"I have really never thought much about the future.

My attention, from childhood, has been fixed upon this journey to the Soudan; and I never looked beyond it, nor did my mother discuss the future with me.

Doubtless she would have done so, had she lived; and these papers I have may give me her advice and opinion about it." "Well, I must be going on deck," Captain Keppel said.

"We shall start in half an hour." The three gunboats were all of the same design.

They were flat bottomed, so as to draw as little water as possible; and had been built and sent out, in sections, from England.