TO METEMMEH 109 that and the compass the General gave me before starting, we ought to have no difficulty in striking the river, as the direction is only a little to the east of south.”

He opened a tin of preserved meat, of which he had four with him, and placed it to warm near the fire. “We should have had to throw the other tins away if we had gone on to Abu Klea,” he said ; “ it would never have done for them to be found upon us if we were searched.”

When the meat was hot they ate it, using some biscuits as plates. Afterwards they feasted on a melon they had brought with them, and were glad to hear their horses munching the leaves of some shrubs near. When the moon rose they started. It was slow work at first, as they had some difficulty in passing the rough country lying behind the hill. Once past it, they came upon a level plain, and rode fast for some hours. At ten o’clock they halted and lay down under the shelter of the shrubs, mounting again at four and riding for another three hours.

“ How far do you think we are from the river now ? By the map, I should think we cannot be much more than twenty miles from it.”

“I don’t know, my lord. I have never been along here before ; but it certainly ought not to be farther than that.”

“We have ridden nine hours; we travelled slowly for the first four or five, but we have come fast since then. We must give the horses a good rest, so we will not move on till the moon rises, which will be about a quarter to two. It does not give a great deal of light now, and we shall have to make our way through the scrub ; but, at any rate, we ought to be close to the river before morning.”

When the sun was low they again lit a fire and had another good meal, giving the greater portion of their stock of biscuits to the horses, and a good drink of water. “We must use up all we can eat before to-morrow, Zaki, and betake ourselves to a diet of dried dates. There is enough water left to give the horses a drink before we start, then we shall start as genuine Dervishes.”