IN THE TRAIN. 299 sight of a real train with effusive joy. Gangs of Indian coolies were laying the track, and we thought ourselves back in the heart of civilisation. We were to go by train to Wady Haifa, some fifty miles on, and there we ought to have arrived about 6 p.m.

or so. However, a " scratch " railway in the middle of the desert is not quite the same as an English one, and at six we found ourselves not half-way, at Ambigol Road. Here we met a lot of hospitable Transport and other officers, nearly all of whom we knew. During an excellent tea of cake and drinks we exchanged ideas, but there was not much of importance going on, except the sending of troops down the river " hard all." Amongst other items of news we were told that Townshend of the Marines, who had been sent down from Dongola with enteric fever, had become much worse at Wady Haifa, and was dead. The sad news gave us all a tremendous shock. He was going on favourably when we had heard of him last, and we proceeded to feel dismal about it. Luckily the report turned out to be unfounded, but this we did not hear till we got to Wady Haifa.