198 WITH THE CAMEL CORPS UP THE NILE.

My company was now on advanced-guard instead of that awful rear-guard, a much better position in every way. As we got to the top of the pass we could see the transport convoy about three miles ahead in the vast plain ; so we pushed on in all haste to reach them before it got dark, and encamp together. Twilight fell, and it was all I could do as advanced-guard to make out the faint camel track ; but my doubts did not last long. The leading convoy had now halted, and began to light grass fires, which gave us plenty of beacons in the darkness. As we neared them, the ground got very broken, so I whacked up Potiphar to find a better route for the wounded, who would get horribly shaken and jolted that way. I soon found a sort of level track, and then made a bee-line for the nearest fire to find out particulars of the encampment. The consequence was that I got into terrible grief. Potiphar collapsed into a hole, and sat there roaring ; when I had hauled him out by main force and flogged him on, he fell into another and refused to budge, so I left him there and made my way on foot. Eventually I reached