AFLOAT 143 here at all speed, and the General and his soldiers will come up to help us. Now, let us not waste a moment, but push forward. In five hours we shall be at Berber, and throughout your lives you will be proud to say that you were the first to enter the town that the Dervishes have so long held.”

A few of the men waved their guns and shouted; the rest looked grave. However, they obeyed their chief’s orders, and the cavalcade at once started. As they did so, Gregory drew his horse up alongside Zaki.

Look here,” he said, “ if we see the Dervishes coming in force, I shall come to you at once. You shall take my horse, it is faster than yours. I shall give you a note for the General, and you will ride back at full gallop and give it to him. The horse is fast, and there will be no fear of their catching you even if they chase, which they will not be likely to do, as they will be thinking of attacking us.”

Very well, master; I will do as you order me, but I would rather stop and fight by your side.”

That you may be able to do some other time, Zaki ; this time you have got to fetch aid.”

Then he rode on to join the chief. There was no talking along the line, every man had his rifle unslung and in his hand, every eye scanned the country. Hitherto they had had unlimited faith in the power of the gun-boat to protect them ; now that they might have to face the Dervishes unaided, they felt the danger a serious one. They had come to fight the Dervishes, and were ready to do so in anything like equal numbers, but the force they might meet would possibly be greatly stronger than their own,—so strong that although they might sell their lives dearly they would in the end be overpowered. For the first three hours the camels were kept going at the top of their speed, but as they neared Berber there was a perceptible slackness. Ahmed Bey and Gregory rode backwards and forwards along the line, keeping them together and encouraging them.

“We shall get in without fighting,” the Bey said, “we