150 EGYPT AND THE SOUDAN.

Colonel Butler, Colonel Colville, Major Slade, and the deserter went out with the mounted troops into the desert to a hill at about six miles' distance from which they could see a dry water-course or wady leading to the enemy's camp, but nothing was to be seen of the enemy. In the evening another deserter came in and said that the birds had flown because of a report that an attack would be made on them both from the desert and the right bank of the river. The enemy {about 1500 this time) had marched towards Salamat to occupy the Shukook Pass.

The mudir's vakeel accompanying the troops on the right bank had been promised a large reward if he could secure Suleiman Wad Gamr and the blind chief who had caused the murder of Colonel Stewart, and he now reported that Suleiman's uncle had come in and asked for an assurance that he and the rest of his tribe might be received without being punished. To this the vakeel had replied that neither they nor Suleiman himself should come to harm. He considered that this was an excellent way of going to work, as Suleiman might be induced to come in by a promise of safety which there was no reason whatever to keep; and on being assured that no such assurance would be made, but that the murderers would certainly be hanged if they were caught, neither he nor Gaudet, the Turkish commander, could, for some time, believe that such a chance would be abandoned because it was to be brought about by treachery. That afternoon Suleiman fled, and Colonel Butler reported that he had entered Birti and found it deserted. General Earle then rode on till he reached the place, and there discovered on the shore the boat that had belonged to the ill-fated steamer. It was then that Hussein, the man who declared himself to have been the stoker of the steamer, came up and told the story of the wreck and the murder. He had been taken prisoner by Omar, Suleiman's uncle, who had made him a slave; and he was now so anxious to return to his native place in Upper Egypt that he contrived to escape on learning that he would be detained for the purpose of pointing out the site of the murder at Hebbeh.

' Vol. iii. p. 246.