brought in on the day after the battle near the
town; he had been captured by some men of the Jahrin tribe and not by
the regular troops of the Mahdi; three or four days later there had been
a quarrel, the Mahdi's people wanting to take the prisoner and send him
up to Khartoum; his captors had objected, claiming him as their private
property; but as they were only a small party he would doubtless have
been taken from them by force had they not, during the night, stolen out
of the town with him, taken a boat, crossed the river, and made off.

Thus there was evidence that Edgar was still alive, and Skinner
endeavoured to impress upon Rupert that in every respect the
intelligence was favourable.

"You see, Clinton, if your brother had been sent up to the Mahdi, the
villain would have endeavoured to force him to change his religion.
Edgar would never have done that, and in that case it is pretty certain
that they would have chopped his head off. As it is, the chief of these
Arabs who took him evidently means to keep him as a slave for himself.
Of course it is not pleasant to be a slave, but it is better than having
the choice between worshipping a greasy Arab or having your head chopped
off, and it will give him time to learn the language, to make his plans
of escape, and to carry them out."

Rupert was too weak and ill to fully enter into the question, but he did
see that Edgar's position was certainly better under an Arab master than
it would have been had he been sent up to Khartoum, and the knowledge
that he was alive and was in no immediate danger of his life did much
to revive him, and enable him to bear the weary journey down to Korti
better than he would otherwise have done. Once there the comparatively
cool air of the hospital tents, the quiet, and the supply of every
luxury soon had their effect, and in the course of three weeks he was up
and about, though it would be some time before he would be fit for
active duty. It was still altogether uncertain what decision would be
finally arrived at at home respecting the expedition, but for the
present the troops were stationed at various points on the river as far
down as Dongola, and it was hoped that later on the advance against
Khartoum would be recommenced.

Rupert, as soon as he was able to get about, had a long conversation
with Major Kitchener, the political officer who was in charge of all
communications with the natives. He related to him the circumstances o