hops, and buy anything you like, and have a good meal. Then you had
better take the camels across to Azim's camp. I shall not want you
then, till evening."

No time was lost. Three battalions and a half of Soudanese were sent up
the Blue Nile, in steamers, and the garrisons stationed at several
points on the river were also taken on board. Three companies of camel
corps marched along the bank, and arrived at Abu Haraz, a hundred and
thirty miles up the river, in fifty-six hours after starting. Five
hundred baggage camels were also sent up. As the distance from Gedareh
to this point was a hundred miles, and as water was only to be found at
one point, it was necessary to carry up a supply for the troops.

Colonel Collinson, who was in command, pushed forward at once with the
12th Soudanese and the camel corps. When Fadil heard of their approach,
he made a night attack on Gedareh. This, however, was easily repulsed
by the garrison. He then broke up his camp and marched away, intending
to cross the Blue Nile, and join the Khalifa.

His troops were greatly demoralized by their failures, and in spite of
the precautions he took, the Darfur Sheik, with five hundred of his
men, succeeded in effecting his escape; and at once joined us,
actively, in the further operations against Fadil. As there was no
further danger, the Soudanese marched back again and joined the other
battalions, the garrisons on the river were re-established, and part of
the force returned to Omdurman.

The Sirdar had returned from Fashoda before Gregory came back, and had
left almost immediately for Cairo. On the day after Gregory's return,
he had a sharp attack of fever; the result partly of the evil smells at
Gedareh, heightened by the fact that the present was the fever season,
in the Blue Nile country.

Chapter 22: The Crowning Victory.

It was eight weeks before he recovered, and even then the doctor said
that he was not fit for any exertion. He learned that on the 22nd of
October, Colonel Lewis, with two companies of the camel corps and three
squadrons of Lancers, had started from Omdurman to visit the various
villages between the White and Blue Niles; to restore order, and
proclaim that the authority of the Khedive was established there. On
the 7th of November, following the Blue Nile up, he reached Karkoj, but
a short distance below the point at which the navigation of the river
ceased. He had come in contact with a portion of Fadil's forc