a couple of boxes of
cartridges, and as they are done up in india-rubber they are sure to be
all right. By the way, is it true that we are all going down? There was
a rumour last night that orders had come."

"Yes, we are to retire to Wady Halfa."

"What! and abandon Dongola?"

Rupert nodded.

"Then I call it a beastly shame. More than that, I call it a downright
dishonourable action!" Easton said hotly. "Here we are going to abandon
a town of some twenty thousand inhabitants to these fanatics. Not only
that, but to give up to their vengeance all the tribes between Wady
Halfa and Metemmeh who have trusted in our promises, have thrown in
their lot with us, and have for the last four months been doing all our
transport. Our fathers used to be proud to call themselves Englishmen,
but, by Jove, there is very little reason for us to be. That Boer
business was shameful and humiliating enough, but this is worse still. I
don't say that we are bound to go on to Khartoum, although it would be
the best and cheapest and most satisfactory mode in every way of
settling this Mahdi and ensuring order in the Soudan; but I do think
that we are bound to hold the river from Korti downwards to protect the
tribes that have been friendly to us, and to save this town from ruin
and desolation. Not only this town, but all the peaceful villages down
the river. Besides, so long as we are here the Arabs will see that the
Mahdi is not all-powerful, and may sooner or later rise against his
tyranny. Well, I never thought this campaign was going to end in the
disgraceful abandonment of the Nile Valley from Korti to Wady Haifa.
However," he went on, checking himself suddenly, "it is of no use
talking of that now; we have got to think about your expedition, which
to us three is a far more important business. How does your Arabic get
on?"

"Fairly well. I don't say that I can talk a great deal, but as I have
learnt it by ear I speak with a fair accent, at least so Ibrahim says. I
have taken particular pains with what you may call salutations, such as
one man gives another as they pass each other on a journey, or what one
says on entering a house or a village. I can ask for food all right,
return thanks for hospitality, ask the way, and all that sort of thing;
and Ibrahim said that in all these things I could pass very well as a
native, especially as there are slight distinctions and differences
between the language of the various tribes. They are a