n done
since by somebody else. I grant that Burton could talk the language
well, and that having to play the part of a dumb man adds to the risk.
Still, I do not think, as I said, that the chances are more than ten to
one against it."

"Well, I shall think it over," Rupert said; "but I must be going now,
for the boat will be loaded by this time."

"Why did you encourage Clinton in this mad idea, Easton?" Skinner asked
after Rupert had left them.

"I don't think I did encourage him. I told him the betting was ten to
one against his coming back alive, and I don't call that encouraging;
but I believe it is possible, and I am not at all sure that if I were in
his place, and the idea had occurred to me, that I shouldn't try to
carry it out."

CHAPTER XVI.

IN DISGUISE.

As long as there was a chance that the expedition might again advance
Rupert did nothing farther, and indeed was unable to come to any
decision as to his course. He had long since received an answer from
Captain Clinton to his letter written as soon as he was well enough to
sit up after arriving at Korti, with the news that Edgar had been
present with the expedition, and was now a prisoner in the hands of the
Arabs. Captain Clinton wrote in great distress himself, and said that
his wife was completely prostrated with the news. He said: "I know I
need not urge you, Rupert, to use every means to obtain some news of
Edgar. Draw upon me for any amount, however large, that may be necessary
for bribing natives to find, and if possible rescue, him. I fear that
the latter is hopeless. Still, if you see even the most remote chance of
it, let no question of expense stand in the way."

But even the promises of rewards that seemed to them to be fabulous
failed in eliciting from the spies any information as to Edgar's
whereabouts. He certainly was neither at Berber nor at Khartoum, nor had
the people he was with returned to Metemmeh; but beyond this negative
information Rupert could learn nothing. He continued to work assiduously
with his interpreter, and by the middle of May he had, after three
months' work, made such progress that he was able to converse in simple
phrases and to understand what was being said by the natives around him.

In the third week in May, on his arrival at Korti, he learned that
orders had that day been received that the whole force was to at once
retire, that even Dongola was to be abandoned, and that Wady Halfa was
to be the