90 WITH KITCHEHER IN’ THE SOUDAN he is hidebound. He has never thought for himself, and he can’t be expected to begin to do so after working for enty years like a machine. You will see, if we ever have a big war, that will be our weak point. If it wasn’t for wars like this, and our little wars in India, where men do learn to think and take responsibility, I don’t know where our general officers would get their training. Well, you must be going.

Good-bye! we shall often meet; there are so few of us here that we are always running against each other. I won’t ask you to dine with us for a few days, no doubt you would like to get accustomed to head-quarters mess first. Of course Hunter and the brigade staff dine together; while we have little regimental messes among ourselves, which I prefer. When there are only three or four of us, one can sit down in one’s shirt sleeves, whereas at the brigade mess one must, of course, turn up in uniform, which in this climate is stifling.”

The meal was a more pleasant one than Gregory had anticipated. On board the steamer he had, of course, dined with the other officers, and he found little difference here. Ten sat down, including the principal medical officer and a captain—the head of the station intelligence department, Major Wingate, being at present at Wady Haifa. Except for the roughness of the surroundings, it was like a regimental mess, and the presence of the General commanding in no way acted as a damper to the conversation.

General Hunter had, before sitting down, introduced him to all the members with a few pleasant words, which had put him at his ease. Gregory had, on his way up, learned a good deal as to the officers who were down at Cairo for their health, and he was able to say who were convalescent and who had sailed, or were on the point of sailing, for England. The table was formed of two long benches, and had been constructed by the engineers; it was laid under a large tent, of which the walls had been removed to give a free passage of air.