ut of it
altogether, except for our bloodless capture of Shendy.

"So you say the Sirdar blew you up? I am not surprised at that. You
know the story of the man who fell overboard, in the old flogging days,
and the captain sentenced him to two dozen lashes, for leaving the ship
without orders."

"I don't think he was really angry; for when I went to him, the next
evening, he was a good deal milder. Of course, he did say again that I
had done wrong, but not in the same tone as before; and he seemed a
good deal interested in what I told him about Mahmud, and how my boy
had risked his life to rescue me, and had succeeded almost by a
miracle. He said there is a lot of good in these black fellows, if one
could but get at it. They have never had a chance yet; but, given good
administration, and the suppression of all tribal feuds with a stern
hand, they might be moulded into anything."

"And are you coming back to us now, Mr. Hilliard?"

"I have no idea. I don't suppose anything will be settled, for a time.
There is not likely to be much doing, anyway, except on the railway;
and even your gunboats will have an easy time of it, as there is not an
enemy left on this side of the sixth cataract.

"The Dervishes who escaped are pretty sure to cross the Atbara. There
are enough of them still, when they rally, to beat off any attacks that
might be made by our tribesmen from Kassala."

Chapter 13: The Final Advance.

A few days after the return of headquarters to Berber, Mahmud was sent
down country, and Fatma was permitted to accompany him. She expressed
to Gregory, in touching terms, her gratitude for what he had done for
her.

"We have been of mutual assistance," said Gregory. "I have the same
reason to be grateful to you, as you have to thank me. I saved your
life, and you saved mine. You were very kind to me, when I was a
captive--I have done as much as I could for you, since you have been
with us. So we are quits. I hope you will be happy with Mahmud. We do
not treat our prisoners badly, and except that he will be away from the
Soudan, he will probably be more comfortable than he has ever been in
his life."

Gregory was now employed in the transport department, and journeyed
backwards and forwards, with large convoys of camels, to the head of
the railway. The line was completed to Berber, but the officers charged
with its construction were indefatigable; and, as fast as the materials
came up, it was pushed on t