constantly, and despatched his
orders as frequently.

There was no hitch, whatever. The arrangements were all so perfect that
the vast machine, with its numerous parts, moved with the precision of
clockwork. Everything was up to time. For a train or steamer, or even a
native boat, to arrive half an hour after the time calculated for it,
was almost unheard of.

The Sirdar's force of will seemed to communicate itself to every
officer under him, and it is safe to say that never before was an
expedition so perfectly organized, and so marvellously carried out. At
Atbara the Sirdar saw to everything himself. A brief word of
commendation, to those working under him, cheered them through long
days of toil--an equally curt reproof depressed them to the depths.

Twice, when Gregory was directing some of the blacks piling large
cases, as they were emptied from the train; anathematizing the stupid,
urging on the willing, and himself occasionally lending a hand in order
to show how it should be done; the Sirdar, who, unknown to him, had
been looking on, rode up and said shortly, "You are doing well, Mr.
Hilliard!"--and he felt that his offence of jumping overboard had been
condoned.

General Hunter, himself indefatigable, had more occasion to notice
Gregory's work; and his commendations were frequent, and warm.

The lad had not forgotten the object with which he had come to the
front. After Atbara, he had questioned many of the prisoners who, from
their age, might have fought at El Obeid; but none of these had done
so. The forces of the Khalifa came and went, as there was occasion for
them. The Baggara were always under arms, but only when danger
threatened were the great levies of foot assembled; for it would have
been impossible, in the now desolate state of the Soudan, to find food
for an army of a hundred thousand men.

All agreed, however, that, with the exception of the Egyptian
artillerymen, they heard that no single white man had escaped. Numbers
of the black soldiers had been made slaves. The whites had
perished--all save one had fallen on the field. That one had
accompanied a black battalion, who had held together and, repulsing all
attacks, had marched away. They had been followed, however, and after
repeated attacks had dwindled away, until they had finally been broken
and massacred.

With the Khalifa's army were several emirs who had fought at El Obeid;
and these would, no doubt, be able to tell him more; but n