PORT SAID. 31 



Suddenly our persistent and amusing en- 

 tourage vanished in all directions. Standing 

 idly at the portico was a very straight, black 

 Soudanese. On his head was the usual red fez ; 

 his clothing was of trim khaki ; his knees and 

 feet were bare, with blue puttees between ; 

 and around his middle was drawn close and 

 smooth a blood-red sash at least a foot and a 

 half in breadth. He made a fine upstanding 

 Egyptian figure, and was armed with pride, a 

 short sheathed club, and a great scorn. No word 

 spoke he, nor command ; but merely jerked a 

 thumb towards the darkness, and into the dark- 

 ness our many-hued horde melted away. We 

 were left feeling rather lonesome ! 



Near midnight we sauntered down the street 

 to the quay, whence we were rowed to the ship 

 by another turbaned, long-robed figure, who 

 sweetly begged just a copper or so " for poor 

 boatman." 



We found the ship in the process of coaling, 

 every porthole and doorway closed, and heavy 

 canvas hung to protect as far as possible the 

 clean decks. Two barges were moored alongside. 

 Two blazing braziers lighted them with weird 

 red and flickering flames. In their depths, cast 

 in black and red shadows, toiled half-guessed 



