>BY J. K. H. DENNY.</h2> + + +<p><b>The Clever Miss Follett.</b> By <span class="smcap">J. K. H. Denny</span>. With 12 page Illustrations +by <span class="smcap">Gertrude D. Hammond</span>. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, olivine edges, 6<i>s.</i></p> + +<p>"The story is well written; the dialogue is easy and unconstrained, and +the intention and tone are all that could be desired."—<i>The Spectator</i>.</p> + +<p>"The story is well constructed, and the character-drawing of the Follett +family is good. Girls will like the story, for it is interesting."—<i>The +Queen</i>.</p> + +<p>"One of the most entertaining stories of the season, full of vigorous +action and strong in character-painting. Elder girls will be charmed +with it, and adults may read its pages with profit."—<i>The Teachers' +Aid</i>.</p> + +<p>"The story is well written; it is not goody-goody, although its moral is +excellent; and it is just the book to give to girls, who will delight +both in the letterpress and the twelve illustrations by Miss Hammond, +who has never done better work."—<i>Review of Reviews</i>.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>NEW EDITION OF THE UNIVERSE.</h2> + + +<p><b>The Universe:</b> Or The Infinitely Great and the Infinitely Little. A +Sketch of Contrasts in Creation, and Marvels revealed and explained by +Natural Science. By <span class="smcap">F. A. Pouchet, m.d.</span> With 272 Engravings on wood, of +which 55 are full-page size, and a Coloured Frontispiece. Eleventh +Edition, medium 8vo, cloth elegant, gilt edges, 7<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i>; also +morocco antique, 16<i>s.</i></p> + +<p>"We can honestly commend Professor Pouchet's book, which is admirably, +as it is copiously illustrated."—<i>The Times</i>.</p> + +<p>"Scarcely any book in French or in English is so likely to stimulate in +the young an interest in the physical phenomena."—<i>Fortnightly Review</i>.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>BY ROBERT LEIGHTON.</h2> + + +<p><b>The Wreck of "The Golden Fleece:"</b> The Story of a North Sea Fisher-boy. +By <span class="smcap">Robert Leighton</span>. With 8 page Illustrations by <span class="smcap">Frank Brangwyn</span>. Crown +8vo, cloth elegant, olivine edges, 5<i>s.</i></p> + +<p>"This story should add considerably to Mr. Leighton's high reputation. +Excellent in every respect, it contains every variety of incident. The +plot is very cleverly devised, and the types of the North Sea sailors +are capital."—<i>The Times</i>.</p> + +<p>"If Mr. Leighton writes many more boys' books of equal merit with <i>The +Wreck of the Golden Fleece</i>, more than one hitherto popular story-teller +will have to look to his laurels."—<i>University Correspondent</i>.</p> + +<p>"The whole story is told simply and movingly, and will both interest and +instruct all young readers. Of the illustrations, it is enough to say +that they are by Mr. Frank Brangwyn, the best modern painter of +sailors."—<i>The Academy</i>.</p> + +<p>"It recalls the freshness and brightness of his <i>Pilots of Pomona</i>.... +It is a capital story. The characters are marked and lifelike, and it is +full of incident and adventure."—<i>Standard</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>The Pilots of Pomona:</b> A Story of the Orkney Islands. By <span class="smcap">Robert Leighton</span>. +With 8 page Illustrations by <span class="smcap">John Leighton</span>, and a Map. Crown 8vo, cloth +elegant, olivine edges, 5<i>s.</i></p> + +<p>"A story which is quite as good in its way as <i>Treasure Island</i>, and is +full of adventure of a stirring yet most natural kind. Although it is +primarily a boys' book, it is a real godsend to the elderly reader who +likes something fresh—something touched with the romance and magic of +youth."—<i>Glasgow Evening Times</i>.</p> + +<p>"His pictures of Orcadian life and nature are charming."—<i>Saturday +Review</i>.</p> + +<p>"Few of this season's books have given us so much pleasure. It is a +charming story of home-life, and takes a place among the best books for +young people."—<i>Practical Teacher</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>The Thirsty Sword:</b> A Story of the Norse Invasion of Scotland (1262-63). +By <span class="smcap">Robert Leighton</span>. With 8 page Illustrations by <span class="smcap">Alfred Pearse</span>, and a +Map. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, olivine edges, 5<i>s.</i></p> + +<p>"This is one of the most fascinating stories for boys that it has ever +been our pleasure to read. From first to last the interest never flags. +Boys will worship Kenric, who is a hero in every sense of the +word."—<i>Schoolmaster</i>.</p> + +<p>"It gives a lively idea of the wild life of the Western Islands in those +rough days, reminding one not seldom of Sir Walter Scott's <i>Lord of the +Isles</i>. It is full of incident and sensational adventure."—<i>The +Guardian</i>.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>BY GEORGE MANVILLE FENN.</h2> + + +<p>"Mr. Fenn stands in the foremost rank of writers in this +department."—<i>Daily News</i>.</p> + +<p>"No one can find his way to the hearts of lads more readily than Mr. +Fenn."—<i>Nottingham Guardian</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>Quicksilver:</b> Or, A Boy with no Skid to his Wheel. By <span class="smcap">George Manville +Fenn</span>. With 10 page Illustrations by <span class="smcap">Frank Dadd</span>. Crown 8vo, cloth +elegant, olivine edges, 6<i>s.</i></p> + +<p>"<i>Quicksilver</i> is little short of an inspiration. In it that prince of +story-writers for boys—George Manville Fenn—has surpassed himself. It +is an ideal book for a boy's library."—<i>Practical Teacher</i>.</p> + +<p>"The story is capitally told, it abounds in graphic and well-described +scenes, and it has an excellent and manly tone throughout."—<i>The +Guardian</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>Dick O' the Fens:</b> A Romance of the Great East Swamp. By <span class="smcap">G. Manville +Fenn</span>. With 12 page Illustrations by <span class="smcap">Frank Dadd</span>. Crown 8vo, cloth +elegant, olivine edges, 6<i>s.</i></p> + +<p>"We conscientiously believe that boys will find it capital reading. It +is full of incident and mystery, and the mystery is kept up to the last +moment. It is rich in effective local colouring; and it has a historical +interest."—<i>Times</i>.</p> + +<p>"Deserves to be heartily and unreservedly praised as regards plot, +incidents, and spirit. It is its author's masterpiece as +yet."—<i>Spectator</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>Devon Boys:</b> A Tale of the North Shore. By <span class="smcap">G. Manville Fenn</span>. With 12 page +Illustrations by <span class="smcap">Gordon Browne</span>. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, olivine edges, +6<i>s.</i></p> + +<p>"An admirable story, as remarkable for the individuality of its young +heroes as for the excellent descriptions of coast scenery and life in +North Devon. It is one of the best books we have seen this +season."—<i>Athenæum</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>The Golden Magnet:</b> A Tale of the Land of the Incas. By <span class="smcap">G. Manville Fenn</span>. +Illustrated by 12 page Pictures by <span class="smcap">Gordon Browne</span>. Crown 8vo, cloth +elegant, olivine edges, 6<i>s.</i></p> + +<p>"There could be no more welcome present for a boy. There is not a dull +page in the book, and many will be read with breathless interest. 'The +Golden Magnet' is, of course, the same one that attracted Raleigh and +the heroes of <i>Westward Ho!</i>"—<i>Journal of Education</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>In the King's Name:</b> Or, The Cruise of the <i>Kestrel</i>. By <span class="smcap">G. Manville +Fenn</span>. Illustrated by 12 page Pictures by <span class="smcap">Gordon Browne</span>. Crown 8vo, cloth +elegant, olivine edges, 6<i>s.</i></p> + +<p>"A capital boys' story, full of incident and adventure, and told in the +lively style in which Mr. Fenn is such an adept."—<i>Globe</i>.</p> + +<p>"The best of all Mr. Fenn's productions in this field. It has the great +quality of always 'moving on,' adventure following adventure in constant +succession."—<i>Daily News</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>Nat the Naturalist:</b> A Boy's Adventures in the Eastern Seas. By <span class="smcap">G. +Manville Fenn</span>. With 8 page Pictures. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, olivine +edges, 5<i>s.</i></p> + +<p>"This sort of book encourages independence of character, develops +resource, and teaches a boy to keep his eyes open."—<i>Saturday Review</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>Bunyip Land:</b> The Story of a Wild Journey in New Guinea. By <span class="smcap">G. Manville +Fenn</span>. With 6 page Illustrations by <span class="smcap">Gordon Browne</span>. Crown 8vo, cloth +elegant, 4<i>s.</i></p> + +<p>"Mr. Fenn deserves the thanks of everybody for <i>Bunyip Land</i>, and we may +venture to promise that a quiet week may be reckoned on whilst the +youngsters have such fascinating literature provided for their evenings' +amusement."—<i>Spectator</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>Brownsmith's Boy:</b> A Romance in a Garden. By <span class="smcap">G. Manville Fenn</span>. With 6 +page Illustrations. New Edition. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, 3<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i></p> + +<p>"Mr. Fenn's books are among the best, if not altogether the best, of the +stories for boys. Mr. Fenn is at his best in <i>Brownsmith's +Boy</i>."—<i>Pictorial World</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p>See also under heading of <b>Blackie's 3/ Series</b> for other Books by <span class="smcap">G. +Manville Fenn</span>.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><b>Grettir the Outlaw:</b> A Story of Iceland. By <span class="smcap">S. Baring-Gould</span>. With 10 page +Illustrations by <span class="smcap">M. Zeno Diemer</span>, and a Coloured Map. Crown 8vo, cloth +elegant, olivine edges, 6<i>s.</i></p> + +<p>"Is the boys' book of its year. That is, of course, as much as to say +that it will do for men grown as well as juniors. It is told in simple, +straightforward English, as all stories should be, and it has a +freshness, a freedom, a sense of sun and wind and the open air, which +make it irresistible."—<i>National Observer</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>Two Thousand Years Ago:</b> Or, The Adventures of a Roman Boy. By Professor +<span class="smcap">A. J. Church</span>. With 12 page Illustrations by <span class="smcap">Adrien Marie</span>. Crown 8vo, +cloth elegant, olivine edges, 6<i>s.</i></p> + +<p>"Adventures well worth the telling. The book is extremely entertaining +as well as useful, and there is a wonderful freshness in the Roman +scenes and characters."—<i>The Times</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>The Seven Wise Scholars.</b> By <span class="smcap">Ascott R. Hope</span>. With nearly 100 +Illustrations by <span class="smcap">Gordon Browne</span>. Cloth elegant, 5<i>s.</i></p> + +<p>"As full of fun as a volume of <i>Punch</i>; with illustrations, more +laughter-provoking than most we have seen since Leech died."—<i>Sheffield +Independent</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>Stories of Old Renown:</b> Tales of Knights and Heroes. By <span class="smcap">Ascott R. Hope</span>. +With 100 Illustrations by <span class="smcap">Gordon Browne</span>. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, 3<i>s.</i> +6<i>d.</i></p> + +<p>"A really fascinating book worthy of its telling title. There is, we +venture to say, not a dull page in the book, not a story which will not +bear a second reading."