268 WITH KITCHEHEK IN THE SOUDAH At daylight their infantry had also arrived, and fighting began.

'' All day we held our position, killing great numbers but losing many men ourselves. By night our water was exhausted. Then the soldiers offered to attack the enemy, but they were twenty to one against us, and I said to them, ITo, fight one day longer if we can hold on. The Dervishes may retire or they may offer us terms.’ So we stood. By the next evening we had lost half our number. After they had drawn off, one of the Dervish emirs came in with a white flag and offered life to all who would surrender and would wear the badge of the Mahdi and be his soldiers. I replied that an answer should be given in the morning. When he had left I gathered the men together. ‘You have fought nobly,’ I said, ‘ but you have scarce a round of ammunition left. If we fight again to-morrow we shall all be slaughtered.

I thank you in the name of the Khedive for all that you have done, but I do not urge you to reject the terms offered. Your deaths would not benefit the Khedive. As far as I am concerned you are free to accept the terms offered.’

“ They talked for some time together, and then the three native officers who were still alive came forward. “ ‘ Bimbashi,’ they said, ‘ what will be done about you ? We are Mahometans and their countrymen, but you are a white man and a Christian. You would not fight for the Mahdi ?

’ “ ‘ Ko,’ I said, ‘ I would not fight for him, nor would I gain my life at the price of being his slave. I wish you to settle the matter without any reference to me. I will take my chance. I may not be here in the morning. One man might escape where many could not. All I ask is that I may not be watched. If in the morning I am not here, you can all say that I disappeared, and you do not know how. I do not myself know what I am going to do yet.’

“ They went away, and in a quarter of an hour returned and said that the men would surrender. If they had water