278 Seven Years in the Soudan.

choked her voice, and it was only after I had assured her that she Avas among friends and had nothing to fear, for we had come to help her, that she gradually grcAV composed and able to articulate a few words, begging me to protect her. The soldiers also surrounded and encouraged her, caressing the baby and doing all that was ])ossible to put her at her ease. AVhen finally convinced that we meant no harm, she told us that she was the wife of an artillery officer Avho had been killed in the defence of Dem Idris against Suleiman. Taken prisoner by the rebel victors she had been consigned to the Jelabba slave traders to be sold with the other Avomen captured at the same time. She was almost naked, and on her face might be seen the traces of the sufferings, privation and grief, Avhich, both as wife and as mother, she had endured during eight long months of caitivity and terrible marches.

She then narrated the manner in Avhich she had succeeded in escaping from her torturers. One evening after a long march, she had gone with her child, under the excuse of washing some clothes, to the banks of a torrent not far from the encampment. Waiting till night fell, she hid among the high grass and remained there till morning.

The next day she wandered about in the woods in search of food for the child, and at last, not being able to resist its lamentations, she decided to reenter the village which she was surprised to find deserted by her masters. Shortly after she came to meet us in the state I have described, never imagining that she would be received by friends ready to protect her.

My troops noAV began to suffer for want of food. But we found in the huts a small quantity of grain, which sufficed for the day.

"We continued our march, passing through the village. On the way one of mj Besingers arrested a young negro. On being asked Avhence he came,