28 WITH KITCHENER IN THE SOUDAN is something frightful, and most of the merchants will be absolutely ruined. Fortunately, our firm were insured pretty well up to the full value.”

“ But I thought that they could not break in there ? ” “We all moved out the evening before to the Anglo-Egyptian Bank. The town was full of troops, and we doubted whether we could hold the place. As the bank was much stronger we agreed that it was better to join the two garrisons and fight it out there; and I am very glad we did so, for I doubt whether we could have defended our place successfully.”

Mr. Ferguson and the clerks had all come off with Gregory to the Simoon, on board which there was plenty of accommodation for them, as it was not one of the ships that had been taken up for the accommodation of the fugitives. Among the party who came on board was a doctor who had taken part in the defence of the bank, and had attended to the wounded as the fight went on. He did so again that evening, and told Gregory that in a month he would, if he took care of himself, be able to use his arm again. The next morning there was a consultation in the cabin. Mr. Ferguson had gone on shore late the previous afternoon, as five hundred sailors had been landed, and had returned in the evening.

“ It is certain,” he said, “ that nothing can be done until the place is rebuilt. The sailors are busy at work fighting the fire, but there are continued fresh outbreaks. The bulk of the natives have left, but Arabi, before marching out, opened the prisons and released the convicts, and these and the scum of the town are still there, and continue the destruction whenever they get a chance. A score or two have been caught red-handed and shot down, and a number of others have been flogged. Another, batch of sailors will land this morning, and order will soon be restored, unless Arabi, who is encamped with some ten thousand men two miles outside the town, makes an effort to recover the place. I donT think