ut stopped there
for a very few minutes. Everywhere were the bodies of men, women, and
children, of donkeys and other animals. All were now shrivelled and
dried by the sun, but the stench was almost unbearable, and he was glad
to hurry away.

Once beyond the walls he made for the hill. Many tents could be seen
there, and great numbers of men moving about. He felt sure that, among
so many, no one would notice that he was a newcomer; and after moving
among the throng, he soon sat down among a number of Dervishes who were
eating their morning meal. Taking some dates out of his bag, he munched
them quietly.

From the talk going on, he soon perceived that there was a considerable
amount of discontent at the long delay. Some of the men were in favour
of moving to Berber, on the ground that they would at least fare better
there; but the majority were eager to march north, to drive the
infidels from Merawi and Dongola.

"Mahmud would do that, I am sure," one of them said, "if he had but his
will; but how could we march without provisions? It is said that Mahmud
has asked for a sufficient supply to cross the Bayuda, and has promised
to drive the infidels before him to Assouan; but the Khalifa says no,
it would be better to wait till they come in a strong body, and then to
exterminate them. If we are not to fight, why were we sent here? It
would have been better to stay at Omdurman, because there we had plenty
of food; or, if it ran short, could march to the villages and take what
we wanted. Of course the Khalifa knows best, but to us it seems
strange, indeed."

There was a general chorus of assent. After listening for some time
Gregory rose and, passing over the ridge, came upon the main camp. Here
were a number of emirs and sheiks, with their banners flying before the
entrance of their tents. The whole ground was thickly dotted with
little shelters, formed of bushes, over which dark blankets were thrown
to keep out the rays of the sun. Everywhere women were seated or
standing--some talking to each other, others engaged in cooking.
Children played about; boys came in loaded with faggots, which they had
gone long distances to cut. In some places numbers of horses were
picketed, showing where the Baggara cavalry were stationed.

In the neighbourhood of the emirs' tents there was some sort of attempt
at order, in the arrangement of the little shelters, showing where the
men of their tribes were encamped. Beyond, straggling ou