130 WITH KITCHENER IN THE SOUDAN Leaving Zaki to get the horses on shore, Gregory went straight to the General’s quarters. He told the sentry that he wished to see the General on business. ‘‘You cannot go in,” the man said, “ the General is engaged.”

“If you send in word to him that his messenger has returned, I am sure he will see me.”

“You can sit down here then,” the sentry said. “When the officer with him comes out, I will give your message to his orderly.”

Gregory, however, was in no humour to be stopped, and in an authoritative voice called, “ Orderly I ” A soldier came down directly from the guard-room. “ Tell the General at once that Mr. Hilliard has returned.”

With a look of wonder the orderly went into the tent. Half a minute later he returned. “ You are to come in,” he said.

As the General had seen Gregory in his disguise before starting, he of course recognized him. “ My dear Hilliard,” he said, getting up and shaking him cordially by the hand, “ I am heartily glad to see you back. You have been frequently in my thoughts, and though I had every confidence in your sharpness I have regretted more than once that I allowed you to go. I suppose you failed to get there. It is hardly possible that you should have done so in the time. I suppose when you got to Gakdul you learned that the Dervishes were at Abu Klea.”

“ They were at Abu Klea, General, but I made a detour and got into their camp at Metemmeh.”

“You did, and have returned safely! I congratulate you most warmly. I told you, Macdonald,” he said, turning to the officer with whom he had been engaged, “ that I had the greatest hope that Mr. Hilliard would get through. He felt so confident in himself that I could scarce help feeling confidence in him too.”

“ He has done well indeed ! ” Colonel Macdonald said. “ I should not have liked to send any of my officers on such an adventure, though they have been here for years.”