highest point on the river occupied. That evening he went up
to General Buller's tent. The general was still at mess, and Rupert
waited outside his tent until he returned. He had several times spoken
to the general on matters of duty.

"Who is that?" General Buller asked as he saw a figure standing in front
of his tent.

"Clinton, sir. I am particularly anxious to speak to you if you can
spare me a short time."

"Come in," the general said. "What can I do for you? Take a seat there."

"You have perhaps heard, sir, that I made the discovery at Metemmeh that
a brother of mine who had two years and a half ago run away from school
and enlisted, was the trumpeter of the Heavies who was carried off by
the Arabs close to Metemmeh."

"Yes, I heard that, Clinton, and was very sorry for you. I cannot
imagine a more distressing affair."

"It was really no fault of his that he ran away, general; he was under a
misconception altogether, and neither my father nor mother blamed him in
the slightest. I only say this to show that he did not run away from
wildness. No one could have been steadier than he was. It was a
frightful mistake connected with his birth which I need not trouble you
about. We were greatly attached to each other, and my father and mother
are completely broken down at the thought of his being a slave for life
in the hands of the Arabs. Now, sir, for the last three months I have
been working almost day and night at the language, and can get on fairly
in it."

"Yes?" General Buller put in, wondering what was coming next.

"I have come to ask you if you would be good enough to ask Lord Wolseley
to let me have six months' leave. My intention is to disguise myself,
and to go up the country with one or two friendly natives. I should pass
as being dumb; as although I can make myself understood in simple
matters I should, of course, be detected were any native to enter into a
long conversation with me. I have seen Major Kitchener to-day, and he
says that he has no doubt he could arrange with one of the sheiks for me
to go with him, and to travel about the country with him until we found
my brother. My father has authorized me to spend any money that may be
required, and I could pay high enough to make it well worth the while of
any of these natives to be faithful. I do not see any reasons why I
should not succeed. I have been speaking to one of the surgeons, and he
says that if at any time it is suspected that I am