d by the enemy, who have got guns posted, waiting to be
brought off. Stuart Wortley came down in a small boat with the news
last night."

"I could go straight to Shebacat; but for Abu Klea I am not so certain,"
said Reece.

"I can guide you as straight as a die," replied Strachan.

"Indeed, from Shebacat you cannot miss the track."

Captain Reece then said he had some immediate business to look to, and
retired to the watch-tower, partly to have another look round, but
principally to get away alone for a bit to think. It was clear to him
that he must get away as soon as possible, but yet leaving would cause
him to incur responsibility, which he hated. He was a brave man enough
where personal danger was concerned, but to have to decide upon a matter
where grave interests were at stake threw him into a cold sweat. Let a
superior officer be in command, and he was as jolly as possible under
any circumstances; supposing he got killed, and all got killed, it had
nothing to do with him--that was the commanding officer's look-out; and
he obeyed him cheerfully, reserving the right to criticise him freely
afterwards, supposing he were alive to do so.

But here he himself had to take a decided step; he was commanding
officer, and Strachan had brought him no definite orders. Suppose they
were intercepted, and cut to pieces. The blame would fall on him. Why
did he quit the zereba? Suppose he delayed, and a force had to be sent
to his rescue, and it were proved afterwards that he could have saved
the small main body all that risk and trouble, and very likely loss, if
he had shown a little more enterprise. Or suppose that the enemy, now a
small body, assembled in force, cut off his retreat, now open, prevented
all rescue, and cut them to pieces. In any case he would be blamed. He
dreaded the second alternative most, because then he would be alive and
ashamed. Still it made his ears burn to think what would be said of
him, even after he could not hear or know, if he failed.

The more he thought about it, however, the more he saw that the first
risk was the best to incur, and he finally determined to march that
night and stand the racket. He examined the enemy's position once more
carefully through his field-glass, and could only make out a few camels
and a couple of horses. Indeed, they could not have watered any large
number, especially as they had to do so entirely by night, the well
being under the fire of the zer