Colonel coldly. "At least we will all agree that they have the effect
of making the scene very much more picturesque."

The desert upon their right lay in long curves of sand, like the dunes
which might have fringed some forgotten primeval sea. Topping them they
could see the black, craggy summits of the curious volcanic hills which
rise upon the Libyan side. On the crest of the low sand-hills they
would catch a glimpse every now and then of a tall, sky-blue soldier,
walking swiftly, his rifle at the trail. For a moment the lank, warlike
figure would be sharply silhouetted against the sky. Then he would dip
into a hollow and disappear, while some hundred yards off another would
show for an instant and vanish.

"Wherever are they raised?" asked Sadie, watching the moving figures.
"They look to me just about the same tint as the hotel boys in the
States."

"I thought some question might arise about them," said Mr. Stephens, who
was never so happy as when he could anticipate some wish of the pretty
American. "I made one or two references this morning in the ship's
library. Here it is--_re_--that's to say, about black soldiers. I have
it on my notes that they are from the 10th Soudanese battalion of the
Egyptian army. They are recruited from the Dinkas and the Shilluks--two
negroid tribes living to the south of the Dervish country, near the
Equator."

"How can the recruits come through the Dervishes, then?" asked Headingly
sharply.

"I dare say there is no such very great difficulty over that," said