BETRAYED BY GUIDES 19

returned at night with the news that we were nearer the river than El Agia Wells, and on this, our fourth day from Selima, we should have been close to El Agia. This report, coming not from El Amin only, but from

Saleh's own people who knew the district, created consternation. Again the " paper" was called for, and on this occasion Hassan was told that the paper knew better than he did.

That night scene of betrayed men, desperate, with death from thirst or dervish swords a certainty, can be better imagined than described. There had been no husbanding of the drinking-water, and it was almost out ; many, in the hurry of departure from Selima, had not filled their water-skins. There was no doubt now that we were, as I had said from the beginning, on the road to Wadi el Kab, and

travelling in the enemy's country. But Hassan, threatened as he was, had still one more card to play.

He acknowledged that he had lost his way, but said this was not altogether his fault ; we, he said, had been travelling hard, and, feeling sure he was on the right track, he had been careless, or had neglected to look out for the usual marks, and that this was

because Amin and I had annoyed him at the begin-

ning of the march, as to the road. He now said that we were well to the west of El Kab, and on

its extreme limits where the wady disappeared into

desert water could be found, and being so far west, it was most improbable that we should find any dervishes

there. Another council was held. Hassan was for

continuing in an easterly direction ; I proposed west,