rt in good
health, and the wounded did extremely well, the doctors themselves being
surprised at the rapidity with which wounds healed and the men recovered
their strength, an effect doubtless due to the clear dry air.

The troops in the village enjoyed better health than those down by the
river, as they obtained the benefit of the air from the desert, while
down near the stream heavy dews fell at night and there were several
slight cases of fever. All looked eagerly for the return of the steamers
from Khartoum with news how things were going on there. As for their own
position, no one had the slightest anxiety. No news had been received of
the approach of the three thousand troops which had been reported as on
their way down against them, and they felt confident in their power to
repulse any attack that the enemy at Metemmeh could make against them.
They were, too, in hourly expectation of the arrival across the desert
of reinforcements from Korti.

CHAPTER XIV.

A SLAVE.

Although Edgar had felt disappointed when the sounds of the firing round
Metemmeh died away, and he knew by the triumphant shouts of the Arabs
that the British had retired, he had hardly expected that an attack
would be made upon the town until reinforcements came up, and he
consoled himself with the idea that within a few weeks at the utmost the
reinforcements would arrive, and that if the Arabs remained in the town
until that time he would be rescued. Two or three days later he heard a
great hubbub just after nightfall in the streets outside. The Arabs who
were in the court-yard snatched up their guns, and the din became louder
than before.

Above the uproar Edgar could catch the words, "Death to the Kaffir!" and
"Send him to the Mahdi!" and guessed that his own fate was the subject
of dispute. Picking up one of the Arab swords he determined at least to
sell his life as dearly as he could. For an hour his fate trembled in
the balance. At times there were lulls in the tumult, while a few voices
only, raised in furious argument, were heard. Then the crowd joined in
again and the yells became deafening, and every moment Edgar expected to
hear the clash of weapons, and to see the little party to which he
belonged driven headlong into the house followed by the Mahdi's men. But
he had before witnessed many Arab disputes, and knew that however
furious the words and gestures might be they comparatively seldom came
to blows, and though greatly