They had scarcely marched a mile since they landed in Egypt, and were so palpably unfit for hard work that they were, if possible, to proceed the whole way in boats, in order to be in fighting condition when the hour of battle arrived.
The voyage up the river was an uneventful one.

It seemed all too short to Gregory, who enjoyed immensely the rest, quiet, and comparative coolness.

The Sirdar had gone up a week before they landed at Wady Hamed.

Here the whole Egyptian portion of the army, with the exception of the brigade that was to arrive the next day, was assembled.

The blacks had constructed straw huts; the Egyptians erected shelters, extemporized from their blankets; while the British were to be installed in tents, which had been brought up in sailing boats.