re and the Mahdi,"
Edgar said; "he tells them to fight, and they fight; if he told them to
scatter to their homes they would do so."

The sheik made no further remark, but it was evident to Edgar that he
was thinking out the problems that had presented themselves to him, for
some hours afterwards he suddenly remarked, "We who live in tents and
wander where we will are the only free men; it is more clear to me than
ever."

When they were within a day's journey of El-Obeid they met one of the
sheik's followers who had left the wady four days before the rest with
instructions to go to the city and find out whether it would be safe to
enter. He halted his camel when he reached that of the sheik.

"You must go no nearer the city, my father," he said. "I have learned
that orders have been received by the Mahdi's governor to arrest you and
all with you should you present yourselves there. There is much talk
about a party of soldiers who went into the desert to arrest you having
disappeared altogether; others have been sent to find them, but have
discovered no traces of them, so there are orders that any of our tribe
from the desert are to be closely questioned. Any who admit a knowledge
of you are to be sent to Khartoum. I was questioned at the gates, but as
I said that I had come straight from Khartoum and knew nought of what
was passing in the desert I was passed in without further inquiry. I
took up my abode with the people you told me of, and they have found out
for me what I have told you. It is but three days since the orders
concerning you were received."

"I thought there might be danger at El Obeid," the sheik said calmly.
"We will turn off so as to avoid the city, and will make south to join
the white pasha. For a while it would not be safe anywhere here."

Without further words he turned his camel from the track they had been
following, and bore away more to the south.

"Think you that the white pasha will be able to maintain his position?"

The sheik shook his head.

"For a time he may, but in the end he must either surrender or try to
strike down to the sea. His troops will weary at last even if they are
not beaten by the army the Mahdi will send against them. They will say,
'Why should we go on fighting? What good can come of our holding out
when no aid can possibly reach us from Egypt?' The Mahdi will be glad to
come to terms with them and allow them to live there in quiet with their
wives and families