278 WITH THE CAMEL CORPS UP THE. NILE.

from the time the first hut caught till the last was a smoking heap, and next to nothing was saved. The Coldstream and Marines who were quartered in these huts escaped mostly in their shirt-sleeves ; they had not time to get anything out, not even to put on their coats. As the bandoliers and pouches caught fire, pop, pop went all the cartridges, though happily no one was damaged by the bullets. By good luck, the sixth hut was divided from the rest by a big sakiyeh-trough on a high ridge of earth, so we were in hopes that the fire would not spread. Owing to the prompt arrival of the whole of the iQth Hussars with blankets not two minutes after the fire began, and the exertions of our own men, who covered the untouched huts with wet cloths and blankets, the fire was stayed. The only danger now to be feared was from the flying sparks, which were carried for many yards by the powerful wind, and, in one or two cases, alighted on other huts ; but they were extinguished before they had time to do much harm, thanks to several sailors and others. Total damage : two companies of the G.C.R. left houseless and nearly clotheless. There was nothing to be done but to build the huts up again.