om.

"Gentlemen," the former said with a smile, "allow me to introduce
Bimbashi Hilliard, who is the bearer of a message to me from General
Rundle, now in command at Omdurman.

"Major Hilliard, these are Captain MacKerrel, commanding four hundred
and fifty men of the 16th Egyptians; Captain Wilkinson, an equal number
of the Arab battalion; Major Lawson, who has under his command three
hundred and seventy Arab irregulars; Captain the Honorable H. Ruthven,
who has under him eighty camel men; also Captain Fleming of the Royal
Army Medical Corps, who is at once our medical officer, and in command
of the baggage column; and Captain Dwyer. They are all, like yourself,
officers in the Egyptian Army; and rank, like yourself, as Bimbashis.

"Now, sir, will you deliver your message to me?"

"It is of a somewhat grave character, sir, but General Rundle thought
it very important that you should be acquainted with the last news. The
Sirdar has gone up the White Nile, with some of the gunboats and the
11th Soudanese. He deemed it necessary to go himself, because a body of
foreign troops--believed to be French--have established themselves at
Fashoda."

An exclamation of surprise broke from all the officers.

"In the next place, sir, Fadil, who had arrived with his force within
forty miles of Khartoum, has retired up the banks of the Blue Nile, on
hearing of the defeat of the Khalifa. Major General Hunter has
therefore gone up that river, with three gunboats and another Soudanese
battalion, to prevent him, if possible, from crossing it and joining
the Khalifa, who is reported to be collecting the remains of his
defeated army.

"It is possible--indeed the General thinks it is probable--that Fadil,
if unable to cross, may return with his army to Gedareh. It is to warn
you of this possibility that he sent me here. Gedareh is reported to be
a defensible position, and therefore he thinks that, if you capture it,
it would be advisable to maintain yourself there until reinforcements
can be sent to you, either from the Blue Nile or the Atbara. The place,
it seems, is well supplied with provisions and stores; and in the event
of Fadil opposing you, it would be far safer for you to defend it than
to be attacked in the open, or during a retreat."

"It is certainly important news, Mr. Hilliard. Hitherto we have
supposed that Fadil had joined the Khalifa before the fight at
Omdurman, and there was therefore no fear of his reappearing here.