GEDAEEH 327 the saddles, where there is more width, and rings on the saddle on both sides.”

A short halt was made, and the spears fixed. Gregory then looked at his compass.

We must make for that rise two or three miles away. I see exactly the point we must aim for. When we get there we must look at the compass again.”

They kept steadily on for six hours. They had seen no human figure since they started.

We will stop here for half an hour,” Gregory said. Give the animals a drink of water and a handful or two of grain.”

I donT think they will want water, master. They had as much as they could drink before starting, and they are accustomed to drink when their work is over.”

Very well; at any rate we will take something.” They opened one of the water-skins, and poured some of the contents into a gourd; then, sitting down in the shadow of the camels, they ate some dates and bread. They had only brought native food with them, so that if captured and examined there should be nothing to show that they had been in contact with Europeans. Gregory had even left his revolver behind him, as, being armed with so good a weapon as a Remington, it was hardly likely that it would be needed, and if found upon them it would be accepted as a proof that he was in the employment of the infidels.

It was dusk when they arrived at the bank of the river. Ho incident had marked the journey, nor had they seen any sign that Dervishes were in the neighbourhood. The Atbara was in full flood, and was rushing down at six or seven miles an hour.

“ Colonel Parsons must have had great difficulty in cross-» ing, Zaki. He is hardly likely to have brought any boats across from Kassala. I don’t know whether he has any guns with him, but if he has I don’t think he can have crossed, even if they made rafts enough to carry them.”