ortable as
possible."

"Thank you, sir! It is to her I owe my life, and I am most anxious to
do all I can to repay the debt."

"You came along through the other brigades. Do you know what their
losses have been?"

"The British losses are not heavy, sir, considering the fire they have
been exposed to. Macdonald's brigade suffered most, I believe."

"Yes; I saw one of the officers just now. It seems they came down upon
Mahmud's picked bodyguard, and these fought desperately. They found
Mahmud in the usual attitude in which the Dervish emirs await death,
when they are conquered. He was sitting quietly on his mat, with his
arms laid down beside him; and was, I should imagine, somewhat
surprised at finding that he was not cut to pieces, at once."

"I am glad he was not, sir, for he certainly behaved well to me. It was
through the influence of his wife, I admit; but in sparing me he really
risked serious disaffection among his followers, and at last gave way
only to coercion."

The sergeant and men had now come up, and Gregory went off with them.
Three or four hundred women were seated on the ground together, with
half a dozen Egyptian soldiers standing as sentry over them. More or
less closely veiled as they were, Gregory could not distinguish Fatma
among them; and indeed, except when he first reached her in the water,
he had not got a glimpse of her features. The question, however, was
speedily settled when a woman rose, in the middle of the group, with a
cry of gladness.

"So you are saved!" she exclaimed, "I have feared so that you were
killed. Have you news of Mahmud?"

"Yes, lady. He is a prisoner, but well and unharmed. I have obtained an
order, from the General, that you are to be treated with honours, as
his wife. We cannot do much for you, at present, but all that is
possible will be done. I have represented your kindness to me, and
these soldiers will at once erect an arbour for you, and food will be
brought for you all, as soon as matters have settled down a little."

The Egyptian soldiers had already begun to cut down saplings.
Accustomed as they were to the work, in half an hour they had erected
an arbour. Fatma was then assisted into it, with the other women of the
harem. The sergeant gave orders, to the sentries, that no one was to be
allowed to interfere in any way with them; and then Gregory took his
leave, saying that he would return, later on.

He again joined General Hunter, who seemed to be