"This is Mr. Hilliard," Lord Cromer said, "the young gentleman I have spoken of."
"You want to go up?" the general said shortly, in Arabic.
"Yes, sir."
"You do not mind in what capacity you go?"
"No, sir; I am ready to do anything."
"To work on the railway, or in the transport?"
"Yes, sir. Though I would rather not be on the railway, for the railway cannot get on as fast as the troops; but I would enlist in one of the English regiments, if they would take me."
"And you speak the language of the Nubian blacks?"
The question was put in that language.