p their pouches from the reserve
ammunition and to have a drink of water. They then moved forward again,
confidently expecting that the attack would be renewed; but the Arabs
had had enough of it, and the square moved on without interruption
until, half an hour after sunset, they reached the river. The wounded
were at once carried forward to the water, and then the troops were
marched up by companies, and each in turn were permitted to drink their
fill. Then guards were posted, and the exhausted troops threw themselves
down on the ground.

The object of their long march was attained, the Nile was reached, and
thenceforth there would be no further suffering from want of water. The
next day communication would be opened with Gordon's steamers, their
friends would in the morning be fetched in from the zareba, and then
there would be a long rest until the boat column arrived and the
remainder of the force from Korti marched across to join them.

In the morning Easton went across from his own company to the Marines.

"Where is Mr. Skinner?" he asked a sergeant.

"He is down with the wounded at the river, sir. He had his left arm
broken by a bullet just as we left the zareba. He was just in front of
me at the time, and I made a shift to bandage his arm and tied it up to
his body, and then he took his place in the ranks again and kept on with
them until we got here; then when we halted he fainted right off, and we
carried him down to the hospital camp by the water."

Easton at once went down to visit his friend. He was lying on a
stretcher.

"Well, Skinner, I am awfully sorry to hear that you got hit. How are you
feeling, old man?"

"I cannot say much for myself just at present; it is only about half an
hour since they finished bandaging me up and putting on splints; they
just stopped the bleeding last night, and then I asked them to leave me
alone until this morning. They had lots of serious cases to attend to,
and mine would keep well enough; besides, I was so weak with loss of
blood, and so really done up, that I felt that I could not stand any
more then, and I was asleep in a very few minutes. However, my arm woke
me up before daylight, and I was glad enough to have it put in proper
shape, though it hurt me deucedly, I can tell you. However, it is
comparatively easy now, and I hope I shall be all right by the time the
advance begins. What a blessing it is having shade and water here!"

"It is, indeed," Easton agre