THE FINAL ADVANCE 199 sure to cross the Atbara. There are enough of them still, when they rally, to beat olf any attacks that might be made by our tribesmen from Kassala.”

CHAPTER XIII THE FINAL ADVANCE FEW days after the return of head-quarters to Berber, Mahmud was sent down-country, and Fatma was permitted to accompany him. She expressed to Gregory in touching terms her gratitude for what he had done for her.

j “We have been of mutual assistance,” said Gregory. “ I I have the same reason to be grateful to you as you have to thank me. I saved your life and you saved mine. You were ; very kind to me when I was a captive—I have done as much ; as I could for you since you have been with us; so we are ' quits. I hope you will be happy with Mahmud. We do not treat our prisoners badly, and except that he will be j away from the Soudan, he will probably be more comfortable than he has ever been in his life.”

Gregory was now employed in the transport department, and journeyed backwards and forwards with large convoys of camels to the head of the railway. The line was completed to Berber, but the officers charged with its construction were indefatigable, and as fast as the materials came up, it was pushed on towards the Atbara. Complete as had been the victory on that river, the Sirdar saw that the force which had been sufficient to defeat the twenty thousand men under Mahmud was not sufficiently strong, for the more oDerous task of coping with three times that number, fighting under the eye of the Khalifa, and certain to consist of his best and bravest troops. He therefore telegraphed home for another British brigade and additional artillery, with at least one