A FALSE ALARM. 225 On the evening of our arrival we got serious news : one of the correspondents came in and said that not twelve hours after we had left Abu Klea, a large force of the enemy appeared on the surrounding hills and began blazing away at the camp ; he understood Buller to say that he wanted 300 troops back again, and his opinion was that we should all have to return the following morning. Luckily his opinion was not worth much, and, in the end, we got orders for only 100 men to hold themselves in readiness to escort a convoy back to Abu Klea on the following evening.

Next day, however, before they started, Major 'ardrop rode into camp with consoling news : he and Tidswell of the M.I. and three mounted men had, by an exceedingly plucky and clever ruse,* succeeded in deluding the Arabs into a belief that a strong force was taking them in flank ; they had consequently bolted, and Buller was in safety. After all, only 100 men of the 5oth were sent on with the empty camels, and the G.C.R. were informed that they would have to * He did not put it quite in this way !