—<i>Guardian</i>.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>BY G. NORWAY.</h2> + + +<p><b>A True Cornish Maid.</b> By <span class="smcap">G. Norway</span>. With 6 page Illustrations by <span class="smcap">J. +Finnemore</span>. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, 3<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i></p> + +<p>"There is some excellent reading.... Mrs. Norway brings before the eyes +of her readers the good Cornish folk, their speech, their manners, and +their ways. <i>A True Cornish Maid</i> deserves to be popular."—<i>Athenæum</i>.</p> + +<p>"The incident is plentiful and exciting; the characters are drawn with +no common skill. The contrast between the two girls—the rough, +free-spoken Ph[oe]be, and the refined, retiring Honor—is +excellent."—<i>The Spectator</i>.</p> + +<p>"Among girls' books the success of the year has fallen, we think, to +Mrs. Norway, whose <i>True Cornish Maid</i> is really an admirable piece of +work.... The book is full of vivid and accurate local colour; it +contains, too, some very clever character studies."—<i>Review of +Reviews</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>Hussein the Hostage:</b> Or, A Boy's Adventures in Persia. By <span class="smcap">G. Norway</span>. +With 8 page Illustrations by <span class="smcap">John Schönberg</span>. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, +olivine edges, 5<i>s.</i></p> + +<p>"<i>Hussein the Hostage</i> is full of originality and vigour. The characters +are lifelike, there is plenty of stirring incident, the interest is +sustained throughout, and every boy will enjoy following the fortunes of +the hero."—<i>Journal of Education</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>The Loss of John Humble:</b> What Led to It, and what Came of It. By <span class="smcap">G. +Norway</span>. With 8 page Illustrations by <span class="smcap">John Schönberg</span>. Crown 8vo, cloth +elegant, olivine edges, 5<i>s.</i></p> + +<p>"This story will place the author at once in the front rank. It is full +of life and adventure. He is equally at home in his descriptions of life +in Sweden and in the more stirring passages of wreck and disaster, and +the interest of the story is sustained without a break from first to +last."—<i>Standard</i>.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>BY HARRY COLLINGWOOD.</h2> + + +<p><b>The Pirate Island:</b> A Story of the South Pacific. By <span class="smcap">Harry Collingwood</span>. +With 8 page Pictures by <span class="smcap">C. J. Staniland</span> and <span class="smcap">J. R. Wells</span>. Crown 8vo, +cloth elegant, olivine edges, 5<i>s.</i></p> + +<p>"A capital story of the sea; indeed in our opinion the author is +superior in some respects as a marine novelist to the better known Mr. +Clark Russell."—<i>The Times</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>The Congo Rovers:</b> A Story of the Slave Squadron. By <span class="smcap">Harry Collingwood</span>. +With 8 page Illustrations by <span class="smcap">J. Schönberg</span>. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, +olivine edges, 5<i>s.</i></p> + +<p>"No better sea story has lately been written than the <i>Congo Rovers</i>. It +is as original as any boy could desire."—<i>Morning Post</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>The Log of the "Flying Fish:"</b> A Story of Aerial and Submarine Peril and +Adventure. By <span class="smcap">Harry Collingwood</span>. With 6 page Illustrations by <span class="smcap">Gordon +Browne</span>. <i>New and cheaper Edition</i>. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, 3<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i></p> + +<p>"The <i>Flying Fish</i> actually surpasses all Jules Verne's creations; with +incredible speed she flies through the air, skims over the surface of +the water, and darts along the ocean bed. We strongly recommend our +school-boy friends to possess themselves of her log."—<i>Athenæum</i>.</p> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>BY DR. GORDON STABLES.</h2> + + +<p><b>Westward With Columbus.</b> By <span class="smcap">Gordon Stables, m.d., c.m.</span> With 8 page +Illustrations by <span class="smcap">Alfred Pearse</span>. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, olivine edges, +5<i>s.</i></p> + +<p>"This is quite one of the best books for boys that we have seen this +autumn. It is the duty of every British and American lad to know the +story of Christopher Columbus."—<i>School Guardian</i>.</p> + +<p>"Our author treats his subject in a dignified, historical fashion which +well becomes it, and we must place Westward with Columbus among those +books that all boys ought to read."—<i>The Spectator</i>.</p> + +<p>"Will be greatly in request as a school prize. The tone is healthy, the +characters are lifelike, and the narrative of the great discoverer's +adventures through his chequered career is replete with incidents and +sensational episodes."—<i>Church Review</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>'Twixt School and College:</b> A Tale of Self-reliance. By <span class="smcap">Gordon Stables, +c.m., m.d., r.n.</span> With 8 page Illustrations by <span class="smcap">V. Parkinson.</span> Crown 8vo, +cloth elegant, olivine edges, 5<i>s.</i></p> + +<p>"One of the best of a prolific writer's books for boys, being full of +practical instructions as to keeping pets, from white mice upwards, and +inculcates in a way which a little recalls Miss Edgeworth's 'Frank' the +virtue of self-reliance, though the local colouring of the home of the +Aberdeenshire boy is a good deal more picturesque."—<i>Athenæum</i>.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>BY FRANCES ARMSTRONG.</h2> + + +<p><b>A Fair Claimant:</b> Being a Story for Girls. By <span class="smcap">Frances Armstrong</span>. With 8 +page Illustrations by <span class="smcap">Gertrude D. Hammond</span>. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, +olivine edges, 5<i>s.</i></p> + +<p>"The story is a great success—one of the best tales for girls that we +have seen for some time."—<i>London Quarterly</i>.</p> + +<p>"There is a fascination about this story.... The splendid character of +the heroine, together with the happy manner in which the interest is +sustained to the end, combine to make this one of the most acceptable +gift-books of the season."—<i>Church Review</i>.</p> + +<p>"A story at once strong and sympathetic, a quality rightly esteemed at a +high value by girl readers."—<i>The Quiver</i>.</p> + +<p>"As a gift-book for big girls <i>A Fair Claimant</i> is among the best new +books of the kind. The story is interesting and natural, from first to +last."—<i>Westminster Gazette</i>.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>BY ANNE BEALE.</h2> + + +<p><b>The Heiress of Courtleroy.</b> By <span class="smcap">Anne Beale</span>. With 8 page Illustrations by +<span class="smcap">T. C. H. Castle</span>. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, olivine edges, 5<i>s.</i></p> + +<p>"We can speak highly of the grace with which Miss Beale relates how the +young 'Heiress of Courtleroy' had such good influence over her uncle as +to win him from his intensely selfish ways."—<i>Guardian</i>.</p> + +<p>"In Le Roy we have perhaps the most striking and original creation that +Miss Beale has made. He interests us to the last."—<i>Spectator</i>.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>BY KIRK MUNROE.</h2> + + +<p><b>The White Conquerors of Mexico:</b> A Tale of Toltec and Aztec. By <span class="smcap">Kirk +Munroe</span>. With 8 page Illustrations by <span class="smcap">W. S. Stacey</span>. Crown 8vo, cloth +elegant, olivine edges, 5<i>s.</i></p> + +<p>"Mr. Munroe gives most vivid pictures of the religious and civil polity +of the Aztecs, and of everyday life, as he imagines it, in the streets +and market-places of the magnificent capital of Montezuma."—<i>The +Times</i>.</p> + +<p>"There are, in truth, fine scenes in this narrative and stirring deeds; +heroism and self-sacrifice as well as cunning cruelty. The story runs +along the true lines of the ideal story for the young."—<i>Educational +Review</i>.</p> + +<p>"The reader becomes carried away by conflicting emotions of wonder and +sympathy, and feels compelled to pursue the story, which he cannot lay +down. No present can be more acceptable than such a volume as this, +where courage, intrepidity, resource and devotion are so pleasantly +mingled. It is very fully illustrated with pictures worthy of the +book."—<i>The Schoolmaster</i>.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><b>With the Sea Kings:</b> A Story of the Days of Lord Nelson. By <span class="smcap">F. H. Winder</span>. +With 6 page Illustrations by <span class="smcap">W. S. Stacey</span>. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, +4<i>s.</i></p> + +<p>"A really good story, and boys will like it."—<i>The Spectator</i>.</p> + +<p>"Just the book to put into a boy's hands. Every chapter contains +boardings, cuttings out, fighting pirates, escapes of thrilling +audacity, and captures by corsairs, sufficient to turn the quietest +boy's head. The story culminates in a vigorous account of the battle of +Trafalgar, as seen from the <i>Victory</i>. Happy boys!"—<i>The Academy</i>.</p> + +<p>"Is brimming over with realistic adventure. There is 'derring-do' enough +here for half a dozen volumes, and there is just that spice of history +in the book which adds interest to a narrative."—<i>Daily Chronicle</i>.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>BY F. FRANKFORT MOORE.</h2> + + +<p><b>Highways and High Seas:</b> Cyril Harley's Adventures on both. By <span class="smcap">F. +Frankfort Moore</span>. With 8 page Illustrations by <span class="smcap">Alfred Pearse</span>. Crown 8vo, +cloth elegant, olivine edges, 5<i>s.</i></p> + +<p>"This is one of the best stories Mr. Moore has written, perhaps the very +best. The exciting adventures among highwaymen and privateers are sure +to attract boys."—<i>Spectator</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>Under Hatches:</b> Or, Ned Woodthorpe's Adventures. By <span class="smcap">F. Frankfort Moore</span>. +With 8 page Illustrations by <span class="smcap">A. Forestier.</span> Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, +olivine edges, 5<i>s.</i></p> + +<p>"The story as a story is one that will just suit boys all the world +over. The characters are well drawn and consistent; Patsy, the Irish +steward, will be found especially amusing."—<i>Schoolmaster</i>.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><b>Giannetta:</b> A Girl's Story of Herself. By <span class="smcap">Rosa Mulholland.</span> With 8 page +Illustrations by <span class="smcap">Lockhart Bogle.</span> Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, olivine +edges, 5<i>s.</i></p> + +<p>"Giannetta is a true heroine—warm-hearted, self-sacrificing, and, as +all good women nowadays are, largely touched with the enthusiasm of +humanity. One of the most attractive gift-books of the season."—<i>The +Academy</i>.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>BY J. M. CALLWELL.</h2> + + +<p><b>A Champion of the Faith:</b> A Tale of Prince Hal and the Lollards. By <span class="smcap">J. M. +Callwell.</span> With 6 page Illustrations by <span class="smcap">Herbert J. Draper.</span> Crown 8vo, +cloth elegant, 4<i>s.</i></p> + +<p>"A capital specimen of a historical tale, and a well-told chapter in +English life and manners in the days of Henry of Bolingbroke and his +soldier-son."—<i>The Spectator</i>.</p> + +<p>"Will not be less enjoyed than Mr. Henty's books. Sir John Oldcastle's +pathetic story, and the history of his brave young squire will make +every boy enjoy this lively story."