o, and a few porters. Alexandria at eleven. Their first act was
to satisfy their long-standing appetites. Then to the docks they went,
to fulfil, if possible, their mission, which was not archaeological
research, but to follow their infantry to the north. They searched
along the quays to see if any possibility offered of slipping aboard an
outbound transport. Alas, the only vessel there cast off while they,
barred by a hopeless line of sentries, gazed sadly on. They hired a
Greek sailing-boat, to investigate the vessels in harbour, but were
only marooned by him on an American warship. They would know better
next time than to trust a Greek and pay him first.

Relieved later in the afternoon from this predicament, the troopers
betook themselves once more to the French cafe, where, enamoured of the
mam'selle, time passed pleasantly. "Cafe, chocolate, and demoiselles
tres bonne Oui." At any rate, if they had missed escaping from Egypt,
there were worse ways than this of spending the day.

Late at night, tired, piastreless, and with forebodings of the mat, but
happy and careless, they arrived back in Cairo. By devious ways they
reached their camp and their tents; and spread their blankets in the
open, under the stars. There was probably a large dose of fatigue in
store, and a few hours would see the rise of the sun over the
sand-hills to the east, the dawn of another day of heat, dust, flies,
and work. But they had given play to their spirits; and so, with the
philosophy of the average bush-whacker and stockman, they went
contentedly to sleep.

CHAPTER XI

MAC LEAVES FOR ACTIVE SERVICE

Egypt blistered in the early summer heat; flies increased in myriads;
clouds of locusts darkened the sky; and hot winds blew, scorching and
parching everything. The infantry had vanished to the north, to
perilous adventures in the unknown; and the mounted men were grieved to
the very depths of their souls to be left thus behind to stagnate on
this sun-baked Sahara. The days passed monotonously, with perpetual
grooming and exercising, and the noonday hours spent beneath the palms,
alleged to be shady.

Cairo was a past delight. Its romance had gone; the weird mystery of
the Oriental city had lost its fascination; and no incense-laden,
music-haunted, brightly-coloured corner remained unexplored. Cairo was
wonderful; but Cairo was filthy. The troopers had tasted of its
delights, and were satiated.

Grousing was ri