308 LIFE WITH THE HAMRAN ARABS. 



soldier upon it to Kassala with all speed, the distance 

 being about twenty-five miles, as the bearer of a letter 

 to the Vakeel explaining our position, and begging 

 him to send us more camels without a moment's delay. 

 Now as I write we are sitting patiently under a tree to 

 await his return, whenever that may be, but probably 

 another morning will dawn upon us before our minds 

 can be put at rest. 



April 27. A careful watch was kept last night over 

 our prisoner and property, as it was feared that our 

 deserters might not be far off, and that they might take 

 advantage of the darkness to pay us a visit and carry 

 off their property ; but no one came, and the morning- 

 did dawn upon us without our receiving news from 

 Kassala. When we returned after an early breakfast to 

 our shady tree our position was not altogether bright, 

 and we felt quite helpless to take any further steps to 

 improve it We had at least to thank the Arabs for not 

 postponing their departure one more day, for had they 

 done so, and thus left us several miles from water, our 

 position would have been critical. Now provided that 

 the soldier did not follow suit, we knew that we should 

 only suffer from loss of time, though this was serious 

 enough so far as Ranfurly was concerned. He, however, 

 took the matter very quietly, and joined Vivian and 

 myself in trying to kill time by watching the domestic 

 occupations of the women and children in the huts close 



