GIVING ORDERS THROUGH A MEGAPHONE.

THE RECONOUEST OF THE SOUDAN. Sq Mahmoud's camp was already famine-stricken, and that the news of Shendy had produced something like a panic at the Emir's headquarters. But it wasnoticed that they belonged themselves almost withoutexception to the class of slaves andcamp-followers, and were not fighting men, and it is well known in the Soudan that whensupplies are short ina Dervish camp the slave is the first to starve, the soldierbeing fed while anv food is there to be divided. So the obvious misery of these deserters did not quite prove that Mahmoud's warriors were yet reduced to extremities. The Sirdar therefore determined to move up closer to his enemy, where, if he could not tempt him to attack, he would be in a better position to commence active operations against the great Dervish zereba. It was quite true that bv stayinir where he was he could gradually starve Mahmoud out, but his own transport arrangements made the supply of his army a serious matter, and prolonged inactivity in a Soudan camp is a serious trial to even the best of European troops. As to the latter point,long experience proves that thereis always a minimum of sickness while the men are on the move,but during a long halt there is danger of enteric fever developing among the vounger men. As to the former difficulty, he had only about 600 camels working between the fortified store and depot at the junction of the rivers and the advanced camp, and these could just bring up enough for each day as it came. So the word was given to advance to Abadar, and everyone in the Anglo-Egyptian camp hailed the order with delight.

The long waiting was near its end,the wishedfor day of battle and victory was at hand.