The Camel Corps or the Egyptian Horse would travel by moonlight better and faster than in the day-time.

He knew that it was the custom at Halfa to keep at least a squadron of them all ready to start at any instant.

He had dined at the mess, and the officers had told him how quickly they could take the field.

They had shown him the water-tanks and the food beside each of the beasts, and he had admired the completeness of the arrangements, with little thought as to what it might mean to him in the future.

It would be at least an hour before they would all get started again from their present halting-place.