—<i>London Quarterly</i>.</p> + +<p>"The book is intensely interesting, exceedingly well written, and very +well illustrated.... The character of Lord Cobham, who suffered +martyrdom for the faith at the hands of his greatest friend, is +beautifully drawn."—<i>Winter's Weekly</i>.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>BY ALICE CORKRAN.</h2> + + +<p><b>Meg's Friend.</b> By <span class="smcap">Alice Corkran.</span> With 6 page Illustrations by <span class="smcap">Robert +Fowler.</span> Crown 8vo, cloth extra, 3<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i></p> + +<p>"One of Miss Corkran's charming books for girls, narrated in that simple +and picturesque style which marks the authoress as one of the first +amongst writers for young people."—<i>The Spectator</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>Margery Merton's Girlhood.</b> By <span class="smcap">Alice Corkran.</span> With 6 page Pictures by +<span class="smcap">Gordon Browne.</span> Cr. 8vo, cloth extra, 3<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i></p> + +<p>"Another book for girls we can warmly commend. There is a delightful +piquancy in the experiences and trials of a young English girl who +studies painting in Paris."—<i>Saturday Review</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>Down the Snow Stairs:</b> Or, From Good-night to Good-morning. By <span class="smcap">Alice +Corkran.</span> With 60 Illustrations by <span class="smcap">Gordon Browne.</span> Crown 8vo, cloth +elegant, olivine edges, 3<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i></p> + +<p>"A fascinating wonder-book for children."—<i>Athenæum</i>.</p> + +<p>"A gem of the first water, bearing upon every page the mark of genius. +It is indeed a Little Pilgrim's Progress."—<i>Christian Leader</i>.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><b>Gold, Gold, in Cariboo:</b> A Story of Adventure in British Columbia. By +<span class="smcap">Clive Phillipps-Wolley.</span> With 6 page Illustrations by <span class="smcap">G. C. Hindley.</span> +Crown 8vo, cloth extra, 3<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i></p> + +<p>"It would be difficult to say too much in favour of <i>Gold, Gold in +Cariboo</i>. We have seldom read a more exciting tale of wild mining +adventure in a singularly inaccessible country. There is a capital plot, +and the interest is sustained to the last page."—<i>The Times</i>.</p> + +<p>"Adventure? there's enough of it here, in all conscience, and the greed +for gold is taken at its true worth from beginning to end. Boys who +learn from it that there are lots of things in this world worth having +besides gold, and even without gold, will have imbibed a lesson 'very +necessary for these times,' and will have had plenty of blood-thrilling +moments."—<i>Daily Chronicle</i>.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>BY SARAH DOUDNEY.</h2> + + +<p><b>Under False Colours:</b> A Story from Two Girls' Lives. By <span class="smcap">Sarah Doudney</span>. +With 6 page Illustrations by <span class="smcap">G. G. Kilburne</span>. <i>New Edition</i>. Crown 8vo, +cloth elegant, 4<i>s.</i></p> + +<p>"Sarah Doudney has no superior as a writer of high-toned stories—pure +in style, original in conception, and with skilfully wrought-out plots; +but we have seen nothing from her pen equal in dramatic energy to this +book."—<i>Christian Leader</i>.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>BY ANNIE E. ARMSTRONG.</h2> + + +<p><b>Three Bright Girls:</b> A Story of Chance and Mischance. By <span class="smcap">Annie E. +Armstrong</span>. With 6 page Illustrations by <span class="smcap">W. Parkinson</span>. Crown 8vo, cloth +elegant, 3<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i></p> + +<p>"Among many good stories for girls this is undoubtedly one of the very +best. The three girls whose portraits are so admirably painted are girls +of earnest, practical, and business-like mood. Ever bright and cheerful, +they influence other lives, and at last they come out of their trials +and difficulties with honour to themselves and benefits to all about +them."—<i>Teachers' Aid</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>A Very Odd Girl:</b> or, Life at the Gabled Farm. By <span class="smcap">Annie E. Armstrong</span>. +With 6 page Illustrations by <span class="smcap">S. T. Dadd</span>. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, 3<i>s.</i> +6<i>d.</i></p> + +<p>"The book is one we can heartily recommend, for it is not only bright +and interesting, but also pure and healthy in tone and teaching."—<i>The +Lady</i>.</p> + +<p>"The doings of the heroine at the Gabled Farm are amusing in the +extreme, and her escapades are always bringing her into trouble. Vera is +a fine character, however, and our girls will all be the better for +making her acquaintance."—<i>Teachers' Aid</i>.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>BY EDGAR PICKERING.</h2> + + +<p><b>An Old-Time Yarn:</b> Wherein is set forth divers desperate mischances which +befell Anthony Ingram and his shipmates in the West Indies and Mexico +with Hawkins and Drake. By <span class="smcap">Edgar Pickering</span>. Illustrated with 6 page +Pictures drawn by <span class="smcap">Alfred Pearse</span>. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, 3<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i></p> + +<p>"And a very good yarn it is, with not a dull page from first to last. +There is a flavour of <i>Westward Ho!</i> in this attractive +book."—<i>Educational Review</i>.</p> + +<p>"An excellent story of adventure. Especially good is the description of +Mexico and of the dungeons of the Inquisition, while Don Diego Polo is a +delightful mixture of bravery and humour, and his rescue of the +unfortunate prisoners is told with great spirit. The book is thoroughly +to be recommended."—<i>Guardian</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>Silas Verney:</b> A Tale of the Time of Charles II. By <span class="smcap">Edgar Pickering</span>. With +6 page Illustrations by <span class="smcap">Alfred Pearse</span>. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, 3<i>s.</i> +6<i>d.</i></p> + +<p>"Wonderful as the adventures of Silas are, it must be admitted that they +are very naturally worked out and very plausibly presented. Altogether +this is an excellent story for boys."—<i>Saturday Review</i>.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>BY C. J. HYNE.</h2> + + +<p><b>The Captured Cruiser:</b> or, Two Years from Land. By <span class="smcap">C. J. Hyne</span>. With 6 +page Illustrations by <span class="smcap">Frank Brangwyn</span>. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, 3<i>s.</i> +6<i>d.</i></p> + +<p>"It is altogether a capital story, well illustrated."—<i>Saturday +Review</i>.</p> + +<p>"The two lads and the two skippers are admirably drawn. Mr. Hyne has now +secured a position in the first rank of writers of fiction for +boys."—<i>Spectator</i>.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><b>Afloat at Last:</b> A Sailor Boy's Log of his Life at Sea. By <span class="smcap">John C. +Hutcheson</span>. With 6 page Illustrations by <span class="smcap">W. H. Overend</span>. Crown 8vo, cloth +elegant, 3<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i></p> + +<p>"As healthy and breezy a book as one could wish to put into the hands of +a boy."—<i>Academy</i>.</p> + +<p>"A tale of seafaring life told with fire and enthusiasm, full of +spirited incident and well-drawn character."—<i>Observer</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>Picked Up at Sea:</b> Or, The Gold Miners of Minturne Creek. By <span class="smcap">J. C. +Hutcheson</span>. With 6 page Pictures. Cloth extra, 3<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i></p> + +<p>"The author's success with this book is so marked that it may well +encourage him to further efforts. The description of mining life in the +Far West is true and accurate."—<i>Standard</i>.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><b>Sir Walter's Ward:</b> A Tale of the Crusades. By <span class="smcap">William Everard</span>. With 6 +page Illustrations by <span class="smcap">Walter Paget</span>. Crown 8vo, cloth extra, 3<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i></p> + +<p>"This book will prove a very acceptable present either to boys or girls. +Both alike will take an interest in the career of Dodo, in spite of his +unheroic name, and follow him through his numerous and exciting +adventures."—<i>Academy</i>.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><b>Brother and Sister:</b> Or, The Trials of the Moore Family. By <span class="smcap">Elizabeth J. +Lysaght</span>. With 6 page Illustrations. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, 3<i>s.</i> +6<i>d.</i></p> + +<p>"A pretty story, and well told. The plot is cleverly constructed, and +the moral is excellent."—<i>Athenæum</i>.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><b>The Search for the Talisman:</b> A Story of Labrador. By <span class="smcap">Henry Frith</span>. With 6 +page Illustrations by <span class="smcap">J. Schönberg</span>. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, 3<i>s.</i> +6<i>d.</i></p> + +<p>"Mr. Frith's volume will be among those most read and highest valued. +The adventures among seals, whales, and icebergs in Labrador will +delight many a young reader."—<i>Pall Mall Gazette</i>.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><b>Reefer and Rifleman:</b> A Tale of the Two Services. By <span class="smcap">J. Percy-Groves</span>, +late 27th Inniskillings. With 6 page Illustrations by <span class="smcap">John Schönberg</span>. +Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, 3<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i></p> + +<p>"A good, old-fashioned, amphibious story of our fighting with the +Frenchmen in the beginning of our century, with a fair sprinkling of fun +and frolic."—<i>Times</i>.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>BY CAROLINE AUSTIN.</h2> + + +<p><b>Cousin Geoffrey and I.</b> By <span class="smcap">Caroline Austin</span>. With 6 page Illustrations by +<span class="smcap">W. Parkinson</span>. Cr. 8vo, cloth extra, 3<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i></p> + +<p>"Miss Austin's story is bright, clever, and well developed."—<i>Saturday +Review</i>.</p> + +<p>"A powerfully written and realistic story of girl life.... The tone of +the book is pure and good."—<i>Practical Teacher</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>Hugh Herbert's Inheritance.</b> By <span class="smcap">Caroline Austin</span>. With 6 page +Illustrations by <span class="smcap">C. T. Garland</span>. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, 3<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i></p> + +<p>"Will please by its simplicity, its tenderness, and its healthy +interesting motive. It is admirably written."—<i>Scotsman</i>.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><b>Storied Holidays:</b> A Cycle of Red-letter Days. By <span class="smcap">E. S. Brooks</span>. With 12 +page Illustrations by <span class="smcap">Howard Pyle</span>. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, 3<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i></p> + +<p>"It is a downright good book for a senior boy, and is eminently readable +from first to last."—<i>Schoolmaster</i>.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><b>Chivalric Days:</b> Stories of Courtesy and Courage in the Olden Times. By +<span class="smcap">E. S. Brooks</span>. With 20 Illustrations by <span class="smcap">Gordon Browne</span> and other Artists. +Crown 8vo, cloth extra, 3<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i></p> + +<p>"We have seldom come across a prettier collection of tales. These +charming stories of boys and girls of olden days are no mere fictitious +or imaginary sketches, but are real and actual records of their sayings +and doings."