THE RECONOUEST OF THE SOUDAN. 65 ormoresmall craft launched on a river running into the Bahr-el-Ghazal,and that there was just achancethatwhentheSirdar reachedKhartoum, and sent hisgunboats up the main stream of the Nile, he wouldbefore long see the French flag flying on its banks. This introduced another element of anxiety into the situation in the Soudan, for the British Government had more than once declared that the whole valley of the Nile belonged to either the Egyptian or the British sphere of influence,and that any advance into the valley from the Congo would be considered as"anunfriendly act."

with an Egyptian battalion, took over Kassala from theItalians. TheEgyptian flag washoisted, and most of the irregular native troops of the old garrison transferred themselves to the Egyptian service. By this time there weresigns of a hostile Dervish movement from Metemneh and Shendy,and Parsons made prompt useof the new base provided byr the possession of Kassala to send an expedition of his irregulars to attack the Dervish postsonthe Upper Atbara, and at the same time to make surethat he would have early information of any attempt of the enemy against the fortress they had so long coveted. In the last days of the year Colonel Parsons BY THE BANKS OF THE ATBARA: MEN OF THE WARWICKSHIRE REGIMENT RESTING ON THE MARCH.

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