ll slip on my disguise, and hurry here,
and see you down to the boat; and then make my way back to our place.
But do not wait for me. If I come here and find that you have gone, I
shall know that you have taken the alarm in time, and shall return at
once to the office.

"Of course, if the outbreak commences near here, and you find that your
way down to the water is blocked, you will simply put on your disguise,
stain your face, and wait till I come to you, or till you see that the
way to the water is clear. Do not attempt to go out into a mob. There
are not likely to be any women among them. However, I do not anticipate
a serious riot. They may attack Europeans in the street, but with some
fourteen or fifteen men-of-war in the port, they are not likely to make
any organized assault. Arabi's agents will hardly precipitate matters
in that way. Hard as they may work, it will take a month to get the
defences into proper order, and any rising will be merely a spasmodic
outbreak of fanaticism. I don't think the danger is likely to be
pressing until, finding that all remonstrances are vain, the admiral
begins to bombard the port."

"I will do exactly as you tell me, Gregory. If I were alone, I could
not bring myself to leave without you, but I must think of the child."

"Quite so, dear. That is the first consideration. Certainly, if it
comes to a fight, I should be much more comfortable with the knowledge
that you and Baby were in safety."

The Egyptian soldiers were quartered, for the most part, outside the
town; and for some days there was danger that they would enter, and
attack the European inhabitants; but Arabi's orders were strict that,
until he gave the command, they were to remain quiet.

The British admiral sent messages to Tewfik, insisting that the work
upon the fortifications should cease, and the latter again issued
orders to that effect, but these were wholly disobeyed. He had, indeed,
no shadow of authority remaining; and the work continued, night and
day. It was, however, as much as possible concealed from observation;
but, search lights being suddenly turned upon the forts, at night,
showed them to be swarming with men.

Things went on with comparative quiet till the 10th of June, although
the attitude of the natives was so threatening that no Europeans left
their houses, except on urgent business. On that day, a sudden uproar
was heard. Pistols were fired, and the merchants closed their stores
and bar