260 WITH KITCHENER IN THE SOUDAN I only landed this morning. I came down to search for some relics. My father was on board Stewart’s steamer, and as there would be nothing doing at Omdurman for a few days I got leave to run down. I was fortunate in securing a boat at Abu Hamed on my arrival there, and I have been equally so now in having been picked up by you, so that I shall not be away from Omdurman more than seven days if I have equal luck in getting a steamer at Atbara. I do not think I shall be disappointed, for the white troops are coming down and stores are going up for the Egyptian brigade, so that I am certain not to be kept there many hours. The Sirdar has gone up to Eashoda or I don’t suppose I should have got leave.”

“ Yes ; I heard at Merawi from the officer in command that some foreign troops had arrived there. I suppose nothing more is known about it ? ” 'Mo; no news will probably come down for another fortnight, perhaps longer than that.”

“ Who can they be ? ” The general idea is that they are Erench. They can only be French or a party from the Congo States.”

They had tremendous cheek whoever they are,” the officer said. “ It is precious lucky for them that we have given the Khalifa something else to think about, or you may be sure he would have wiped them out pretty quickly unless they are a very strong force, which doesn’t seem probable. I hear the Sirdar has taken a regiment up with him.”

“Yes, but I don’t suppose any actual move will be made at present.”

“Ko, I suppose it will be a diplomatic business; still, I should think they would have to go.”

“Ko one has any doubt about that at Omdurman,” Gregory said. “ After all the expense and trouble we have had to retake the Soudan, it is not likely that we should let anyone else plant themselves on the road to the great lakes. When will you be at Abu Hamed, sir ? ”