64 WITH KITCHENEK IN THE SOUDAH motherms wish also that I should do so. My main object is to endeavour to obtain particulars of my father’s death, and to assure myself that he was one of those who fell at El Obeid.

I do not care in what capacity I go up ; but as I speak Arabic and Soudanese as well as English, my mother thought that I might get employment as interpreter, either under an officer engaged on making the railway or in some capacity under an officer in one of the Egyptian regiments.”

“ I have no doubt that I can help you there, lad. I know the Sirdar and a good many of the British officers, for whom I act as agent. Of course I don’t know in what capacity they could employ you, but surely some post or other could be found for you where your knowledge of the language would render you very useful. ETaturally the officers in the Egyptian service all understand enough of the language to get on with, but few of the officers in the British regiments do. It is fortunate that you came to-day. I have an appointment with Lord Cromer to-morrow morning, so I will take the opportunity of speaking to him. As it is an army affair, and as your father was in the Egyptian service, and your mother had a pension from it, I may get him to interest himself in the matter. Kitchener is down here at present, and if Cromer would speak to him I should think you would certainly be able to get up, though I cannot say in what position. The fact that you are familiar with the negro language, which differs very widely from that of the Arab Soudan tribes, who all speak Arabic, is strongly in your favour, and may give you an advantage over applicants who can only speak Arabic. I shall see Lord Cromer at ten, and shall probably be with him for an hour. You may as well be outside his house at half-past ten ; possibly he may like to see you. At any rate, when I come down I can tell you what he says.”

With grateful thanks Gregory returned home.