—<i>Literary World</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>Historic Boys:</b> Their Endeavours, their Achievements, and their Times. By +<span class="smcap">E. S. Brooks</span>. With 12 page Illustrations by <span class="smcap">R. B. Birch</span> and <span class="smcap">John +Schönberg</span>. Crown 8vo, cloth extra, 3<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i></p> + +<p>"A wholesome book, manly in tone, its character sketches enlivened by +brisk dialogue and high-class illustrations; altogether one that should +incite boys to further acquaintance with those rulers of men whose +careers are narrated. We advise teachers to put it on their list of +prizes."—<i>Knowledge</i>.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><b>Dr. Jolliffe's Boys:</b> A Tale of Weston School. By <span class="smcap">Lewis Hough</span>. With 6 +page Pictures. Crown 8vo, cloth extra, 3<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i></p> + +<p>"Young people who appreciate <i>Tom Brown's School-days</i> will find this +story a worthy companion to that fascinating book. There is the same +manliness of tone, truthfulness of outline, avoidance of exaggeration +and caricature, and healthy morality as characterized the masterpiece of +Mr. Hughes."—<i>Newcastle Journal</i>.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><b>The Bubbling Teapot.</b> A Wonder Story. By Mrs. <span class="smcap">L. W. Champney</span>. With 12 +page Pictures by <span class="smcap">Walter Satterlee</span>. Crown 8vo, cloth extra, 3<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i></p> + +<p>"Very literally a 'wonder story,' and a wild and fanciful one. +Nevertheless it is made realistic enough, and there is a good deal of +information to be gained from it. The steam from the magic teapot +bubbles up into a girl, and the little girl, when the fancy takes her, +can cry herself back into a teapot. Transformed and enchanted she makes +the tour of the globe."—<i>The Times</i>.</p> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>BY JENNETT HUMPHREYS.</h2> + + +<p><b>Laugh and Learn:</b> The Easiest Book of Nursery Lessons and Nursery Games. +By <span class="smcap">Jennett Humphreys</span>. Profusely Illustrated. Square 8vo, cloth extra, +3<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i></p> + +<p>"<i>Laugh and Learn</i> instructs and amuses; it is the very book for a wet +day in the nursery, for besides solid instruction, admirably given, it +contains numberless games and contrivances, with useful and amusing +illustrations. The musical drill is remarkably good."—<i>Athenæum</i>.</p> + +<p>"One of the best books of the kind imaginable, full of practical +teaching in word and picture, and helping the little ones pleasantly +along a right royal road to learning."—<i>Graphic</i>.</p> + +<p>"Every mother of children should have <i>Laugh and Learn</i>, and go through +with them the excellent course it contains."—<i>Journal of Education</i>.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>BY MARY C. ROWSELL.</h2> + + +<p><b>Thorndyke Manor:</b> A Tale of Jacobite Times. By <span class="smcap">Mary C. Rowsell</span>. With 6 +page Illustrations by <span class="smcap">L. Leslie Brooke</span>. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, 3<i>s.</i> +6<i>d.</i></p> + +<p>"It is a good story, with plenty of 'go' in it."—<i>Times</i>.</p> + +<p>"Miss Rowsell has never written a more attractive book than <i>Thorndyke +Manor</i>."—<i>Belfast News-Letter</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>Traitor or Patriot?</b> A Tale of the Rye-House Plot. By <span class="smcap">Mary C. Rowsell</span>. +With 6 page Pictures by <span class="smcap">C. O. Murray</span> and <span class="smcap">C. J. Staniland, r.i.</span> Crown +8vo, cloth elegant, 3<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i></p> + +<p>"Here the Rye-House Plot serves as the groundwork for a romantic love +episode, whose true characters are lifelike beings, not dry sticks as in +many historical tales."—<i>Graphic</i>.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><b>Dora:</b> Or, A Girl without a Home. By Mrs. <span class="smcap">R. H. Read</span>. With 6 page +Illustrations. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, 3<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i></p> + +<p>"It is no slight thing, in an age of rubbish, to get a story so pure and +healthy as this."—<i>The Academy</i>.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><b>Life's Daily Ministry:</b> A Story of Everyday Service for Others. By Mrs. +<span class="smcap">E. R. Pitman</span>. With 4 page Illustrations. Crown 8vo, cloth extra, 3<i>s.</i> +6<i>d.</i></p> + +<p>"Shows exquisite touches of a master hand. She depicts in graphic +outline the characteristics of the beautiful and the good in +life."—<i>Christian Union</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>My Governess Life:</b> Or, Earning my Living. By Mrs. <span class="smcap">E. R. Pitman</span>. With 4 +page Illustrations. Crown 8vo, cloth extra, 3<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i></p> + +<p>"Full of sound teaching and bright examples of character."—<i>S.S. +Chronicle</i>.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>BLACKIE'S NEW THREE-SHILLING SERIES.</h2> + +<h3>Beautifully Illustrated and Handsomely Bound.</h3> + + +<h4>NEW VOLUMES.</h4> + + +<p><b>Menhardoc:</b> A Story of Cornish Nets and Mines. By <span class="smcap">G. Manville Fenn.</span> With +6 page Illustrations by <span class="smcap">C. J. Staniland, r.i.</span> <i>New Edition</i>. Crown 8vo, +cloth extra, 3<i>s.</i></p> + +<p>"They are real living boys, with their virtues and faults. The Cornish +fishermen are drawn from life, they are racy of the soil, salt with the +sea-water, and they stand out from the pages in their jerseys and +sea-boots all sprinkled with silvery pilchard scales."—<i>Spectator</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>Yussuff the Guide:</b> Or, The Mountain Bandits. A Story of Strange +Adventure in Asia Minor. By <span class="smcap">G. Manville Fenn</span>. With 6 page Illustrations +by <span class="smcap">J. Schönberg</span>. <i>New Edition</i>. Crown 8vo, cloth extra, 3<i>s.</i></p> + +<p>"This story is told with such real freshness and vigour that the reader +feels he is actually one of the party, sharing in the fun and facing the +dangers with them."—<i>Pall Mall Gazette</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>Robinson Crusoe.</b> With 100 Illustrations by <span class="smcap">Gordon Browne</span>. <i>New Edition</i>. +Crown 8vo, cloth extra, 3<i>s.</i></p> + +<p>"One of the best issues, if not absolutely the best, of Defoe's work +which has ever appeared."—<i>The Standard</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>Gulliver's Travels.</b> With 100 Illustrations by <span class="smcap">Gordon Browne</span>. <i>New +Edition</i>. Crown 8vo, cloth extra, 3<i>s.</i></p> + +<p>"Mr. Gordon Browne is, to my thinking, incomparably the most artistic, +spirited, and brilliant of our illustrators of books for boys, and one +of the most humorous also, as his illustrations of 'Gulliver' amply +testify."—<i>Truth</i>.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><b>Patience Wins:</b> or, War in the Works. By <span class="smcap">George Manville Fenn</span>. With 6 +page Illustrations. Cr. 8vo, cloth extra, 3<i>s.</i></p> + +<p>"Mr. Fenn has never hit upon a happier plan than in writing this story +of Yorkshire factory life. The whole book is all aglow with life, the +scenes varying continually with kaleidoscopic rapidity."—<i>Pall Mall +Gazette</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>Mother Carey's Chicken:</b> Her Voyage to the Unknown Isle. By <span class="smcap">G. Manville +Fenn</span>. With 6 page Illustrations by <span class="smcap">A. Forestier</span>. Crown 8vo, cloth extra, +3<i>s.</i></p> + +<p>"Undoubtedly one of the best Mr. Fenn has written. The incidents are of +thrilling interest, while the characters are drawn with a care and +completeness rarely found in a boys' book. The illustrations are +exceptionally good."—<i>Literary World</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>The Missing Merchantman.</b> By <span class="smcap">Harry Collingwood</span>. With 6 page Illustrations +by <span class="smcap">W. H. Overend</span>. Crown 8vo, cloth extra, 3<i>s.</i></p> + +<p>"One of the author's best sea stories. The hero is as heroic as any boy +could desire, and the ending is extremely happy."—<i>British Weekly</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>The Rover's Secret:</b> A Tale of the Pirate Cays and Lagoons of Cuba. By +<span class="smcap">Harry Collingwood</span>. With 6 page Illustrations by <span class="smcap">W. C. Symons</span>. Crown 8vo, +cloth elegant, 3<i>s.</i></p> + +<p>"<i>The Rover's Secret</i> is by far the best sea story we have read for +years, and is certain to give unalloyed pleasure to boys. The +illustrations are fresh and vigorous."—<i>Saturday Review</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>The Wigwam and the War-path:</b> Stories of the Red Indians. By <span class="smcap">Ascott R. +Hope</span>. With 6 page Illustrations. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, 3<i>s.</i></p> + +<p>"Is notably good. It gives a very vivid picture of life among the +Indians, which will delight the heart of many a +schoolboy."—<i>Spectator</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>Perseverance Island:</b> or, The Robinson Crusoe of the 19th Century. By +<span class="smcap">Douglas Frazar</span>. With 6 page Illustrations. Crown 8vo, cloth extra, 3<i>s.</i></p> + +<p>"This is an interesting story, written with studied simplicity of style, +much in Defoe's vein of apparent sincerity and scrupulous veracity; +while for practical instruction it is even better than Robinson +Crusoe."—<i>Illustrated London News</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>Girl Neighbours:</b> or, The Old Fashion and the New. By <span class="smcap">Sarah Tytler</span>. With +6 page Illustrations by <span class="smcap">C. T. Garland</span>. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, 3<i>s.</i></p> + +<p>"One of the most effective and quietly humorous of Miss Sarah Tytler's +stories <i>Girl Neighbours</i> is very healthy, very agreeable, and very well +written."—<i>The Spectator</i>.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>BLACKIE'S HALF-CROWN SERIES.</h2> + +<h3>Illustrated by eminent Artists. In crown 8vo, cloth elegant.</h3> + + +<p><b>Nicola:</b> The Career of a Girl Musician. By <span class="smcap">M. Corbet-Seymour</span>. Illustrated +by <span class="smcap">Gertrude D. Hammond</span>.</p> + +<p>"There is a great deal of quiet force and strength about the story, and +a kindly and good-hearted spirit pervading the whole which makes it +exceedingly pleasant reading. I can thoroughly and heartily recommend +<i>Nicola</i> as a present for girls."—<i>Winter's Weekly</i>.</p> + +<p>"The moral tone of the story is exceptionally high, and the book would +be a boon to a girl who has, or fancies she has, a career before +her."—<i>Practical Teacher</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>A Little Handful.</b> By <span class="smcap">Harriet J. Scripps</span>. Illustrated by <span class="smcap">L. Leslie +Brooke</span>.</p> + +<p>"A very charming picture of a bright, lovable, mischievous boy, who +hails from the New World. Every page will afford extreme pleasure and +amusement to all children, and those who love them."—<i>School Guardian</i>.