A VOICE FKOM THE DEAD 2-53 “ Yes ; I have come here to ascertain whether arny of those who were present at the attack upon the party who landed from the steamer over there, are still living here. There is I no question of punishment. On the contrary, I have come here to obtain information as to some private matters, and I anyone who can give me that information will be well re-I warded.”

i There are but three men alive who were here at the time, I my lord ; there were more, but they fled when the boats with the white troops came up from Merawi. I believe they went I to the Dervish camp at Metemmeh. The three here are quiet i and respectable men. They were asked many questions, and guided the white ofiicers to the place where Wad Etman stood ' —it was there that those who landed from the steamer first rested,—and to the place where the great house of Suleiman Wad Gamr, Emir of Salamat, stood. It was there that the much-to-be-regretted attack on the white men was made. When the white army came up six months afterwards, they blew up the house and cut down all the palm-trees in the village.”

“ I was with the force that came up from Merawi last year. Will you bring me the three men you speak of? I would question them one by one. Assure them that they need not be afraid of answering truthfully, even if they themselves were concerned in the attack upon the white officers and the crew of the steamer, for no steps will be taken against them.

It is eighteen years since then, and no doubt their houses were destroyed and their groves cut down when the British column came here and found the place deserted. I am ready to reward them if I obtain the information I require from them.”

The three men were presently brought to the spot where Gregory had seated himself in the shade of one of the huts. Zaki stood beside him, and the four armed men took post a short distance away. The first called up was a very old man. In reply to Gregory’s questions he said ; “ I was already old