144 WITH THE CAMEL CORPS UP THE NILE.

All the wounded were to be left behind, with a certain proportion of stores, and a small garrison of Sussex to defend the wells, the rest to make their way at once to the river. Such were the orders ; so a stone enclosure was begun, and hospital tents set up for those who were to stay.

By 4.30 we were under way, the General having given out that we should only proceed a short distance and then halt for the night. I was bad luck to it !

told off in charge of the regimental stores and baggage, which consisted of seven strings of three camels each, the foremost camel of each string being bestridden by a mongrel nigger. With eight men of the G.C.R. to guard the lot, and plenty of light, it looked easy enough going. I little knew what the night would bring forth.

The track led over a low ridge down on to a huge bare plain, with low scrub and trees just visible in the distance. We expected to reach these, and then halt for the night; but the sun went down, the dusk became darkness, we arrived at the scrub, and yet no orders to halt. Instead of this, the column was shortened and