ley
narrowed to a gorge but a few yards wide, with the rocks rising sheer up
hundreds of feet on either side, the bottom was filled with large
blocks of stone brought down by the floods, whose highest level could be
seen forty or fifty feet above them on the rocks. Occasionally it was
necessary to build a sloping platform with small boulders of stones to
enable the camels to get over the vast blocks that filled the space
between the walls.

It took them three days of arduous labour; but the valley at last opened
out, and they saw a broad expanse of country stretching before them. No
one had either met or passed them on the way down; but here in the lower
valley there were several flocks of sheep and goats watched over by Arab
boys. These, at the sight of strangers, hastily collected their animals
and drove them up the hillside, but at a shout from Ben Ibyn, saying
that they were friends and would do them no harm, two of them presently
came down.

On hearing that the travellers intended to camp for the night they led
the way to the wells, and for three yards of cotton killed and brought
in a sheep. Presently the rest of the lads came down and squatted near
the fire that Yussuf had kindled, and after the party had dined were
rejoiced by the present of some wheaten cakes and a portion of the
cooked meat. They now became very communicative. They belonged to the
Hadendowah tribe. There were three or four hundred of the dervishes at
Tokar. Osman Digma had in all four or five thousand men at Handoub, and
was soon going to drive the Kaffirs into the sea. Many of their tribe
were with him, but others were disheartened at the long delay to carry
his promise into effect. They had lost, too, a great many of their best
fighting men in the battles with the Kaffirs, but no doubt when Osman
Digma announced that the favourable time had arrived, all would again
join him in order to have their share of the plunder of Suakim.

The next day they stopped at the wells, telling the boys that the
camels were sorely wearied by their journey down the gorge, and that
they needed a day's rest. In the evening as soon as the meal was over
they mounted their camels, much to the surprise of the native boys, and
started. Edgar could judge of the general position, for though he had
not been as far as Tokar he could tell pretty well the line they should
take to come down upon Trinkitat. As soon as they were fairly out of the
valley the camels were put