The responsibilities of his work had steadied him, and though he retained his good spirits, his laugh had lost the old boyish ring.

The title of Bimbashi, which had seemed absurd to him seven months before, was now nothing out of the way, for he looked as old as many of the British subalterns serving with that rank in the Egyptian army.
Returning to the little hut that Zaki, with the aid of some of the blacks, had built for him; he gave his orders, and in a short time the camel--a very good one, which he had obtained in exchange for that which he had handed over to the transport--started, with its driver, to join those that were to carry up the baggage and stores of General Hunter, and his staff.

These were in charge of a sergeant and three privates, of one of the Soudanese battalions.

Gregory had got up a case of whisky, one of bottled fruit, and a stock of tea and sugar from Berber.

No tents could be carried, and he left his tente d'abri at the stores with his canteen; taking on board, in his own luggage, a plate, knife, fork, and spoon, and a couple of tumblers.