A PRISONER 171 two of the tribesmen with rifles in their hands were stationed there. They offered no opposition to his entry, but their presence showed that Mahmud was determined that his master should appear to be a close prisoner, as indeed his escape might well jeopardize the Emir’s position even among his followers.

Gregory had a letter ready for him to carry to Captain Keppel. It ran as follows: Dear Captain Keppel I am a prisoner in Mahmud* s hands. This is the result of my own impetuosity—I will not say folly, for 1 cannot regret that I yielded to the sudden impulse that seized me. A boat containing some women was sunk by a shell when hut a few yards astern of the gun-boat. Most of its occupants were killed, hut I saw a woman struggling in the water, and without thinking of the consequences jumped overboard to save her, my servant following me. When we reached fir we found that the current was too strong to regain the gun-boat, and so landed about half a mile down, hoping to find shelter in the bushes until the boat came down the stream. What I did, however, had been observed by the Dervishes, and as soon as I landed a party rode up, headed by Mahmud himself, who was aware that his favourite wife was in the boat that had sunk. Most fortunately it turned out that she was the woman I had saved. Upon her appeal Malunud spared our lives. He has released my man, who will carry this to you ; but having sworn that he would spare no white man, he retains me in his hands as a prisoner until he can lay the facts before the Khalifa and obtain his permission to let me go. I trust that all will be well, and that some day I may rejoin the army. However, there is no saying how matters may turn out. I am happy in knowing that there is no one who, if the worst comes to the worst, will grieve over my loss. I recommend my faithful servant to you. I should wish the balance of pay coming to me to be handed to him, as well as my camel and horse, and all other belongings. By the