erly
occupied by the Egyptian governor.

"I should say that you had better take possession of this, Bey. There
seems to be a large courtyard, where you can put your camels. It is not
likely that the Dervishes will return, but it is as well to be
prepared. The house is strong, and we could hold out here against a
host, unless they were provided with cannon.

"I have money, and you had better buy up as much food as possible, so
that we could stand a siege for some time. I shall give my horse a good
feed and an hour's rest, and then send my man down to the General,
telling him that the Dervishes have deserted the town, and that we have
taken possession of the place, and can defend it for a long time should
they return."

An hour later, Zaki started with Gregory's report. The inhabitants,
finding that they would be paid, brought out their hidden stores; and
by evening, enough was collected to last the garrison ten days.

Zaki returned at noon next day, with a letter from General Hunter to
the sheik, praising him highly for the energy and courage of his men
and himself. He also brought a note for Gregory, saying that he hoped
to get the repairs finished the next day; and that he expected, by that
time, the other two steamers would be up, when he should at once
advance to Berber.

On the third day the smoke of the steamers was seen in the distance;
and an hour later the gunboats arrived, and were greeted with cries of
welcome by the natives, who thronged the bank. The three boats carried
between three and four hundred men. These were disembarked on an
island, opposite the town, and the gunboats moored alongside.

General Hunter at once landed, with those of his staff who had
accompanied him. He shook hands, very cordially, with the sheik.

"You have done well, indeed!" he said. "It was a dangerous enterprise
and, had I not known your courage, and that of your men, I should not
have ventured to send you forward. You have fully justified my
confidence in you.

"In the first place, I will go and see the house you have occupied. I
shall leave you still in possession of it, but I do not intend that you
should hold it. In case Mahmud comes down upon you, at once embark in
boats, and cross to the islands. It will be some time before I can
gather, here, a force strong enough to hold the town against attack.
Indeed, it will probably be some weeks; for, until the railway is
finished to Abu Hamed, I can only get up stores suff