e those three bottles of brandy you have got left and a
couple of pounds of tobacco. That is the utmost allowance I should give.
The camels will have to go a long time without water, and the less you
put on their backs the better. You know what a difference a few pounds
makes to a horse; and I suppose it must be the same thing with them."

At three o'clock on the afternoon of the 30th the force intended for the
desert march paraded, and after marching past Lord Wolseley moved off in
solid formation, thirty camels abreast. The total force consisted of 73
officers, 1212 men and natives, and 2091 camels. The whole camp had
turned out to see the departure of the column, and Edgar, with his
helmet pressed down low over his eyes, watched Rupert as he rode after
Sir Herbert Stewart, and Easton and Skinner with the Guards Camel Corps.
The Heavies had been much disappointed at not forming part of the first
advance, and especially at their camels being taken for baggage animals;
but they consoled themselves by the fact that the native spies all
reported that there were no bodies of the enemy between Korti and
Gakdul, and it was not likely therefore that there would be any fighting
until the whole force moved forward together from Gakdul to Metemmeh.

In front of the column were half a dozen natives on camels. These acted
as the guides of the party. They had been extremely unwilling to go, and
it was only when the general offered them the alternative of going
willingly and receiving good pay for their work, or being lashed to
their camels and forced to go without any pay whatever, that they
elected the first. The Hussars scouted in front of the column, riding
far ahead and scouring the country in search of lurking foes. Two hours
after starting there was a halt, fires were lighted from the dry grass
and mimosa bushes, and tea was made and served out. By this time it was
five o'clock, and the sun had set. In an hour or two the moon, which was
nearly full, rose, and afforded ample light for the journey.

For a time the silence of the desert was broken by the laughter and talk
of the men, but as the time went on the sounds were hushed as sleepiness
fell upon them. Short halts were of frequent occurrence, as the baggage
animals in the rear lagged behind, or their loads slipped, and had to be
readjusted. Then a trumpet was sounded by the rear-guard, and it was
repeated by the trumpeters along the column, and all came to a halt
until t