</p> + +<p>"He is a real type of a boy, a few of whom we have known, and do know, +who, under proper guidance, help to make a nation great."—<i>The +Schoolmaster</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>A Golden Age:</b> A Story of Four Merry Children. By <span class="smcap">Ismay Thorn</span>. +Illustrated by <span class="smcap">Gordon Browne</span>. <i>New Edition</i>.</p> + +<p>"Ismay Thorn has a genuine love for children.... <i>A Golden Age</i> ought to +have a place of honour on the nursery shelf."—<i>The Athenæum</i>.</p> + +<p>"This 'story of four merry children' is distinguished by its charming +realization of the quaintness and oddity and merriness of children, by +its romantic, almost sentimental, pathos, and by its crisp, fluent +style."—<i>The Academy</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>A Rough Road:</b> or, How the Boy Made a Man of Himself. By Mrs. <span class="smcap">G. Linnæus +Banks</span>. Illustrated by <span class="smcap">Alfred Pearse</span>.</p> + +<p>"Mrs. Linnæus Banks has not written a better book than <i>A Rough +Road</i>."—<i>Spectator</i>.</p> + +<p>"Told with much simple force and that charm which belongs to one who has +known herself what a rough road is, and how to traverse it."—<i>Winter's +Weekly</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>The Two Dorothys:</b> A Tale for Girls. By Mrs. <span class="smcap">Herbert Martin</span>. Illustrated +by <span class="smcap">Gordon Browne</span>.</p> + +<p>"A book that will not only interest and please all girls, but will also, +from its pure but unostentatious teaching, stimulate and encourage to +better and higher things, youthful hopes, dreams, and ambitions."—<i>The +Lady</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>Penelope and the Others:</b> A Story of Five Country Children. By <span class="smcap">Amy +Walton</span>. Illustrated by <span class="smcap">L. Leslie Brooke</span>.</p> + +<p>"This is a charming book for children. Miss Walton proves herself a +perfect adept in understanding of school-room joys and sorrows, and her +name ought to become a household word amongst our boys and +girls."—<i>Christian Leader</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>A Cruise in Cloudland.</b> By <span class="smcap">Henry Frith</span>.</p> + +<p>"A thoroughly interesting story, especially the part dealing with the +siege of Plevna. There is an excellent sketch of General +Skobeloff."—<i>St. James's Gazette</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>Marian and Dorothy.</b> By <span class="smcap">Annie E. Armstrong</span>.</p> + +<p>"This is distinctively a book for girls. It contains a bright wholesome +story, with the useful morals of industry and forgiveness of injuries. +The book is decidedly to be commended."—<i>Academy</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>Stimson's Reef:</b> A Tale of Adventure. By <span class="smcap">C. J. Hyne</span>.</p> + +<p>"Few stories come within hailing distance of <i>Stimson's Reef</i> in the +matter of startling incidents and hairbreadth 'scapes. In these respects +it may almost vie with Mr. R. L. Stevenson's matchless <i>Treasure +Island</i>."—<i>Guardian</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>Gladys Anstruther.</b> By <span class="smcap">Louisa Thompson</span>.</p> + +<p>"It is a clever book, and some of the passages in the narrative are +novel and striking in the highest degree."—<i>Schoolmistress</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>The Secret of the Old House.</b> By <span class="smcap">Evelyn Everett-Green</span>.</p> + +<p>"Tim, the little Jacobite who asks his grandmother if she can remember +Charles I., is a charming creation. So original a child as Tim must win +the hearts of all who read the pleasant tale."—<i>Academy</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>Hal Hungerford.</b> By <span class="smcap">J. R. Hutchinson, b.a.</span></p> + +<p>"There is no question whatever as to the spirited manner in which the +story is told; the death of the mate of the smuggler by the teeth of the +dog is especially effective. Altogether, Hal Hungerford is a distinct +literary success."—<i>Spectator</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>The Golden Weathercock.</b> By <span class="smcap">Julia Goddard</span>.</p> + +<p>"A cleverly conceived quaint story, in which the golden cock on the +church spire is the recipient of enchanting stories of enchanted people +and places. Full of pretty and ingenious ideas, prettily and ingeniously +written."—<i>Saturday Review</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>White Lilac:</b> Or, The Queen of the May. By <span class="smcap">Amy Walton</span>.</p> + +<p>"Every here and there we are reminded of Mrs. Tulliver and Sister Pullet +in the quaint dialogue of the story.... Every rural parish ought to add +<i>White Lilac</i> to its library."—<i>Academy</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>Miriam's Ambition.</b> By <span class="smcap">Evelyn Everett-Green</span>.</p> + +<p>"Miss Green's children are real British boys and girls, not small men +and women. Babs is a charming little one."—<i>Liverpool Mercury</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>The Brig "Audacious."</b> By <span class="smcap">Alan Cole</span>.</p> + +<p>"Bright and vivacious in style, and fresh and wholesome as a breath of +sea air in tone."—<i>Court Journal</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>The Saucy May.</b> By <span class="smcap">Henry Frith</span>.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Frith gives a new picture of life on the ocean wave which will be +acceptable to all young people."—<i>Sheffield Independent</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>Jasper's Conquest.</b> By <span class="smcap">Elizabeth J. Lysaght</span>.</p> + +<p>"One of the best boys' books of the season. It is full of stirring +adventure and startling episodes, and yet conveys a splendid moral +throughout."—<i>Schoolmaster</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>Little Lady Clare.</b> By <span class="smcap">Evelyn Everett-Green</span>.</p> + +<p>"Certainly one of the prettiest, reminding us in its quaintness and +tender pathos of Mrs. Ewing's delightful tales. This is quite one of the +best stories Miss Green's clever pen has yet given us."—<i>Literary +World</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>The Eversley Secrets.</b> By <span class="smcap">Evelyn Everett-Green</span>.</p> + +<p>"A clever and well-told story. Roy Eversley is a very touching picture +of high principle and unshrinking self-devotion in a good +purpose."—<i>Guardian</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>The Hermit Hunter of the Wilds.</b> By <span class="smcap">G. Stables, r.n.</span></p> + +<p>"Pirates and pumas, mutiny and merriment, a castaway and a cat, furnish +the materials for a tale that will gladden the heart of many a bright +boy."—<i>Methodist Recorder</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>Sturdy and Strong.</b> By <span class="smcap">G. A. Henty</span>.</p> + +<p>"The history of a hero of everyday life, whose love of truth, clothing +of modesty, and innate pluck carry him, naturally, from poverty to +affluence. He stands as a good instance of chivalry in domestic +life."—<i>The Empire</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>Gutta Percha Willie,</b> The Working Genius. By <span class="smcap">George Macdonald</span>.</p> + +<p>"Had we space we would fain quote page after page. All we have room to +say is, get it for your boys and girls to read for +themselves."—<i>Practical Teacher</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>The War of the Axe:</b> Or, Adventures in South Africa. By <span class="smcap">J. Percy-Groves</span>.</p> + +<p>"The story of their final escape from the Caffres is a marvellous bit of +writing.... The story is well and brilliantly told."—<i>Literary World</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>The Lads of Little Clayton.</b> By <span class="smcap">R. Stead</span>.</p> + +<p>"A capital book for boys. They will learn from its pages what true boy +courage is. They will learn further to avoid all that is petty and mean +if they read the tales aright. They may be read to a class with great +profit."—<i>Schoolmaster</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>Ten Boys</b> who lived on the Road from Long Ago to Now. By <span class="smcap">Jane Andrews</span>. +With 20 Illustrations.</p> + +<p>"The idea of this book is a very happy one, and is admirably carried +out. We have followed the whole course of the work with exquisite +pleasure. Teachers should find it particularly interesting and +suggestive."—<i>Practical Teacher</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>A Waif of the Sea:</b> Or, The Lost Found. By <span class="smcap">Kate Wood</span>.</p> + +<p>"Written with tenderness and grace, the story will appeal to mothers who +have felt the pain of being parted from their children, as powerfully as +to the hearts and sympathies of younger readers."—<i>Morning Advertiser</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>Winnie's Secret:</b> A Story of Faith and Patience. By <span class="smcap">Kate Wood</span>.</p> + +<p>"One of the best story-books we have read. Girls will be charmed with +the tale, and delighted that everything turns out so +well."—<i>Schoolmaster</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>Miss Willowburn's Offer.</b> By <span class="smcap">Sarah Doudney</span>.</p> + +<p>"Patience Willowburn is one of Miss Doudney's best creations, and is the +one personality in the story which can be said to give it the character +of a book not for young ladies but for girls."—<i>Spectator</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>A Garland for Girls.</b> By <span class="smcap">Louisa M. Alcott</span>.</p> + +<p>"The <i>Garland</i> will delight our girls, and show them how to make their +lives fragrant with good deeds."—<i>British Weekly</i>.</p> + +<p>"These little tales are the beau ideal of girls' stories."—<i>Christian +World</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>Hetty Gray:</b> Or, Nobody's Bairn. By <span class="smcap">Rosa Mulholland</span>.</p> + +<p>"A charming story for young folks. Hetty is a delightful +creature—piquant, tender, and true—and her varying fortunes are +perfectly realistic."—<span class="smcap">World</span>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>Brothers in Arms:</b> A Story of the Crusades. By <span class="smcap">F. Bayford Harrison</span>.</p> + +<p>"Full of striking incident, is very fairly illustrated, and may safely +be chosen as sure to prove interesting to young people of both +sexes."—<i>Guardian</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>The Ball of Fortune:</b> Or, Ned Somerset's Inheritance. By <span class="smcap">Charles Pearce</span>.</p> + +<p>"A capital story for boys. It is simply and brightly written. There is +plenty of incident, and the interest is sustained throughout."—<i>Journal +of Education</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>Miss Fenwick's Failures:</b> Or, "Peggy Pepper-Pot." By <span class="smcap">Esmé Stuart</span>.</p> + +<p>"Esmé Stuart may be commended for producing a girl true to real life, +who will put no nonsense into young heads."—<i>Graphic</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>Gytha's Message:</b> A Tale of Saxon England. By <span class="smcap">Emma Leslie</span>.</p> + +<p>"This is a charmingly told story. It is the sort of book that all girls +and some boys like, and can only get good from."—<i>Journal of +Education</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>Jack o' Lanthorn:</b> A Tale of Adventure. By <span class="smcap">Henry Frith</span>.