in for
reading the papers, and I don't know anything about the chaps in Egypt;
but if there is going to be a row, I say let us have our share in it. We
are pretty well up in the pursuing drill; it would be a change to do it
with somebody to pursue. Anyhow, wherever it is it will be a good job to
get out of Aldershot, with its parades and its drills and its Long
Valley, and the whole blooming lot of it."

Three days later the order came, and the regiment proceeded by rail to
Southampton; they embarked as soon as they arrived there, and the
transport started on the following morning. The weather was fine, and
the voyage a pleasant one. They had but little to do, for they had left
their horses behind them, as they were to take over the horses of the
regiment they were going to relieve. The steamer was a fast one, and in
twelve days after sailing they reached Alexandria. They were met when
they arrived there by terrible news. General Baker's force had marched
to the relief of Tokar, but on the way had been attacked by the natives
and utterly defeated, half the force being killed; and the whole would
have been annihilated had they not reached the sea-shore, where the guns
of the vessels which had brought them down from Suakim checked the
pursuit of the enemy. Sinkat had fallen.

The news had arrived only on the previous day, and the greatest
excitement prevailed. The regiment at once proceeded to Cairo by train
and took over the barracks and horses from the small detachment that had
been left in charge of them, the main body of the regiment having
crossed them on their journey from Alexandria, as they were to proceed
to India in the same steamer that had brought out the Hussars. They were
scarcely settled in their quarters before they heard that, now that it
was too late, an expedition was to be sent down to Suakim. Two English
regiments would have saved Baker's force from destruction, and would
have rescued the garrisons of Sinkat and Tokar; now a large force would
have to be employed. Some time would, of course, be needed for the
organization of the expedition, and in the meantime the Hussars had
plenty of opportunity for investigating Cairo.

To Edgar the town was delightful, with its bazaar and its varied
population, and he and some of his comrades were never tired of
wandering about examining the shops with their curious contents, their
bright-coloured scarves, their wonderful pipes, their gaudy brasswork,
and their