152 WITH KITCHENEK IN THE SOUDAN boats could come up to his assistance. He said as much to me.”

At the hour named Gregory went on board the Zafir, Zaki accompanying him with his small portmanteau and blanket.

“I see you are punctual, Mr. Hilliard,” the commander said cheerily ; “ a great virtue everywhere, but especially on board ship, where everything goes by clock-work. Eight bells will sound in two minutes, and as they do so my black fellow will come up and announce the meal. It is your breakfast as much as mine, for I have shipped you on the books this morning, and of course you will be rationed. Happily we are not confined to that fare. I knew what it was going to be, and laid in a good stock of stores. Fortunately, we have the advantage over the military that we are not limited as to baggage.”

The breakfast was an excellent one. After it was over, Commander Keppel asked Gregory how it was that he had while still so young—obtained a commission, and expressed much interest when he had heard his story.

“ Then you do not intend to remain in the Egyptian Army ? ” he said. “ If you have not any fixed career before you, I should have thought that you could not do better. The Sirdar and General Hunter have both taken a great interest in you. It might be necessary perhaps for you to enter the British Army and serve for two or three years, so as to get a knowledge of drill and discipline; then from your acquaintance with the languages here you could, of course, get transferred to the Egyptian Army, where you would rank as a major at once.”

I have hardly thought of the future yet, sir ; but of course I shall have to do so as soon as I am absolutely convinced of my father’s death. Beally, I have no hope now, but I promised my mother to do everything in my power to ascertain it for a certainty. She placed a packet in my hands, which was not to be opened until I had so satisfied myself. I do not know what it contains, but I believe it relates to my father’s family.