GEEGOKY VOLUNTEERS 89 ing’s sake. It is in their opinion the only worthy occupation for a man, and they have shown themselves worthy to fight by the side of our men. They have a perfect confidence in us, and would, I believe, go anywhere we led them. They say themselves, We are never afraid—just like English. ” There seem to be a good many women about the camps.”

Yes, their women follow them wherever they go; they cook for them, and generally look after them. They are as warlike as their husbands, and encourage them, when they go out to battle, with their applause and curious quavering cries. The men get very little pay; but as they are provided with rations, and draw a certain amount for the women, it costs next to nothing, and I fancy that having the wives with them pays well. I believe they would rather be killed than come back and face their reproaches. I could not wish to have more cheery or better fellows with me. They never grumble, they are always merry, and really they seem to be tireless; they practically give no trouble whatever, and it is good to see how they brighten up when there is a chance of a fight.”

I hope I shall 'see them at it before long,” Gregory said. “ Now I must be going, for I have to change, and put on my mess uniform before dinner. I am rather nervous about that, for I am not accustomed to dine with generals.”

“You will find it all very pleasant,” the other said. “Hunter is a splendid fellow, and is adored by his men. His staff are all comparatively young men, with none of the stiffness of the British staff-officer about them. We are all young—there is scarcely a man with the rank of captain in the British Army out here; we are all majors or colonels in the Egyptian Army, but most of us are subalterns in our own regiments. It is good training for us. At home a subaltern is merely a machine to carry out orders ; he is told to do this, and he does it; for him to think for himself would be a heinous offence. He is altogether without responsibility and ' without initiative, and by the time he becomes a field-officer