126 WITH KITCHENER IN THE SOUDAN “ Our case is a good deal better this evening than it was yesterday,” Gregory said. “ Then it looked as if it would be rather a close thing, for I am sure the horses could not have gone much farther if we had not found the water. I wish we had a good feed to give them.”

“ They will do very well on the bushes, my lord. They get little else when they are with the Arabs; a handful of durra occasionally when they are at work, but at other times they only get what they can pick up. If their master is a good one they may get a few dates. They will carry us briskly enough to the river to-morrow.”

They did not talk long, and were soon sound asleep. Zaki was the first to wake. " Day is just breaking, master.” “You don’t say so!” Gregory grumbled sleepily. “It seems to me that we have only just lain down.” They ate the remainder of their dates, took a drink of water, and gave two gourdfuls to the horses, and in a quarter of an hour were on their way again. They had ridden but two or three miles when Zaki exclaimed, “ There are some horsemen ! ” “ Eight of them, Zaki, and they are evidently riding to cut us off! As far as I can see, only four of them have guns; the others have spears. I think we can manage them. With my breech-loader I can fire two shots to their one, and we have pistols as well.”

The Arabs drew up ahead of them and remained quiet there until the others came to within fifty yards and checked their horses. A man who appeared to be the leader of the party shouted the usual salutation, to which Gregory replied.

The leader said, “ Where are my friends going and why do they halt ? ” “We are on a mission. We wish to see if the infidels are still at Ambukol.”

“For that you will not want guns,” the man said, “and we need them badly. I beg of you to give them to us.” “ They may be of use to us ; we may come upon infidel scouts.”