ell into their power. Then he
considered that it was probable that the people of Metemmeh itself, who
lived by the passage of caravans and the river traffic, would at heart
be as much opposed to the Mahdi as were those of Khartoum and other
cities.

The force with which the British had fought at Abu Klea was composed
partly of the Mahdi's regular followers, partly of wild tribesmen,
animated alike by Mahommedan fanaticism and the hope of plunder; and
although these might unite in an attack against Christians, they had
little love for each other. The band into whose hands he had fallen
might be townspeople, but more probably were members of some tribe that
had been summoned to arrest the progress of the troops going up to the
relief of Khartoum.

Now that he was detained a prisoner instead of being at once killed,
Edgar felt that there was a strong chance for him. In a couple of days
the force might attack Metemmeh, and in that case he might be rescued.
It was, however, a place of considerable size, and containing at present
a very large number of fighting men; and after the losses the column had
suffered in the first fight and during its subsequent encounters,
General Stewart might well hesitate to risk still greater loss than he
had already suffered by an attack upon the place.

It was probable that the Mahdi would send down a large body of troops
from those besieging Khartoum, as soon as he heard of the arrival of the
small British force on the river, and every gun might be needed to
maintain the position and repel attacks until the arrival of
reinforcements across the desert.

Thus Edgar felt it to be very doubtful whether any attack would be made
for the present. Of course as soon as reinforcements arrived, or the
boat column came up the river, Metemmeh would be captured; but by that
time he might be hundreds of miles away. The boat column might not get
round for six weeks, while all reinforcements coming across the desert
from Korti would have to march, for Edgar felt sure that it would be a
long time before the camels were in a condition for work again.

It was well that when he filled the two water-bottles for the use of the
sergeant Edgar had taken a long drink, for no one came near him until
after dark, and he suffered a good deal from thirst, and from the pain
caused by the tightness with which he was bound. He began to think that
he had been altogether forgotten, when the door of the outhouse opened
and