</p> + +<p>"The narrative is crushed full of stirring incident, and is sure to be a +prime favourite with our boys, who will be assisted by it in mastering a +sufficiently exciting chapter in the history of England."—<i>Christian +Leader</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>The Family Failing.</b> By <span class="smcap">Darley Dale</span>.</p> + +<p>"At once an amusing and an interesting story, and a capital lesson on +the value of contentedness to young and old alike."—<i>Aberdeen Journal</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>My Mistress the Queen:</b> A Tale of the 17th Century. By <span class="smcap">M. A. Paull</span>.</p> + +<p>"The style is pure and graceful, the presentation of manners and +character has been well studied, and the story is full of +interest."—<i>Scotsman</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>The Stories of Wasa and Menzikoff:</b> The Deliverer of Sweden, and the +Favourite of Czar Peter.</p> + +<p>"Both are stories worth telling more than once, and it is a happy +thought to have put them side by side."—<i>Spectator</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>Stories of the Sea in Former Days.</b></p> + +<p>"Next to an original sea-tale of sustained interest come well-sketched +collections of maritime peril and suffering which awaken the sympathies +by the realism of fact. <i>Stories of the Sea</i> are a very good specimen of +the kind."—<i>The Times</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>Tales of Captivity and Exile.</b></p> + +<p>"It would be difficult to place in the hands of young people a book +which combines interest and instruction in a higher +degree."—<i>Manchester Courier</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>Famous Discoveries by Sea and Land.</b></p> + +<p>"Such a volume may providentially stir up some youths by the divine fire +kindled by these 'great of old' to lay open other lands."—<i>Perth +Advertiser</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>Stirring Events of History.</b></p> + +<p>"The volume will fairly hold its place among those which make the +smaller ways of history pleasant and attractive."—<i>Guardian</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>Adventures in Field, Flood, and Forest.</b></p> + +<p>"The editor has beyond all question succeeded admirably. The present +book cannot fail to be read with interest and advantage."—<i>Academy</i>.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>BLACKIE'S TWO-SHILLING SERIES.</h2> + +<h3>Illustrated by eminent Artists. In crown 8vo, cloth elegant.</h3> + + +<h4><i>NEW VOLUMES.</i></h4> + + +<p><b>Queen ff the Daffodils:</b> A Story of High School Life. By <span class="smcap">Leslie Laing</span>. +Illustrated by W. <span class="smcap">Parkinson</span>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>Raff's Ranche:</b> A Story of Adventure among Cowboys and Indians. By <span class="smcap">F. M. +Holmes</span>. Illustrated by <span class="smcap">Paul Hardy</span>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>An Unexpected Hero.</b> By <span class="smcap">Eliz. J. Lysaght</span>.</p> + +<p>"Among the very best of the series is, <i>An Unexpected Hero</i>. There is +abundance of pleasant incident and skilful character +delineation."—<i>Freeman's Jour</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>The Bushranger's Secret.</b> By Mrs. <span class="smcap">Henry Clarke, m.a</span>.</p> + +<p>"One of the best stories we have had of the Australian bush, with a good +plot, an action always good, and rising into dramatic intensity at +times."—<i>Spectator</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>The White Squall.</b> By <span class="smcap">John C. Hutcheson</span>.</p> + +<p>"This is a capital story. The descriptions of scenery and places, and +especially of the changes of calm and tempest, are lifelike and +vivid."—<i>Standard</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>The Wreck of the "Nancy Bell."</b> By <span class="smcap">J. C. Hutcheson</span>.</p> + +<p>"The narrative is full of excitement and interest; it cannot fail to +develop resource, and encourage independence and manliness of +character."—<i>Academy</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>The Lonely Pyramid.</b> By <span class="smcap">J. H. Yoxall</span>.</p> + +<p>"It is full of wild surprises and marvels. The Pyramid alone is a +fascinating invention, and the 'lost oasis of the vision on the sand' is +even more delightful."—<i>Saturday Review</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>Bab:</b> or, The Triumph of Unselfishness. By <span class="smcap">Ismay Thorn</span>.</p> + +<p>"<i>Bab</i> is a capital story for children, who will be much amused by the +picture on the cover of the worthy doll Jocasta."—<i>Athenæum</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>Climbing the Hill,</b> and other Stories. By <span class="smcap">Annie S. Swan</span>.</p> + +<p>"Miss Annie Swan's children <i>are</i> children, and not old people +masquerading in children's attire. This volume of tales is made up of +just the kind of incidents of which children love to read."—<i>Christian +Leader</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>Brave and True,</b> and other Stories. By <span class="smcap">Gregson Gow</span>.</p> + +<p>"This is one of those very few volumes which are adapted for reading +aloud to children in the nursery."—<i>Spectator</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>The Light Princess.</b> By <span class="smcap">George Macdonald</span>.</p> + +<p>"Graceful, fantastic, delicately didactic in its playfulness, this +volume is likely to give as much pleasure to the elder folk as to the +younger."—<i>Daily News</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>Nutbrown Roger and I.</b> By <span class="smcap">J. H. Yoxall</span>.</p> + +<p>"The pictures of manners is perfect, the excitement, of the healthiest +kind, goes on increasing to the last. It is one of the very best and +most delightful story-books of the season."—<i>Tablet</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>Warner's Chase:</b> Or, The Gentle Heart. By <span class="smcap">Annie S. Swan</span>.</p> + +<p>"In Milly Warren, the heroine, who softens the hard heart of her rich +uncle, and thus unwittingly restores the family fortunes, we have a fine +ideal of real womanly goodness."—<i>Schoolmaster</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>Sam Silvan's Sacrifice.</b> By <span class="smcap">Jesse Colman</span>.</p> + +<p>"There is a spirit of gentleness, kindliness, and tenderness manifest in +every page of this volume, which will make it an influence for +good."—<i>Christian Union</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>Insect Ways on Summer Days</b> in Garden, Forest, Field, and Stream. By +<span class="smcap">Jennett Humphreys</span>. With 70 Illustrations.</p> + +<p>"This book will prove not only instructive but delightful to every child +whose mind is beginning to inquire and reflect upon the wonders of +nature. It is capitally illustrated and very tastefully +bound."—<i>Academy</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>Susan.</b> By <span class="smcap">Amy Walton</span>.</p> + +<p>"A clever little story, written with some humour. The authoress shows a +great deal of insight into children's feelings and motives."—<i>Pall Mall +Gazette</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>A Pair of Clogs.</b> By <span class="smcap">Amy Walton</span>.</p> + +<p>"Decidedly interesting, and unusually true to nature. For children +between nine and fourteen this book can be thoroughly +commended."—<i>Academy</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>The Hawthorns.</b> By <span class="smcap">Amy Walton</span>.</p> + +<p>"A remarkably vivid and clever study of child-life. At this species of +work Amy Walton has no superior."—<i>Christian Leader</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>Dorothy's Dilemma.</b> By <span class="smcap">Caroline Austin</span>.</p> + +<p>"An exceptionally well-told story, and will be warmly welcomed by +children. The little heroine, Dorothy, is a charming creation."—<i>Court +Journal</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>Marie's Home.</b> By <span class="smcap">Caroline Austin</span>.</p> + +<p>"An exquisitely told story. The heroine is as fine a type of girlhood as +one could wish to set before our little British damsels of +to-day."—<i>Christian Leader</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>A Warrior King.</b> By <span class="smcap">J. Evelyn</span>.</p> + +<p>"The friendship formed between the African Prince and Adrian Englefield +will remind the reader of the old story of the 'wonderful love' which +existed long ago when Jonathan and David made a covenant."—<i>Dundee +Advertiser</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>Aboard the "Atalanta."</b> By <span class="smcap">Henry Frith</span>.</p> + +<p>"The story is very interesting and the descriptions most graphic. We +doubt if any boy after reading it would be tempted to the great mistake +of running away from school under almost any pretext +whatever."—<i>Practical Teacher</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>The Penang Pirate.</b> By <span class="smcap">John C. Hutcheson</span>.</p> + +<p>"A book which boys will thoroughly enjoy: rattling, adventurous, and +romantic, and the stories are thoroughly healthy in tone."—<i>Aberdeen +Journal</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>Teddy:</b> The Story of a "Little Pickle." By <span class="smcap">John C. Hutcheson</span>.</p> + +<p>"He is an amusing little fellow with a rich fund of animal spirits, and +when at length he goes to sea with Uncle Jack he speedily sobers down +under the discipline of life."—<i>Saturday Review</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>A Rash Promise.</b> By <span class="smcap">Cecilia Selby Lowndes</span>.</p> + +<p>"A carefully told story; and Meg Clifford is a delightful and natural +little girl."—<i>Spectator</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>Linda and the Boys.</b> By <span class="smcap">Cecilia Selby Lowndes</span>.</p> + +<p>"The book is essentially a child's book, and will be heartily +appreciated by the young folk."—<i>The Academy</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>Swiss Stories for Children.</b> From the German of <span class="smcap">Madam Johanna Spyri</span>. By +<span class="smcap">Lucy Wheelock</span>.</p> + +<p>"Charming stories. They are rich in local colouring, and, what is +better, in genuine pathos."—<i>The Times</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>The Squire's Grandson:</b> A Devonshire Story. By <span class="smcap">J. M. Callwell</span>.</p> + +<p>"The lessons of courage, filial affection, and devotion to duty on the +part of the young hero cannot fail to favourably impress all young +readers."—<i>Schoolmaster</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>Magna Charta Stories.</b> Edited by <span class="smcap">Arthur Gilman, a.m</span>.</p> + +<p>"A book of special excellence, which ought to be in the hands of all +boys."—<i>Educational News</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>The Wings of Courage;</b> <span class="smcap">and The Cloud-Spinner</span>. Translated from the French +of <span class="smcap">George Sand</span>, by Mrs. <span class="smcap">Corkran</span>.</p> + +<p>"Mrs. Corkran has earned our gratitude by translating into readable +English these two charming little stories."—<i>Athenæum</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>Chirp and Chatter:</b> Or, <span class="smcap">Lessons from Field and Tree</span>. By <span class="smcap">Alice Banks</span>. With +54 Illustrations by <span class="smcap">Gordon Browne</span>.