ce is from
Gakdul to Abu Klea, but that would not be too long for mounted men, and
could even be done by a native on foot, in a long day's march."

"Do you know whether Mahmud's army is in Metemmeh, or outside the
town?"

"From what I have heard, most of the Dervish force is on the hills
behind the town. They say Metemmeh is full of dead, and that even the
Dervishes do not care to live there."

"The Baggara are mostly mounted, are they not?"

"Most of them are so, though there are some on foot. The leaders of the
tribesmen who fight for the Khalifa are all on horseback, but most of
the army are on foot."

"You do not speak the Baggara language, I suppose?"

Zaki shook his head.

"I know a little Arabic, but not much."

"I suppose most of the Arab tribes in the Soudan speak a dialect very
much like the Baggara?"

"Yes; it is everywhere Arabic, and there is but little difference. They
can all understand each other, and talk together. May your servant ask
why you put these questions?"

"Yes, Zaki, but you must not mention what I tell you to a soul."

"Zaki will be as silent as the grave."

"Well, I am going up dressed as a Mahdist. I can speak the Baggara
tongue well. I am going to try and find out what they are going to do:
whether they will march to Berber, or come here, or remain at
Metemmeh."

Zaki stared at his master, in speechless amazement. Gregory could not
help smiling at the expression of his face.

"There does not seem much difficulty in it," he said. "I can speak with
you in the dialect of Dongola, but the Baggara language is much easier
to me, because I have been accustomed to speak Arabic since I was a
child. Of course my skin will be dyed, and I shall wear the Dervish
dress. There is no difficulty in this matter."

"But they would cut you in pieces, my lord, if they found out that you
were a white."

"No doubt they would, but there is no reason why they should find that
out. It would be much more dangerous for you to go into their camp than
it would be for me. In the first place, you can scarcely speak any
Arabic; and in the second, they would see by your features that you are
one of the Jaalin. Whereas my features, when stained, would be much
more like those of the Arabs than yours would.

"Where should I be most likely to meet the Dervishes first?"

"I do not think any of them are much this side of Metemmeh, at present.
Sometimes parties ride down to Gakdul, and they have even pass