d me yesterday as fit for duty,
but advised me to keep my arm in a sling, for a time."

"In that case, you may accompany us.

"It is a little uncertain when we shall return," the officer said, with
a smile; "therefore I advise you to take all your belongings with you.
Have them packed up quietly. We do not wish any suspicions to arise
that we are not returning this evening."

"Thank you, sir!" Gregory said, gratefully. "I shall be ready to start
in an hour."

He returned in high glee to his hut, for he felt certain that an
immediate advance was about to take place.

"Zaki," he said, "I am going to ride with the General; and, as it is
possible I may be stationed at Kassinger for a short time, you had
better get the camel brought up, and start as soon as you have packed
the things on it. I am going to ride over with the staff, in an hour,
and shall overtake you by the way. How long will you be?"

"Half an hour, bey."

"I will be there by that time, and will take my horse; then you can go
on with the camel."

Behind the headquarter camp the work of packing up was also going on;
the camels being sent off in threes and fours, as they were laden, so
as to attract no attention. Half an hour later the General came out,
and without delay started with the staff, Captain Fitton remaining
behind to see that the rest of the stores were sent off, and a small
tent for the use of the General. All heavy packages were to be taken up
by water.

The arrival of the General at Kassinger excited no surprise, as he had
ridden over the day before; but when, in the afternoon, orders were
issued that the camels should all be laden, in preparation for a march
that evening; the Soudanese could with difficulty be restrained from
giving vent to their exuberant joy that, at length, their long halt was
at an end, and they were to have another chance of getting at the
enemy.

A large train of camels had been quietly collected at Kassinger,
sufficient to carry the necessary supplies for the use of the column,
for some three weeks' time; and it was hoped that, before long, the
gunboats and many of the native craft, with stores, would join them at
Abu Hamed.

The force started at sunset. The distance to be travelled was a hundred
and eighteen miles, and the road was a very difficult one. The ground
rose steeply, almost from the edge of the river; and at times had to be
traversed in single file.

As night came on, the scene was a weird one.