ws:

"Dear Captain Keppel,

"I am a prisoner in Mahmud's hands. This is the result of my own
impetuosity--I will not say folly, for I cannot regret that I yielded
to the sudden impulse that seized me. A boat containing some women was
sunk by a shell, when but a few yards astern of the gunboat. Most of
its occupants were killed, but I saw a woman struggling in the water
and, without thinking of the consequences, jumped overboard to save
her, my servant following me. When we reached her, we found that the
current was too strong to regain the gunboat, and so landed about half
a mile down, hoping to find shelter in the bushes until the boat came
down the stream. What I did, however, had been observed by the
Dervishes; and as soon as I landed a party rode up, headed by Mahmud
himself, who was aware that his favourite wife was in the boat that had
sunk.

"Most fortunately, it turned out that she was the woman I had saved.
Upon her appeal Mahmud spared our lives. He has released my man, who
will carry this to you; but, having sworn that he would spare no white
man, he retains me in his hands as a prisoner, until he can lay the
facts before the Khalifa and obtain his permission to let me go. I
trust that all will be well, and that some day I may rejoin the army.
However, there is no saying how matters may turn out.

"I am happy in knowing that there is no one who, if the worst comes to
the worst, will grieve over my loss. I recommend my faithful servant to
you. I should wish the balance of pay coming to me to be handed to him,
as well as my camel and horse, and all other belongings. By the sale of
these he would be able, at the end of the war, to buy a piece of land
and settle down among his own people.

"Will you kindly report my capture to Colonel Wingate or General
Hunter? Thanking you for your kindness to me, I remain,

"Yours faithfully,

"Gregory Hilliard.

"P. S. In my cabin is a tin box containing documents of importance to
me. I shall be greatly obliged if you will take charge of these,
until--as I hope will be the case--I rejoin you."

He handed the paper to Zaki, who took his hand and raised it to his
forehead, with tears in his eyes.

"I go because you order me, master," he said, in a broken voice; "but I
would a thousand times rather remain, and share your fate, whatever it
might be."

Then he turned, and abruptly left the tent.

Twice that day, Gregory had received food from a female slave of the