cause it is a good deal cheaper, and in the second because our
English saddles are made for bigger horses. You need not mind much
about the appearance of your animal. Anything will do for riding about
at Dongola, and learning to keep your seat. In the first fight you have
with Dervish horsemen, there are sure to be some riderless horses, and
you may then get a good one, for a pound or two, from some Tommy who
has captured one."

"I am sure I am immensely obliged to you, Captain Ewart. That will
indeed be an advantage to me."

On leaving the hotel Gregory at once made all his purchases, so as to
get them off his mind; and then arranged for the horse in the morning.
Then he went home, and told the old servant the change that had taken
place in his position.

"And now, what about yourself, what would you like to do?"

"I am too old to go up with you, and cook for you."

"Yes, indeed," he laughed; "we shall be doing long marches. But it is
not your age, so much. As an officer, it would be impossible for me to
have a female servant. Besides, you want quiet and rest. I have been
round to the landlord, to tell him that I am going away, and to pay him
a month's rent, instead of notice. I should think the best way would be
for you to take a large room for yourself, or two rooms not so
large--one of them for you to live in, and the other to store
everything there is here. I know that you will look after them, and
keep them well. Of course, you will pick out all the things that you
can use in your room. It will be very lonely for you, living all by
yourself, but you know numbers of people here; and you might engage a
girl to stay with you, for some small wages and her food. Now, you must
think over what your food and hers will cost, and the rent. Of course,
I want you to live comfortably; you have always been a friend rather
than a servant, and my mother had the greatest trust in you."

"You are very good, Master Gregory. While you have been away, today, I
have been thinking over what I should do, when you went away. I have a
friend who comes in, once a week, with fruit and vegetables. Last year,
you know, I went out with her and stayed a day. She has two boys who
work in the garden, and a girl. She came in today, and I said to her:

"'My young master is going away to the Soudan. What do you say to my
coming and living with you, when he has gone? I can cook, and do all
about the house, and help a little in the garden; and I