wise affected by his death; and at least he would
have the satisfaction of knowing that it was a kind action which had
brought him to his end. He prayed earnestly, not that his life might be
spared, but that his death might be a painless one; and that he might
meet it as an English officer should, without showing signs of fear.

The next day he heard orders given, and a great stir in camp; and he
gathered, from those who passed near the tent, that the enemy's cavalry
were again approaching; and that the mounted men were to ride out and
cut them off from retreating, while the dismounted men were to pour out
and annihilate them. Then, for a time, all was silence in the camp.

Suddenly an outburst of shouts and cries broke out and, almost
simultaneously, he heard the rattle of Maxim guns--the fight had begun.
Would the Egyptian horsemen stand firm, or would they give way to
panic? If they broke and fled, none whatever would return to their camp
through the host of Baggara horsemen.

For a time, the roll of the fire from the machine guns was incessant.
Then there was a pause. Two or three minutes later it broke out again,
but it was evidently somewhat farther off; and so it went on, with
intervals of silence, but ever getting farther away. It was clear that
the horsemen had not been able to bring the cavalry to a standstill,
and that these were steadily falling back, covered by the fire of the
Maxims. At last the sound grew faint in the distance and, soon
afterwards, the noise in the camp showed that the infantry were
returning.

It was not till two hours later that he heard the mounted men ride in;
and gathered, from the talk outside, that they had lost nearly two
hundred men, and had been unable to prevent the Egyptian cavalry from
returning to camp. Towards evening he heard angry talking, and could
distinguish Mahmud's voice. Then the blanket was pulled off its
supports, and two men ordered him to follow them.

This was doubtless the end, and he nerved himself for what was to come;
and, with head erect and a steady face, he accompanied the men to the
front of Mahmud's tent. The chief was standing, with frowning face; and
several Emirs were gathered in front of him, while a number of
tribesmen stood a short distance away.

"Now," Mahmud said, "let one of you speak."

One of the Emirs stepped forward.

"I, Osman Digna, demand that this infidel be put to death. His
countrymen have slain many of my men, and yours."