STATE OF THE WOUNDED. 165 as ever. Only my sheep-skin and blankets had disappeared, but since they had probably gone for the wounded I did not mind : several of the others had had their zuleetahs rifled, probably by the native drivers on the look-out for loot ; so I was in comparative luck.

Our first inquiry had of course been after Sir Herbert, and to our delight we were told he was still alive, and doing well. It was a pleasant surprise, for the doctors had said he could not possibly live through the night. The bullet had entered his groin, and, passing round, had lodged under his spine in a, so to speak, safe place ; as long as no inflammation or fever set in, he was safe. The rest of the wounded were doing fairly well, and were fit to be carried to the river. I went to see poor Crutchley, who was in such good spirits that I had no idea his wound was so bad as it really was.

The column started as soon as it was ready, all on foot in case of attack. After repeated halts for closing up, we came in sight of the Nile again, and the iQth Hussars dashed ahead to give their poor