id that
two of his assistants had been killed. He has already obtained a fresh
contract, and a very heavy one, for the supply of meat for the troops
as they arrive; and I have no doubt he would be very glad to engage
you, on good terms, though the engagement could only be made during the
stay of the army here."

"Thank you, sir. I shall be much obliged to you if you will do so; and
I would rather that the engagement should be a temporary one, on both
sides, so that I should be free to leave, at a few days' notice."

The contractor, after a chat with Gregory Hilliard, was glad to secure
his services. He saw the advantage that it would be to have a gentleman
to represent him, with the army, instead of an agent of a very
different kind. Other men would do to purchase animals from the Arabs,
or to receive them at the ports when they were brought over from Spain
and Italy; but it required a variety of qualities, difficult to obtain
in the same person, to act as agent with the army. Gregory was exactly
the man required, and he was soon on excellent terms, both with the
officers of the quartermaster's department, and the contractors who
brought in the cargoes of cattle.

As soon as the bulk of the army sailed from Alexandria to Ismailia, he
made the latter town his headquarters; and by his power of work, his
tact and good temper, he smoothed away all the difficulties that so
often arise between contractors and army officials, and won the
goodwill of all with whom he came in contact. When the army removed to
Cairo, after the defeat and dispersal of Arabi's force at Tel-el-Kebir,
Gregory established himself there, and was joined by his wife and
child.

As soon as matters settled down, and a considerable portion of the
troops had left Egypt, Mr. Ross said to him:

"Of course, our operations in the future will be comparatively small,
Mr. Hilliard, and I must reduce my staff."

"I quite understand that," Gregory replied, "and I knew that I should
have to look out for something else."

"I shall be very sorry to lose your services, which have indeed been
invaluable, and I am sure have been appreciated, by the army men as
much as by myself. I certainly should not think of your leaving me,
until you get another berth; and it is only because I see an opening,
if you like to take it, that might lead to something better, in the
future, than anything I can offer you.

"You know that Colonel Hicks arrived here, a fortnight since,