68 WITH KITCHENER IN THE SOUDAN had all taken places in the same compartment. The journey lasted forty hours, and Gregory admitted that the description Captain Ewart had given him of the dust was by no means exaggerated. He had brought, as had been suggested, a water-skin and a porous earthenware bottle, together with a roll of cotton-wool to serve as a stopper to the latter to keep out the dust. In a tightly-fitting hand-bag he had an ample supply of food for three days. Along the opening of this he had pasted a strip of paper.

That will do very well for your first meal, Hilliard, but it will be of no good afterwards.’

“ I have prepared for that,” Gregory said. “ I have bought a gum bottle, and as I have a newspaper in my pocket I can seal it up after each meal.”

“ By Jove, that is a good idea, one I never thought of ! ” The gum will be quite sufficient for us all up to Assouan.

I have two more bottles in my box. That should be sufficient to last me for a long time when I am in the desert ; and as it won’t take half a minute to put a fresh paper on after each meal, I shall have the satisfaction of eating my food without its being mixed with the dust.”

There was a general chorus of approval, and all declared that they would search every shop in Assouan and endeavour to find gum.

“ Paste will do as well,” Ewart said, “ and as we can always get flour we shall be able to defy the dust fiend as far as our food goes. I certainly did not expect that old campaigners would learn a lesson from you, Hilliard, as soon as you started.”

“ It was just an idea that occurred to me,” Gregory said. The gum bottle was handed round, and although nothing could be done for those who, had brought their provisions in hampers, three of them who had, like Gregory, put their food in bags were able to seal them up tightly.

It was now May, and the heat was becoming intolerable, especially as'-’the windows were closed to keep out the dust.