104 * WITH KITCHENEK IN THE SOUDAN dark, Gregory went across to the General’s quarters. The black sentry stopped him.

The General wants to speak to me,” Gregory said in Arabic.

The man called up the native sergeant from the guard tent, who asked what he wanted.

I am here by the orders of the General.” The sergeant looked doubtful, but went in. He returned in a minute and motioned to Gregory to follow him in. The General looked at him from head to foot.

“ I suppose it is you, Hilliard,” he said, “ but I certainly should not have recognized you. With that yellowish-brown skin you could pass anywhere as a Soudan Arab. Will the colour last ? ” “I am assured that it will last for some days, but I am taking enough with me to renew it four or five times.”

“ Well, unless some unexpected obstacle occurs, I think you are safe from detection. Mind you avoid men from El Obeid; if you do not fall in with them you should be safe. Of course when you have sewn on those patches your disguise will be complete. I suppose you have no idea how long you will be away ? ” It will take me five days to go there, and five days to come back. I should think that if I am three days in the camp I ought to get all the information required. In a fortnight I should be here, though, of course, I may be longer. If I am not back within a few days of that time you will know that it is because I have stayed there in the hopes of getting more certain news. If I don’t return in three weeks it will be because something has gone wrong.”

“ I hope it will not be so, lad. As regards appearance and language I have no fear of your being detected, but you must always bear in mind that there are other points. You have had the advantage of seeing the camps of the native regiments when the men are out of uniform—how they walk, laugh uproariously, play tricks with each other, and generally