soldiers had had
to learn the details of Dervish fighting by bitter experience. But
the experience, once gained, was carefully preserved. The Intelligence
Branch of the Egyptian army rose under the direction of Colonel (now
Sir Reginald) Wingate to an extraordinary efficiency. For ten years
the history, climate, geography, and inhabitants of the Soudan were the
objects of a ceaseless scrutiny. The sharp line between civilisation
and savagery was drawn at Wady Halfa; but beyond that line, up the great
river, within the great wall of Omdurman, into the arsenal, into the
treasury, into the mosque, into the Khalifa's house itself, the spies
and secret agents of the Government--disguised as traders, as warriors,
or as women--worked their stealthy way. Sometimes the road by the Nile
was blocked, and the messengers must toil across the deserts to Darfur,
and so by a tremendous journey creep into Omdurman. At others a trader
might work his way from Suakin or from the Italian settlements. But by
whatever route it came, information--whispered at Halfa, catalogued
at Cairo--steadily accumulated, and the diaries of the Intelligence
Department grew in weight and number, until at last every important Emir
was watched and located, every garrison estimated, and even the endless
intrigues and brawls in Omdurman were carefully recorded.

The reports of the spies were at length confirmed and amplified by two
most important witnesses. At the end of 1891 Father Ohrwalder made his
escape from Omdurman and reached the Egyptian territory. Besides giving
the Intelligence Department much valuable information, he published
a thrilling account of his captivity [TEN YEARS' CAPTIVITY, Father
Ohrwalder], which created a wide and profound impression in England. In
1895 a still more welcome fugitive reached Assuan. Early on the 16th of
March a weary, travel-stained Arab, in a tattered jibba and mounted on
a lame and emaciated camel, presented himself to the Commandant. He
was received with delighted wonder, and forthwith conducted to the best
bath-room available. Two hours later a little Austrian gentleman stepped
forth, and the telegraph hastened to tell the news that Slatin, sometime
Governor of Darfur, had escaped from the Khalifa's clutches. Here
at last was a man who knew everything that concerned the Dervish
Empire--Slatin, the Khalifa's trusted and confidential servant, almost
his friend, who had lived with him, who was even permitted to dine wi