1 64 WITH THE CAMEL CORPS UP THE NILE.

Gardner did their level best, and dispersed many of them, but when the square disappeared from sightr and violent firing was heard for some moments, and then silence, they said the suspense was awful. The only way they knew that we were safe was that they were not attacked after that, so concluded we had arrived in safety at the river.

"All's well that ends well!" and in a very short time the whole force was hard at work wolfing down a good solid meal of tea and bully. After that orders were given to load up all the camels left with the stores, and return as soon as possible. The work was hard, for all stores, boxes, and saddles were built up round the zeriba, and over a hundred of the camels were dead. The contents of many of the boxes were lying scattered about, and the camels were stiff and tired with fatigue and hunger ; added to this, many of the saddles were broken, so several hours elapsed before everything was ready to start. I looked eagerly for my own camel, Potiphar, and found him calmly gazing about him in the same spot where I left him, not damaged in the least, and as bad-tempered