188 WITH KITCHENEK IN THE SOUDAN and climbing out again, engaged more than once with desperate foemen.

Striking and shouting he fought on until the troops reached the river bank, and having cleared all before them, poured volleys into the mass of fugitives crossing its dry bed.

Other hordes were seen away to the left, similarly driven out by Lewis’s Egyptians, by whom a terrible fire was kept up until the last of the fugitives disappeared in the scrub on the opposite bank, leaving the river bed thickly dotted with dead bodies; while on the right Macdonald’s and Maxwell’s blacks similarly cleared the wood. Then the Soudanese and whites alike burst into cheers; men shook each other by the hand, while they waved their helmets over tbu’ heads. The Soudanese leapt and danced like delighted children. Presently an officer left a group of others whc had been congratulating each other on their glorious victory and came up to Gregory.

May I ask who you are, sir ? ” he said courteously but coldly.

Certainly, sir; my name is Hilliard. I have been a captive in the hands of the Dervishes, who, when yoU attacked, tied me to the stump of a tree as a target for your bullets; and I should certainly have been killed had not a faithful servant of mine, a black, taken the opportunity, when the Dervishes rushed into the trenches and opened fire upon you, to cut my ropes. I have no doubt, sir,” he went on, as he saw the officer look somewhat doubtful, that General Hunter is here. I am known personally to him, and served for a time on his staff.”

“ That is quite sufficient,” the officer said more cordially.

I congratulate you on your escape. I confess it astonished us all when a strange white officer whom none of us knew suddenly joined us. You will find General Hunter somewhere over on the left; he is certain to have led the charge of the Soudanese.”

“Thank you! I will go and find him; but' first, I must