of the
land, the most trusted followers of the successor of the Mahdi, men who
felt themselves invincible. It was true that they had, so far, failed
to overrun Egypt, and had even suffered reverses, but these the Khalifa
had taught them to consider were due to disobedience of his orders, or
the result of their fighting upon unlucky days. All this was soon to be
reversed. The prophecies had told that the infidels were about to be
annihilated, and that then they would sweep down without opposition,
and possess themselves of the plunder of Egypt.

Gregory passed wholly unnoticed among the crowd. There was nothing to
distinguish him from others, and the thought that an Egyptian spy,
still less one of the infidels, should venture into their camp had
never occurred to one of that multitude. Occasionally, he sat down near
a group of the Baggara, listening to their talk. They were impatient,
too, but they were convinced that all was for the best; and that, when
it was the will of Allah, they would destroy their enemy. Still, there
were expressions of impatience that Mahmud was not allowed to advance.

"We know," one said, "that it is at Kirkeban that the last great
destruction of the infidel is to take place, and that these madmen are
coming to their fate; still, we might move down and destroy those at
Dongola and along the river, and possess ourselves of their arms and
stores. Why should we come thus far from Omdurman, if we are to go no
farther?"

"Why ask questions?" another said contemptuously. "Enough that it is
the command of the Khalifa, to whom power and knowledge has been given
by the Mahdi, until he himself returns to earth. To the Khalifa will be
revealed the day and the hour on which we are to smite the infidel. If
Mahmud and the great emirs are all content to wait, why should we be
impatient?"

Everywhere Gregory went, he heard the same feelings expressed. The men
were impatient to be up and doing, but they must wait the appointed
hour.

It was late before he ventured to approach the tents of the leaders. He
knew that it was impossible to get near Mahmud himself, for he had his
own bodyguard of picked men. The night, however, was dark and,
enveloping himself from head to foot in his black blanket, he crawled
out until well beyond the line of tents, and then very cautiously made
his way towards them again. He knew that he should see the white
figures of the Dervishes before they could make him out; and he
ma