CHAPTER XVII.

Convoy sent back to Gakdul Wonderful cures Shaves Outpost duty, etc. Return of convoy.

THE orders given to Sir Herbert by Lord Wolseley being that he was to establish himself strongly on the river, and send back a convoy for more stores, so as to make his station a concentrating depot for the final advance on Khartoum, it was determined to follow them out as far as possible, though the original orders, of course, had not taken into account the enormous losses in men and camels we had suffered. Accordingly a convoy was started off back to Gakdul on the evening of the 23rd, composed of all the camels fit to go, escorted by 300 mounted Coldstream, Marines, Heavies, and Mounted Infantry. It was hard work getting the camels together, for during the two previous days, whilst we were building our forts and wandering around Metemmeh, hundreds of the poor famished beasts had strayed