re on deck, I did not ask about your men. I must
order food to be given them."

"They have plenty," Gregory said. "I brought enough for a week with me.
I thought that I might be detained two or three days, here, and be
obliged to make the journey by land to Abu Hamed."

"I have not asked you what you were doing at this out of the way place,
and how long you have been here."

"I only landed this morning. I came down to search for some relics. My
father was on board Stewart's steamer, and as there would be nothing
doing at Omdurman, for a few days, I got leave to run down. I was
fortunate in securing a boat at Abu Hamed, on my arrival there; and I
have been equally so, now, in having been picked up by you; so that I
shall not be away from Omdurman more than seven days, if I have equal
luck in getting a steamer at Atbara. I do not think I shall be
disappointed, for the white troops are coming down, and stores are
going up for the Egyptian brigade, so that I am certain not to be kept
there many hours. The Sirdar has gone up to Fashoda, or I don't suppose
I should have got leave."

"Yes. I heard at Merawi, from the officer in command, that some foreign
troops had arrived there. I suppose nothing more is known about it?"

"No; no news will probably come down for another fortnight, perhaps
longer than that."

"Who can they be?"

"The general idea is that they are French. They can only be French, or
a party from the Congo States."

"They had tremendous cheek, whoever they are," the officer said. "It is
precious lucky, for them, that we have given the Khalifa something else
to think about, or you may be sure he would have wiped them out pretty
quickly; unless they are a very strong force, which doesn't seem
probable. I hear the Sirdar has taken a regiment up with him."

"Yes, but I don't suppose any actual move will be made, at present."

"No, I suppose it will be a diplomatic business. Still, I should think
they would have to go."

"No one has any doubt about that, at Omdurman," Gregory said. "After
all the expense and trouble we have had to retake the Soudan, it is not
likely that we should let anyone else plant themselves on the road to
the great lakes.

"When will you be at Abu Hamed, sir?"

"We shall be there about five o'clock--at any rate, I think you may
safely reckon on catching the morning train. It goes, I think, at
eight."

"I am sure to catch a train, soon, for orders have been sent down that
rail