A VOICE FROM THE DEAD 265 Atbara, which you would strike forty or fifty miles above El Easher. Of course you would be able to learn there whether Parsons had crossed. If he had, you would ride up the bank till you overtake him; if he had not, you would probably meet him at Mugatta, he must cross below that, as it is there he leaves the river.”

“ That seems simple enough, sir. My story would be that I was one of the Dervishes who had escaped from the battle here, and had stopped at a village, thinking that I was safe from pursuit, until your boats came along, and that I then crossed the desert to go to Gedareh, where I thought I should be safe. That would surely carry me through. I shall want two fast camels—one for myself and one for my boy.”

“ These we can get for you from Abdul Azil, the Abadah sheik. Of course you will put on Dervish robes and badges ? ” Yes, sir.” “ 1 will go across and tell General Bundle, and obtain written instructions for you to carry despatches to Parsons.

I will give them to you when you go up on the boat in the morning. I will see at once about the camels, and ask the Intelligence people to get you two of the Dervish suits. You will also want rifles.” “ Thank you, sir ! I have a couple of Remingtons, and plenty of ammunition for them. I have two spears also which I picked up when we came in here.”

“We are off again, Zaki,” he said when he returned to his hut, where the black was engaged in sweeping up the dust and arranging everything as usual.

“ Yes, master.” Zaki suspended his work. “ When do we go ? ” “ To-morrow morning.” “ Do we take everything with us ? ” “Mo; I start in uniform. We shall both want Dervish dresses, but you need not trouble about them—they will be got for us.”

“ Then we are going among the Dervishes again ? ”