ity, whatever, of our doing
anything for you, if you get into trouble?"

"Quite, sir. If I am detected, I shall probably be killed at once. I do
not think that there is more risk in it than in going into battle. As I
have told you, I have, so far as I know, no relatives in the world; and
there will be no one to grieve, if I never come back again.

"As to the clothes, I can easily buy them from one of the natives here.
Many of them are dressed in the garments of the Dervishes who were
killed when we came up here; except, of course, that the patches were
taken off. I will get my man to buy a suit for himself, and one for me.
It would be better than having new clothes made; for, even if these
were dirtied, they would not look old. When he has bought the clothes,
he can give them a good washing, and then get a piece of stuff to sew
on as patches.

"I am afraid, sir, that there will be little chance of my being able to
obtain any absolute news of Mahmud's intentions; but only to glean
general opinion, in the camp. It is not likely that the news of any
intended departure would be kept a secret up till the last moment,
among the Dervishes, as it would be here."

"Quite so," the General agreed. "We may take it as certain that the
matter would be one of common talk. Of course, Mahmud and his principal
advisers might change their minds, at any moment. Still I think that,
were it intended to make a move against us, or to Berber, it would be
generally known.

"I may tell you that we do not intend to cross the Bayuda desert. We
shall go up the river, but this is a secret that will be kept till the
last moment. And before we start, we shall do all in our power to
spread a belief that we are going to advance to Metemmeh. We know that
they are well informed, by their spies here, of our movements. We shall
send a strong force to make a reconnaissance, as far as Gakdul. This
will appear to be a preliminary step to our advance, and should keep
Mahmud inactive, till too late. He will not dare advance to Berber,
because he will be afraid of our cutting him off from Omdurman.

"You are satisfied with your horse? It is advisable that you should
have a good one, and yet not so good as to attract attention."

"Yes; I could not want a better horse, General. He is not handsome, but
I have ridden him a great deal, and he is certainly fast; and, being
desert bred, I have no doubt has plenty of endurance. I shall, of
course, get one for my b