approaching the watcher was to return at once to
the camels, take his own animal, and ride to the wady with news as to
their strength; the other was to remain on watch until they either
retired or set out on the track of the fugitives, when he was to push
forward with all speed with the news. A messenger was also sent off to
the douar to the north saying that an expedition of the Mahdi's men was
on its way out to plunder and destroy the encampments of the tribe, and
begging them to send to El Bahr Nile all their fighting men in order
that the dervishes should have such a lesson that they would be well
content to leave the tribes alone in future.

As before, the women and children were perched on the summit of their
household goods on the top of the camels. Contrary to their usual
custom most of the men walked, as the camels were loaded to the full
extent of their powers.

Edgar had manufactured for himself, soon after his arrival at the camp,
a pair of sandals from the skin of a goat that had been killed for food,
and he was therefore able to keep up with the camels with comfort. As it
was considered that there was no occasion for hurry, and as the camels
were very heavily laden, three days instead of two were devoted to the
journey, and even then it was a very fatiguing one for those on foot. On
arriving at El Bahr Nile Edgar found that the oasis was much smaller
than that they had quitted. The soil was rocky, and although there were
two large pools of clear water there was but little ground round them in
any way suitable for cultivation. Acacias and other shrubs, however,
grew thickly down the valley, showing that there was a certain amount of
moisture below the surface. The tents were soon erected by the side of
those of the first party, and when the fires were lighted and the camels
unloaded, taken to the water and then turned loose to browse among the
trees, the place assumed a home-like appearance.

"You can shoot, Muley," the sheik said to Edgar. "If I give you a gun
will you fight against these dervishes?"

"Certainly I will, sheik."

"Your guns carry a long way; they are wonderful weapons. At Metemmeh men
were killed two miles away."

"Yes, they are good weapons, sheik, and I wish I had one of them here,
for I am afraid I should not be able to do much with your guns."

The sheik turned to his wife: "Fetch out that Kaffir gun, Amina." And to
Edgar's surprise she brought out from the tent a Martini rifle a