up, situated at the foot of
the fourth cataract.

Although he had enjoyed the journey, Gregory was glad when the steamer
drew up against a newly constructed wharf at Merawi. Now he was to
begin his duties, whatever they might be.

At the wharf were a large number of Soudanese soldiers. A telegram,
from the last station they touched at, had given notice of the hour at
which the boat would arrive; and a battalion of native troops had
marched down, to assist in unloading the stores. A white officer had
come down with them, to superintend the operation, and the other
officers at once went on shore to speak to him.

Gregory had got all his traps together and, as the Soudanese poured on
board, he thought it better to remain with them; as, if his belongings
once got scattered, there would be little chance of his being able to
collect them again. After a short time, he went up to one of the native
officers.

"This is my first visit here," he said in Arabic, "and as I have not
brought up a servant with me, I do not like to leave my baggage here,
while I go and report myself to General Hunter. Will you kindly tell me
what I had better do?"

"Certainly. I will place one of my corporals in charge of your things.
It would be as well to get them ashore at once, as we shall want the
decks clear, in order that the men may work freely in getting the
stores up from below. The corporal will see that your baggage is
carried to the bank, to a spot where it will be out of the way, and
will remain with it until you know where it is to be taken."

Thanking him for his civility, Gregory went on shore. The officer who
had told him the story of the campaign was still talking, to the Major
who had come down with the blacks. As Gregory came up, he said:

"I wondered what had become of you, Hilliard. I have been telling Major
Sidney that a young lieutenant had come up, to report himself to the
General for service."

"I am glad to see you, sir," the Major said, holding out his hand.
"Every additional white officer is a material gain, and I have no doubt
that General Hunter will find plenty for you to do. I hear you can
speak the Negro language, as well as Arabic. That will be specially
useful here, for the natives are principally Negro, and speak very
little Arabic.

"How about your baggage?"

"One of the native officers has undertaken to get it ashore, and to put
a corporal in charge of it, until I know where it is to go."

"Well, Fla