A SHIPWRECK OF SORTS 143 



not more than a quarter of an hour was spent 

 before the wrecked float had been removed alto- 

 gether and the steering gear repaired. Then we 

 once more headed for Cairo at best speed." 



" Cairo, 



" February 9. 



" We reached Cairo all right, after all, at 3 a.m. 

 to-day, and are now installed once more at Shep- 

 heard's Hotel. Mr. Gubbins, I am sorry to say, 

 has not got clear of the gout, but the weather 

 is now very favourable, and, as we may stay here 

 a fortnight, I trust he will be well long before 

 the expiration of that period." 



The above-stated opinion did not adequately 

 estimate the gravity of Mr. Gubbins's condition, 

 for that gentleman had been subject to attacks 

 of gout which kept him laid up for three or four 

 months in Ireland, and he seemed to have started 

 on one of these. We had to have him carried from 

 the boat to Shepheard's Hotel, and I secured a 

 hospital nurse and the best doctor available ; but 

 I was very anxious, for he was clearly in a very 

 bad state of health and absolutely grey in the face. 



Then, to add to my troubles, Mr. Allison, with 

 whom I paid another visit a day or two later to 



Taking ^he Pyramids, stated as we were driving 

 temperatures there that he was sure he had got 

 another attack of fever. We were photographed 



