"There is a steamer coming up the river, my lord."
"That is fortunate, indeed," Gregory exclaimed. "I had intended to sleep here, tonight, and to bargain with the sheik for donkeys or camels to take us back. This will save two days."
Two or three native craft were fastened up to the shore, waiting for a breeze to set in, strong enough to take them up. Gregory at once arranged, with one of them, to put his party on board the steamer, in their boat. In a quarter of an hour the gunboat approached, and they rowed out to meet her.
As she came up, Gregory stood up, and shouted to them to throw him a rope. This was done, and an officer came to the side.
"I want a passage for myself and five men, to Abu Hamed. I am an officer on General Hunter's staff."
"With pleasure.
"Have you come down from the front?" he asked, as Gregory stepped on board, with the five blacks.
"Yes."
"Then you can tell me about the great fight. We heard of it, at Dongola, but beyond the fact that we had thrashed the Khalifa, and taken Omdurman, we received no particulars.
"But before you begin, have a drink.