</p> + +<p>"We see the humbling influence of love on the haughty harvest-mouse, we +are touched by the sensibility of the tender-hearted ant, and may profit +by the moral of 'the disobedient maggot.' The drawings are spirited and +funny."—<i>The Times</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>Four Little Mischiefs.</b> By <span class="smcap">Rosa Mulholland</span>.</p> + +<p>"Graphically written, and abounds in touches of genuine humour and +innocent fun."—<i>Freeman</i>.</p> + +<p>"A charming bright story about real children."—<i>Watchman</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>New Light through Old Windows.</b> By <span class="smcap">Gregson Gow</span>.</p> + +<p>"The most delightfully-written little stories one can easily find in the +literature of the season. Well constructed and brightly told."—<i>Glasgow +Herald</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>Little Tottie,</b> and Two Other Stories. By <span class="smcap">Thomas Archer</span>.</p> + +<p>"We can warmly commend all three stories; the book is a most alluring +prize for the younger ones."—<i>Schoolmaster</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>Naughty Miss Bunny.</b> By <span class="smcap">Clara Mulholland</span>.</p> + +<p>"This naughty child is positively delightful. Papas should not omit +<i>Naughty Miss Bunny</i> from their list of juvenile presents."—<i>Land and +Water</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>Adventures of Mrs. Wishing-to-be.</b> By <span class="smcap">Alice Corkran</span>.</p> + +<p>"Simply a charming book for little girls."—<i>Saturday Review</i>.</p> + +<p>"Just in the style and spirit to win the hearts of children."—<i>Daily +News</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>The Joyous Story of Toto.</b> By <span class="smcap">Laura E. Richards</span>.</p> + +<p>"A very delightful book for children, which deserves to find a place in +every nursery."—<i>Lady's Pictorial</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>Our Dolly:</b> Her Words and Ways. By <span class="smcap">Mrs. R. H. Read</span>. 2<i>s.</i></p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><b>Fairy Fancy:</b> What she Heard and Saw. By <span class="smcap">Mrs. Read</span>. 2<i>s.</i></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>BLACKIE'S EIGHTEENPENNY SERIES.</h2> + +<h3>With Illustrations. In crown 8vo, cloth elegant.</h3> + + +<h4><i>NEW VOLUMES.</i></h4> + + +<p><b>A Soldier's Son:</b> The Story of a Boy who Succeeded. By <span class="smcap">Annette Lyster</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Mischief and Merry-making.</b> By <span class="smcap">Isabella Pearson</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Town Mice in the Country:</b> A Story of Holiday Adventure. By M. E. +<span class="smcap">Francis</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Phil and his Father.</b> By <span class="smcap">Ismay Thorn</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Prim's Story.</b> By <span class="smcap">L. E. Tiddeman</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Littlebourne Lock.</b> By <span class="smcap">F. Bayford Harrison</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Wild Meg and Wee Dickie.</b> By <span class="smcap">Mary E. Ropes</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Grannie.</b> By <span class="smcap">Elizabeth J. Lysaght</span>.</p> + +<p><b>The Seed She Sowed.</b> By <span class="smcap">Emma Leslie</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Unlucky:</b> A Fragment of a Girl's Life. By <span class="smcap">Caroline Austin</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Everybody's Business:</b> or a Friend in Need. By <span class="smcap">Ismay Thorn</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Tales of Daring and Danger.</b> By <span class="smcap">G. A. Henty</span>.</p> + +<p><b>The Seven Golden Keys.</b> By <span class="smcap">James E. Arnold</span>.</p> + +<p><b>The Story of a Queen.</b> By <span class="smcap">Mary C. Rowsell</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Edwy:</b> Or, Was he a Coward? By <span class="smcap">Annette Lyster</span>.</p> + +<p><b>The Battlefield Treasure.</b> By F. <span class="smcap">Bayford Harrison</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Joan's Adventures at the North Pole.</b> By <span class="smcap">Alice Corkran</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Filled with Gold.</b> By <span class="smcap">J. Perrett</span></p> + +<p><b>Our General:</b> A Story for Girls. By <span class="smcap">Elizabeth J. Lysaght</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Aunt Hesba's Charge.</b> By <span class="smcap">Elizabeth J. Lysaght</span>.</p> + +<p><b>By Order of Queen Maude:</b> A Story of Home Life. By <span class="smcap">Louisa Crow</span>.</p> + +<p><b>The Late Miss Hollingford.</b> By <span class="smcap">Rosa Mulholland</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Our Frank.</b> By <span class="smcap">Amy Walton</span>.</p> + +<p><b>A Terrible Coward.</b> By <span class="smcap">G. Manville Fenn</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Yarns on the Beach.</b> By <span class="smcap">G. A. Henty</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Tom Finch's Monkey.</b> By <span class="smcap">J. C. Hutcheson</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Miss Grantley's Girls,</b> and the Stories she told them. By <span class="smcap">Thos. Archer</span>.</p> + +<p><b>The Pedlar and his Dog.</b> By <span class="smcap">Mary C. Roswell</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Down and Up Again.</b> By <span class="smcap">Gregson Gow</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Madge's Mistake.</b> By <span class="smcap">Annie E. Armstrong</span>.</p> + +<p><b>The Troubles and Triumphs of Little Tim.</b> By <span class="smcap">Gregson Gow</span>.</p> + +<p><b>The Happy Lad.</b> A Story of Peasant Life in Norway. By <span class="smcap">B. Björnson</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Into the Haven.</b> By <span class="smcap">Annie S. Swan</span>.</p> + +<p><b>A Box of Stories.</b> Packed for Young Folk by <span class="smcap">Horace Happyman</span>.</p> + +<p><b>The Patriot Martyr:</b> Narratives of Female Heroism.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>THE SHILLING SERIES OF JUVENILES.</h2> + +<h3>Square 16mo, Illustrated, and neatly bound in cloth extra.</h3> + +<h4><i>NEW VOLUMES.</i></h4> + + +<p><b>Brave Dorette.</b> By <span class="smcap">Julia Goddard</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Piecrust Promises.</b> By <span class="smcap">W. L. Rooper</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Summer Fun and Frolic.</b> By <span class="smcap">Isabella Pearson</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Little Aunt Dorothy.</b> By <span class="smcap">Jennie Chappell</span>.</p> + +<p><b>The Lost Dog,</b> and other Stories. By <span class="smcap">Ascott R. Hope</span>.</p> + +<p><b>The Rambles of Three Children.</b> By <span class="smcap">Geraldine Mockler</span>.</p> + +<p><b>A Council of Courtiers.</b> By <span class="smcap">Cora Langton</span>.</p> + +<p><b>A Parliament of Pickles.</b> By <span class="smcap">Cora Langton</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Sharp Tommy.</b> By <span class="smcap">E. J. Lysaght</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Adventures of Nell, Eddie, and Toby.</b> By <span class="smcap">Geraldine Mockler</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Freda's Folly.</b> By <span class="smcap">M. S. Haycraft</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Philip Danford:</b> A Story of School Life. By <span class="smcap">Julia Goddard</span>.</p> + +<p><b>The Youngest Princess.</b> By <span class="smcap">Jennie Chappell</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Arthur's Temptation.</b> By <span class="smcap">Emma Leslie</span>.</p> + +<p><b>A Change for the Worse.</b> By <span class="smcap">M. Harriet M. Capes</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Our Two Starlings.</b> By <span class="smcap">C. Redford</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Mr. Lipscombe's Apples.</b> By <span class="smcap">Julia Goddard</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Gladys.</b> By <span class="smcap">E. O'Byrne</span>.</p> + +<p><b>A Gypsy against Her Will.</b> By <span class="smcap">Emma Leslie</span>.</p> + +<p><b>The Castle on the Shore.</b> By <span class="smcap">Isabel Hornibrook</span>.</p> + +<p><b>An Emigrant Boy's Story.</b> By <span class="smcap">Ascott R. Hope</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Jock and his Friend.</b> By <span class="smcap">Cora Langton</span>.</p> + +<p><b>John a'Dale.</b> By <span class="smcap">Mary C. Rowsell</span>.</p> + +<p><b>In the Summer Holidays.</b> By <span class="smcap">Jennett Humphreys</span>.</p> + +<p><b>How the Strike Began.</b> By <span class="smcap">Emma Leslie</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Tales from the Russian of Madame Kubalensky.</b> By <span class="smcap">G. Jenner</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Cinderella's Cousin.</b> By <span class="smcap">Penelope</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Their New Home.</b> By <span class="smcap">A. S. Fenn</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Janie's Holiday.</b> By <span class="smcap">C. Redford</span>.</p> + +<p><b>A Boy Musician:</b> or, The Young Days of Mozart.</p> + +<p><b>Hatto's Tower.</b> By <span class="smcap">M. C. Rowsell</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Fairy Lovebairn's Favourites.</b></p> + +<p><b>Alf Jetsam.</b> By Mrs. <span class="smcap">Geo. Cupples</span>.</p> + +<p><b>The Redfords.</b> By Mrs. <span class="smcap">G. Cupples</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Missy.</b> By <span class="smcap">F. Bayford Harrison</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Hidden Seed.</b> By <span class="smcap">Emma Leslie</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Ursula's Aunt.</b> By <span class="smcap">Annie S. Fenn</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Jack's Two Sovereigns.</b> By <span class="smcap">Annie S. Fenn</span>.</p> + +<p><b>A Little Adventurer.</b> By <span class="smcap">G. Gow</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Olive Mount.</b> By <span class="smcap">Annie S. Fenn</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Three Little Ones.</b> By <span class="smcap">C. Langton</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Tom Watkin's Mistake.</b> By <span class="smcap">Emma Leslie</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Two Little Brothers.</b> By <span class="smcap">M. Harriet M. Capes</span>.</p> + +<p><b>The New Boy at Merriton.</b> By <span class="smcap">Julia Goddard</span>.</p> + +<p><b>The Children of Haycombe.</b> By <span class="smcap">Annie S. Fenn</span>.</p> + +<p><b>The Cruise of the "Petrel."</b> By <span class="smcap">F. M. Holmes</span>.</p> + +<p><b>The Wise Princess.</b> By <span class="smcap">M. Harriet M. Capes</span>.</p> + +<p><b>The Blind Boy of Dresden and his Sister.</b></p> + +<p><b>Jon of Iceland.</b></p> + +<p><b>Stories from Shakespeare.</b></p> + +<p><b>Every Man in his Place.</b></p> + +<p><b>Fireside Fairies and Flower Fancies.</b></p> + +<p><b>To the Sea in Ships.</b></p> + +<p><b>Jack's Victory: Stories about Dogs.</b></p> + +<p><b>The Story of a King.</b></p> + +<p><b>Prince Alexis: or, Old Russia.</b></p> + +<p><b>Little Daniel: A Story of the Rhine.</b></p> + +<p><b>Sasha the Serf: Stories of Russia.</b></p> + +<p><b>True Stories of Foreign History.</b></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>THE NINEPENNY SERIES OF BOOKS FOR CHILDREN.