THE BATTLE OF ATBAEA 189 return to where I left my man. He had, of course, the Mahdist’s patch on his clothes, and I told him to lie still as if dead till I came for him, as in the mglee it would have been impossible for me to have protected him.”

Gregory found Zaki still lying where he left him, head downward and arms thrown forward, in so good an imitation of death that he feared for a moment the lad had been shot after he left him. At the sound of his master’s voice, however, the native sprang to his feet.

“You have saved my life, Zaki,” Gregory said, taking his hand. “ I must have fallen—every man tied to a tree is, as you see, dead ; but before we say anything else cut that patch off your clothes or you might be shot as a Dervish by the first man you come across. Keep close to me ; I am going to General Hunter. At present I know none of the officers of the white regiments; when I get among the Soudanese I shall be more at home.”

In ten minutes he came to where General Hunter was speaking to the Sirdar. Gregory stopped at a short distance before the general’s eyes fell upon him, and he gave an exclamation of pleasure.

“ That is Hilliard, General, the young fellow who jumped from one of the gun-boats off Metemmeh to rescue the woman. The act was unnoticed at the time, but a black he had with him was released and brought word that his master was a prisoner in their camp.”

“ I heard of it at the time,” the Sirdar said, and motioned to Gregory to come up. “I am glad to find that you have escaped the fate we feared had befallen you, but your action was altogether wrong. An officer’s life is no longer his own, but belongs to the country he serves, and you had no right whatever to risk it when on duty, even in an action which at any other time would do you great credit.”

He spoke sharply and sternly; Gregory again saluted. “ I knew afterwards that I had done wrong, sir, but I did not stop to think, and acted on the impulse of the moment.”