162 WITH KITCHENER IN THE SOUDAN had sunk before he reached them, the other was on the point of doing so when he caught her by the arm. She at once clung to him, and he had hard work to disengage her arm from his neck; then, after turning her so that her face was above water, he looked round. The gun-boat was already a hundred yards away. Her wheel was revolving, so as to keep her in her place facing the redoubt, and the stream was driving him fast away from her. Within ten yards of him was a black head, and a moment later Zaki was beside him. He had been working at Gregory’s Maxim, and had suddenly missed his master. Looking round he had seen him struggling with the woman in the stream, and without hesitation had leapt overboard.

“ I am sorry you came,” Gregory said, “ for it is only throwing away your life. It is of no use shouting, for they could not hear us in that din, and if they happened to catch sight of us would take us for two of the black boatmen. I see the stream is taking us nearer to the bank.”

Zaki had taken hold of the woman while he was speaking. We might swim a long way down, master, if we let go of her.”

I won’t do that, Zaki. I know now that I was a fool to jump overboard, but now that I have done so I will save her life. Besides, I could not swim very far even without her; I am feeling the weight of my boots and clothes. Will you swim with us till I can touch the ground, and then leave us?

Strike right into the river again—I know that you are a good swimmer—and drop down the stream until you reach one of the islands, and then you can land and hail the gun-boats as they come down. Tell Captain Keppel why I jumped over.”

“I am not going to leave you, master. Ho doubt the Dervishes will shoot me, but my life is of no consequence, and I shall be glad to die by the side of so good a master.”

The woman, who had ceased to struggle when Gregory shook off her grasp, was now conscious, as, with one of them supporting her on each side, her head was above water.