There was no talking along the line, every man had his rifle unslung and in his hand, every eye scanned the country.

Hitherto, they had had unlimited faith in the power of the gunboat to protect them; now that they might have to face the Dervishes unaided, they felt the danger a serious one.

They had come to fight the Dervishes, and were ready to do so, in anything like equal numbers; but the force they might meet would possibly be greatly stronger than their own--so strong that, although they might sell their lives dearly; they would, in the end, be overpowered.
For the first three hours, the camels were kept going at the top of their speed; but as they neared Berber, there was a perceptible slackness.

Ahmed Bey and Gregory rode backwards and forwards along the line, keeping them together, and encouraging them.
"We shall get in without fighting," the Bey said.

"We should have heard before this, had they been there.