e sepoys."

"Ah, that was because they had been plundering treasuries and capturing
booty of all sorts. But I do not suppose many of these Arabs ever saw a
gold coin in their lives. They don't see many silver ones. What wealth
they have is in sheep and cattle and horses, and with these they barter
for such things as they require. No; if you are fighting out here for a
year you will get nothing except a few worthless charms, of no value
whatever except as curios."

"Well, I wish they would let us be off," another said. "I am sick
already of these sands and that big lump of stone. I hear the boats are
going up every day, and if they do not move us soon the infantry will be
there before us."

"I think we shall travel a good deal faster than they do when we are
once off," Edgar said. "They will have rapids and all sorts of
difficulties to contend with, while we shall go on steadily,
five-and-twenty miles a day perhaps. You may be sure we shall be well in
front when the time for work comes. They would never go to the expense
of sending you all out, and mounting you on camels, and then keep you
behind."

"Have you heard the news, lads?" a sergeant asked, joining the group.

"No! What is it?"

"We are to strike tents at four o'clock this afternoon, march down to
the river, embark in a steamer, and start to-night."

"Hooray!" the men shouted. "That is the best news we have had since we
landed."

In a short time most of the men were at work giving a final polish to
their arms. By four o'clock the tents were levelled and rolled up, the
baggage was packed and sent forward on camels, and the regiment was
formed up awaiting the orders to march. The heat of the day had somewhat
abated, but the march, short as it was, was a trying one, from the
clouds of light sand that rose from beneath the feet of the column, and
the men were heartily glad when they embarked, two troops on board the
steamer and the rest on large flats which she was to tow up the stream.
Kits and belts were taken off, and the men made themselves as
comfortable as the crowded state of the flats would permit. The officers
were on board the steamer. As they started a loud cheer broke from the
men. They were fairly off at last. There was no thought of the dangers
and difficulties before them. It was enough for them that they were
fairly on their way up the Nile to relieve, as they hoped, Khartoum, and
to rescue Gordon.

"If this is campaigning I don't care ho