THE BATTLE OF ATBARA 183 the fight had begun. Would the Egyptian horsemen stand firm, or would they give way to panic? If they broke and fled, none whatever would return to their camp through the host of Baggara horsemen. For a time the roll of the fire from the machine-guns was incessant, then there was a pause.

Two or three minutes later it broke out again, but it was evidently somewhat farther off ; and so it went on, with intervals of silence, but ever getting farther away. It was clear that the horsemen had not been able to bring the cavalry to a standstill, and that these were steadily falling back, covered by the fire of the Maxims. At last the sound grew faint in the distance, and soon afterwards the noise in the camp showed that the infantry were returning. It was not till two hours later that he heard the mounted men ride in, and gathered from the talk outside that they had lost nearly two hundred men, and had been unable to prevent the Egyptian cavalry from returning to camp. Towards evening he heard angry talking, and could distinguish Mahmud’s voice. Then the blanket was pulled off its supports, and two men ordered him to follow them.

This was doubtless the end, and he nerved himself for what was to come, and with head erect and a steady face he accompanied the men to the front of Mahmud’s tent. The chief was standing with frowning face, and several Emirs were gathered in front of him, while a number of tribesmen stood a short distance away.

“ Mow,” Mahmud said, “ let one of you speak.” One of the Emirs stepped forward. “I, Osman Digna, demand that this infidel be put to death. His countrymen have slain many of my men and yours.”

Feeling now that Mahmud, after doing his best, had ceased to struggle for him, and that his death was certain, Gregory took a step forward towards the speaker and said scornfully, So you are Osman Digna ! I am one of the first of my countrymen to see your face, though many have seen your back at a distance.”