r dead scattered about, seventy or eighty yards from
our square. I had, all along, felt convinced that it would be
impossible to pass through their lines; therefore I went to a spot
where I had noticed that a number had fallen, close together, and went
about examining them carefully. It would not have done to have chosen
the dress of an emir, as his body might have been examined, but the
ordinary dead would pass unnoticed.

"I first exchanged the robe for one marked with the Mahdi's patches. It
was already smeared with blood. I then carried the body of the man
whose robe I had taken off, for some distance. I laid him down on his
face, thinking that the absence of the patches would not be seen. Then
I crawled some thirty or forty yards nearer to the Dervishes, so that
it would seem that I had strength to get that far, before dying. Then I
lay down, partly on my side, so that the patches would show, but with
my face downwards on my arm.

"I had, before dyeing my skin, cut my hair close to my head, on which I
placed the Dervish's turban. The only property that I brought out with
me was a revolver, and this pocketbook. Both of these I buried in the
sand; the pocketbook a short distance away, the pistol lightly covered,
and within reach of my hand, so that I could grasp it and sell my life
dearly, if discovered.

"Soon after daylight I heard the triumphant yells of the Dervishes, and
knew that my men had surrendered. Then there was a rush of horse and
foot, and much shouting and talking. I lifted my head slightly, and
looked across. Not a Dervish was to be seen in front of me.

"I felt that I had better move, so, taking up my pistol and hiding it,
I crawled on my hands and knees to the spot where I had hidden this
book; and then got up on to my feet, and staggered across the plain, as
if sorely wounded, and scarcely able to drag my feet along. As I had
hoped, no one seemed to notice me, and I saw three or four other
figures, also making their way painfully towards where the Dervishes
had encamped.

"Here were a few camels, standing untended. Everyone had joined in the
rush for booty--a rush to be met with bitter disappointment, for, with
the exception of the arms of the fallen, and what few valuables they
might have about their person, there was nothing to be gained. I
diverged from the line I had been following, kept on until there was a
dip in the ground, that would hide me from the sight of those behind;
then I star