to his hut, he was shaved by Zaki at the back of the neck, up to
his ears; so that the white, closely-fitting cap would completely cover
the hair. Outside the tent a sauce pan was boiling with herbs and
berries, which the lad had procured from an old woman who was
considered to have a great knowledge of simples. At four in the
afternoon, Gregory was stained from head to foot, two coats of the dye
being applied. This used but a small quantity of the liquor, and the
rest was poured into a gourd, for future use. The dresses were ready,
with the exception of the Mahdi patches, which were to be sewn on at
their first halting place.

Before it was dark, Gregory went across to the General's quarters. The
black sentry stopped him.

"The General wants to speak to me," Gregory said, in Arabic.

The man called up the native sergeant from the guard tent, who asked
what he wanted.

"I am here by the orders of the General."

The sergeant looked doubtful, but went in. He returned in a minute, and
motioned to Gregory to follow him in. The General looked at him, from
head to foot.

"I suppose it is you, Hilliard," he said, "but I certainly should not
have recognized you. With that yellowish-brown skin, you could pass
anywhere as a Soudan Arab. Will the colour last?"

"I am assured that it will last for some days, but I am taking enough
with me to renew it, four or five times."

"Well, unless some unexpected obstacle occurs, I think you are safe
from detection. Mind you avoid men from El Obeid; if you do not fall in
with them, you should be safe. Of course, when you have sewn on those
patches, your disguise will be complete.

"I suppose you have no idea how long you will be away?"

"It will take me five days to go there, and five days to come back. I
should think that if I am three days in the camp, I ought to get all
the information required. In a fortnight I should be here; though, of
course, I may be longer. If I am not back within a few days of that
time, you will know that it is because I have stayed there, in the
hopes of getting more certain news. If I don't return in three weeks,
it will be because something has gone wrong."

"I hope it will not be so, lad. As regards appearance and language, I
have no fear of your being detected; but you must always bear in mind
that there are other points. You have had the advantage of seeing the
camps of the native regiments, when the men are out of uniform--how
they walk, laugh