THE CKOWNING VICTOEY 357 Certainly, Mr. Hilliard, there has been bloodshed enough.”

Being well mounted, Gregory overtook the cavalry and camel corps before they had gone two miles, as they were delayed by disarming the Dervishes, who were coming in in large numbers. Half a mile away a small body of men were to be seen keeping together, firing occasionally; their leader’s flag was flying, and Gregory learned "rom a native that it was Khatim’s. The cavalry were on the point of gathering for a charge as he rode up to the officer in command.

“ I have Colonel Wingate’s orders, sir, to ride forward and try to persuade the emir to surrender; he does not wish any further loss of life.”

“Very well, sir; I am sure we have killed enough of the poor beggars. I hope he will give in.” As Gregory neared the party, which was some five hundred strong, several shots were fired at him; he waved a white handkerchief and the firing ceased. Two emirs rode forward to meet him.

“ I have come, sir, from the English General to ask you to surrender. Your cause is lost; the Khalifa is dead, and most of his principal emirs. He is anxious that there should be no further loss of blood.”

“We can die, sir, as the others have done,” the elder emir, a man of some sixty years old, said sternly. “ But that would not avail your cause, sir. I solicited this mission as I owe much to you.” “ How can that be ? ” the chief asked. “ I am the son of that white man whom you so kindly treated at El Obeid, where he saved the life of your son Abu ; ” and he bowed to the younger emir.

“ Then he escaped ? ” the latter exclaimed. “Ko, sir; he was killed at Hebbeh when the steamer in which he was going down from Khartoum was wrecked there; but I found his journal, in which he told the story of your