t at El-Teb. Edgar, who had
remained on board the hospital-ship, had made rapid progress towards
convalescence, and was now reported by the surgeons as fit to return to
duty, which he was most anxious to do, as it was daily expected that the
force would move out against Osman Digma, who was at Tamai, a place
sixteen miles to the south-west of Suakim. The troops had been
disembarked, and he was delighted when he was again able to join his
squadron. Spies came and went daily, and they were unanimous in saying
that Osman would fight another battle. The news that El-Teb was a
disastrous defeat was by this time known, but his explanation that the
misfortunes were solely due to his orders having been disobeyed,
perfectly satisfied his followers, and their belief that he was
invincible was wholly unshaken.

The most fanatical of the coast tribes still held to him, and on the 9th
of March twenty-one of their sheiks sent in a defiant reply to the
proclamation, saying that the ten thousand men they commanded would meet
us in the field. It was therefore evident that the struggle to come
would be much more serious and determined than that of El-Teb.

Edgar received quite an ovation upon rejoining his troop. The manner in
which he had defended his wounded comrade had awakened their lively
admiration, the more so since the man for whom he had so imperilled his
life had but lately been his personal antagonist.

"Well, young un, you are getting on," a sergeant said to him. "I won't
say you are getting all the luck, for luck has nothing to do with it
this time, anyhow. You are doing well, Smith, and it won't be many
months before you are in our mess, and it needs no prophet to see that
you have every chance of going higher if you keep on as you began. Here
you are only about seventeen years old, and you have made a big mark in
the regiment already. You have got the major and the rest of the
officers on your side from that affair at Aldershot, then the fact that
you are the best cricketer in the regiment counts for a lot, and now you
have got wounded and have been recommended for the Victoria Cross.

"If you don't mount up after all that it will be your own fault. You
have every advantage. The fact that you have been a gentleman is in your
favour, for naturally men are picked out for promotion who are best
fitted for the position of officers; and your having been able to take
a first-class certificate in the school in itself brings yo