72 WITH THE CAMEL CORPS UP THE NILE.

little thought of what would happen to him before he saw the Nile again.

In front of the column were half-a-dozen natives on camels, to act as guides. Sir Herbert had forced them to come in a very simple way. He had sent for the chief men at Ambukol who knew the route, sat them down in his tent, showed them many dollars, and told them they were to come as guides. They flatly refused, so the General said : " You will come anyhow. If you like a ride to Metemmeh tied on to your camels, well and good ; if you prefer not being lashed on, you will get these nice presents." So they came.

They were escorted by a small party of the iQth Hussars, who had orders to shoot them down if they attempted to bolt ; no such opportunity, however, occurred. The rest of the igth preceded the whole column, scouting quite magnificently ; on coming to a plain with hills in the distance, you'd see various specks on the tops of the furthest hills, and with the help of your glasses discover them to be the igth. Sir Herbert was immensely pleased with them, and