240 WITH THE CAMEL CORPS UP THE NILE.

seven black forms armed with spears arose and scudded towards the hills. We pressed forward to cut them off, but our worn-out camels would not trot over the sharp stony ground, so there was nothing for it but to try to bag them somehow. I held up a white rag as a sign of peace ; but they did not take to it kindly, for they halted a moment and then bolted again. This was evidently a sign of a bad conscience, so I dismounted four men, and gave them a couple of volleys at 900 yards. The range was capital, for I saw the spirt of the bullets close by them, and they ran I never saw anybody get over the ground so fast till they disappeared in the hills, and were seen no more. Shortly afterwards we met a small convoy going into Gakdul with empty camels, so I sent in a report of my battle to the General. All he said was, " It's a pity he didn't shoot them all."

On my return to camp, I found orders had been actually received (per heliograph), for us to start after Wood's column had passed the entrance to Abu Haifa Wells, three miles off. Wood was to-