</h2> + +<h3>F'cap 8vo, Illustrated, and neatly bound in cloth extra.</h3> + +<h4><i>NEW VOLUMES.</i></h4> + + +<p><b>A Little English Gentleman.</b> By <span class="smcap">Jane Deakin</span>.</p> + +<p><b>The Doctor's Lass.</b> By <span class="smcap">L. E. Tiddeman</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Spark and I.</b> A Story told by a Cat. By <span class="smcap">Annie Armstrong</span>.</p> + +<p><b>What Hilda Saw.</b> By <span class="smcap">Penelope Leslie</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Little Miss Masterful.</b> By <span class="smcap">L. E. Tiddeman</span>.</p> + +<p><b>A Sprig of Honeysuckle:</b> A Story of Epping Forest. By <span class="smcap">Georgina M. Squire</span>.</p> + +<p><b>An Australian Childhood.</b> By <span class="smcap">Ellen Campbell</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Kitty Carroll.</b> By <span class="smcap">L. E. Tiddeman</span>.</p> + +<p><b>A Joke for a Picnic.</b> By <span class="smcap">W. L. Rooper</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Cross Purposes, and The Shadows.</b> By <span class="smcap">George MacDonald</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Patty's Ideas, and What Came of Them.</b> By <span class="smcap">L. E. Tiddeman</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Daphne:</b> A Story of Self-conquest. By <span class="smcap">E. O'Byrne</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Lily and Rose in One.</b> By <span class="smcap">Cecilia S. Lowndes</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Crowded Out:</b> or, The Story of Lil's Patience. By <span class="smcap">M. B. Manwell</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Tom in a Tangle.</b> By <span class="smcap">T. Sparrow</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Things will Take a Turn.</b> By <span class="smcap">Beatrice Harraden</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Max or Baby.</b> By <span class="smcap">Ismay Thorn</span>.</p> + +<p><b>The Lost Thimble.</b> By Mrs. <span class="smcap">Musgrave</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Jack-a-Dandy.</b> By <span class="smcap">E. J. Lysaght</span>.</p> + +<p><b>A Day of Adventures.</b> By <span class="smcap">Charlotte Wyatt</span>.</p> + +<p><b>The Golden Plums.</b> By <span class="smcap">Francis Clare</span>.</p> + +<p><b>The Queen of Squats.</b> By <span class="smcap">Isabel Hornibrook</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Shucks.</b> By <span class="smcap">Emma Leslie</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Sylvia Brooke.</b> By <span class="smcap">M. Harriet M. Capes</span>.</p> + +<p><b>The Little Cousin.</b> By <span class="smcap">A. S. Fenn</span>.</p> + +<p><b>In Cloudland.</b> By Mrs. <span class="smcap">Musgrave</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Jack and the Gypsies.</b> By <span class="smcap">Kate Wood</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Hans the Painter.</b> By <span class="smcap">Mary C. Rowsell</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Little Troublesome.</b> By <span class="smcap">Isabel Hornibrook</span>.</p> + +<p><b>My Lady May:</b> and One Other Story. By <span class="smcap">Harriet Boultwood</span>.</p> + +<p><b>A Little Hero.</b> By Mrs. <span class="smcap">Musgrave</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Prince Jon's Pilgrimage.</b> By <span class="smcap">Jessie Fleming</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Harold's Ambition:</b> or, A Dream of Fame. By <span class="smcap">Jennie Perrett</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Sepperl the Drummer Boy.</b> By <span class="smcap">Mary C. Rowsell</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Aboard the Mersey.</b> By Mrs. <span class="smcap">George Cupples</span>.</p> + +<p><b>A Blind Pupil.</b> By <span class="smcap">Annie S. Fenn</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Lost and Found.</b> By Mrs. <span class="smcap">Carl Rother</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Fisherman Grim.</b> By <span class="smcap">Mary C. Rowsell</span>.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>SOMETHING FOR THE VERY LITTLE ONES.</h2> + +<h3>Fully Illustrated. 64 pp., cloth. Sixpence each.</h3> + + +<p><b>Tales Easy and Small for the Youngest of All.</b> By <span class="smcap">J. Humphreys</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Old Dick Grey and Aunt Kate's Way.</b> By <span class="smcap">J. Humphreys</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Maud's Doll and Her Walk.</b> By <span class="smcap">J. Humphreys</span>.</p> + +<p><b>In Holiday Time.</b> By <span class="smcap">J. Humphreys</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Whisk and Buzz.</b> By Mrs. <span class="smcap">A. H. Garlick</span>.</p> + + +<p><b>Little Tales for Little Folk.</b> By Miss <span class="smcap">W. L. Rooper</span>. Well Illustrated; +cloth cover; price 2<i>d.</i> each.</p> + +<p style="margin-left: 2em;"> +<b>FRED'S RUN.</b><br /> +<b>NORA'S DARK LOOK.</b><br /> +<b>ELLA'S FALL.</b><br /> +<b>PATTY'S WALK.</b><br /> +<b>HONEST DOLLY.</b><br /> +</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>THE SIXPENNY SERIES FOR CHILDREN.</h2> + +<h3>Neatly bound in cloth extra. Each contains 64 pages and an Illustration.</h3> + +<h4><i>NEW VOLUMES.</i></h4> + + +<p><b>Mrs. Holland's Peaches.</b> By <span class="smcap">Penelope Leslie</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Marjory's White Rat.</b> By <span class="smcap">Penelope Leslie</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Grandmother's Forget-me-nots.</b> By <span class="smcap">Aimée Dawson</span>.</p> + +<p><b>From over the Sea.</b> By <span class="smcap">L. E. Tiddeman</span>.</p> + +<p><b>The Kitchen Cat.</b> By <span class="smcap">Amy Walton</span>.</p> + +<p><b>The Royal Eagle.</b> By <span class="smcap">Louisa Thompson</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Two Little Mice.</b> By Mrs. <span class="smcap">Garlick</span>.</p> + +<p><b>A Little Man of War.</b> By <span class="smcap">L. E. Tiddeman</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Lady Daisy.</b> By <span class="smcap">Caroline Stewart</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Dew.</b> By <span class="smcap">H. Mary Wilson</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Chris's Old Violin.</b> By <span class="smcap">J. Lockhart</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Mischievous Jack.</b> By <span class="smcap">A. Corkran</span>.</p> + +<p><b>The Twins.</b> By <span class="smcap">L. E. Tiddeman</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Pet's Project.</b> By <span class="smcap">Cora Langton</span>.</p> + +<p><b>The Chosen Treat.</b> By <span class="smcap">C. Wyatt</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Little Neighbours.</b> By <span class="smcap">A. S. Fenn</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Jim:</b> A Story of Child Life. By <span class="smcap">Christian Burke</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Little Curiosity.</b> By <span class="smcap">J. M. Callwell</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Sara the Wool-gatherer.</b> By <span class="smcap">W. L. Rooper</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Fairy Stories:</b> told by <span class="smcap">Penelope</span>.</p> + +<p><b>A New Year's Tale.</b> By <span class="smcap">M. A. Currie</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Little Mop.</b> By Mrs. <span class="smcap">Charles Bray</span>.</p> + +<p><b>The Tree Cake,</b> and other Stories. By <span class="smcap">W. L. Rooper</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Nurse Peggy, and Little Dog Trip.</b></p> + +<p><b>Fanny's King.</b> By <span class="smcap">Darley Dale</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Wild Marsh Marigolds.</b> By <span class="smcap">D. Dale</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Kitty's Cousin.</b> By <span class="smcap">Hannah B. Mackenzie</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Cleared at Last.</b> By <span class="smcap">Julia Goddard</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Little Dolly Forbes.</b> By <span class="smcap">Annie S. Fenn</span>.</p> + +<p><b>A Year with Nellie.</b> By <span class="smcap">A. S. Fenn</span>.</p> + +<p><b>The Little Brown Bird.</b></p> + +<p><b>The Maid of Domremy,</b> and other Tales.</p> + +<p><b>Little Eric:</b> a Story of Honesty.</p> + +<p><b>Uncle Ben the Whaler.</b></p> + +<p><b>The Palace of Luxury.</b></p> + +<p><b>The Charcoal Burner.</b></p> + +<p><b>Willy Black:</b> A Story of Doing Right.</p> + +<p><b>The Horse and his Ways.</b></p> + +<p><b>The Shoemaker's Present.</b></p> + +<p><b>Lights to Walk by.</b></p> + +<p><b>The Little Merchant.</b></p> + +<p><b>Nicholina:</b> A Story about an Iceberg.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>A SERIES OF FOURPENNY REWARD BOOKS.</h2> + +<h3>Each 64 pages, 18mo, Illustrated, in Picture Boards.</h3> + + +<p><b>A Start in Life.</b> By <span class="smcap">J. Lockhart</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Happy Childhood.</b> By <span class="smcap">Aimée de Venoix Dawson</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Dorothy's Clock.</b> By <span class="smcap">Do</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Toddy.</b> By <span class="smcap">L. E. Tiddeman</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Stories about my Dolls.</b> By <span class="smcap">Felicia Melancthon</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Stories about my Cat Timothy.</b></p> + +<p><b>Delia's Boots.</b> By <span class="smcap">W. L. Rooper</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Lost on the Rocks.</b> By <span class="smcap">R. Scotter</span>.</p> + +<p><b>A Kitten's Adventures.</b> By <span class="smcap">Caroline Stewart</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Climbing the Hill.</b> By <span class="smcap">Annie S. Swan</span>.</p> + +<p><b>A Year at Coverley.</b> By <span class="smcap">Annie S. Swan</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Phil Foster.</b> By <span class="smcap">J. Lockhart</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Papa's Birthday.</b> By <span class="smcap">W. L. Rooper</span>.</p> + +<p><b>The Charm Fairy.</b> By <span class="smcap">Penelope</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Little Tales for Little Children.</b> By <span class="smcap">M. A. Currie</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Worthy of Trust.</b> By <span class="smcap">H. B. Mackenzie</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Brave and True.</b> By <span class="smcap">Gregson Gow</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Johnnie Tupper's Temptation.</b> <span class="smcap">Do</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Maudie and Bertie.</b></p> + +<p><b>The Children and the Water-Lily.</b> By <span class="smcap">Julia Goddard</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Poor Tom Olliver.</b> By <span class="smcap">Do</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Fritz's Experiment.</b> By <span class="smcap">Letitia M'lintock</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Lucy's Christmas-Box.</b></p> + + +<h4> +<span class="smcap">BLACKIE & SON, Limited</span>,<br /> +LONDON, GLASGOW, EDINBURGH, AND DUBLIN.<br /> +</h4> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Dash for Khartoum, by George Alfred Henty + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE DASH FOR KHARTOUM *** + +***** This file should be named 21986-h.htm or 21986-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/1/9/8/21986/ + +Produced by Taavi Kalju and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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