34 WITH KITCHEHEE IN' THE SOHDAH heavy one, for the supply of meat for the troops as they arrive, and I have no doubt he would be very glad to engage you on good terms, though the engagement could only be made during the stay of the army here.”

“ Thank you, sir, I shall be much obliged to you if you will do so; and I would rather that the engagement should be a temporary one on both sides, so that I should be free to leave at a few days’ notice.”

The contractor, after a chat with Gregory Hilliard, was glad to secure his services. He saw the advantage that it would be to have a gentleman to represent him with the army, instead of an agent of a very different kind. Other men would do to purchase animals from the Arabs, or to receive them at the ports when they were brought over from Spain and Italy, but it required a variety of qualities difficult to obtain in the same person to act as agent with the army. Gregory was exactly the man Required, and he was soon on excellent terms both with the officers of the quartermaster’s department and the contractors who brought in the cargoes of cattle.

As soon as the bulk of the army sailed from Alexandria to Ismailia, he made the latter town his head-quarters, and by his power of work, his tact and good temper, he smoothed away all the difficulties that so often arise between contractors and army officials, and won the good-will of all with whom he came in contact. When the army removed to Cairo after the defeat and dispersal of Arabi’s force at Tel-el-Kebir, Gregory established himself there, and was joined by his wife and child. As soon as matters settled down, and a considerable portion of the troops had left Egypt, Mr. Hoss said to him : “ Of course our operations in the future will be comparatively small, Mr. Hilliard, and I must reduce my staff.”

“ I quite understand that,” Gregory replied, “ and I knew that I should have to look out for something else.”

“I shall be very sorry to lose your services, which have indeed been invaluable, and I am sure have been appreciated