I have been, Belmont, not to protest more energetically against this ridiculous expedition! I deserve whatever I get, but it is hard on these poor souls who never knew the danger.”
“I suppose there’s no help for us?”
“Not the faintest.”
“Don’t you think this firing might bring the troops up from Halfa?”
“They’ll never hear it. It is a good six miles from here to the steamer. From that to Halfa would be another five.”
“Well, when we don’t return, the steamer will give the alarm.”
“And where shall we be by that time?”
“My poor Norah! My poor little Norah!” muttered Belmont, in the depths of his grizzled moustache.
“What do you suppose that they will do with us, Cochrane?” he asked after a pause.
“They may cut our throats, or they may take us as slaves to Khartoum. I don’t know that there is much to choose. There’s one of us out of his troubles anyhow.”
The soldier next them had sat down abruptly,
