The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-05-03

Curzon Street. Mayfair, and Wigmore
Castle, in Devonshire, England said
the baronet. These ladies and gentle
men are my friends. AS to where we
come from. that is another point, and I
will take the liberty of keeping it 10
myself
Then what do you want with me?"
said the officer, visibly annoyed.
Simply that you would be so kind as
to tell us where We are, and, if quite
convenient, take us to your headquar-
ters''
Where you are? Why, near Wadi
Halfa. of course answered the officer.
somewhat Modified by the courteous tone
of the baronet, Notwithstanding the de
cidedly suspicious appearance of the
travellers. LAS to taking you to head
quarters" he continued, II think it will
be my duty to do so, even if you had not
asked it. So I am quite prepared to ac-
cede to your request"
spot for landing, and threw a plank
across TO make a bridge by which the
travellers could embark That done, the
rowers proceeded rapidly down stream
again.
You belong. doubtless, to the re-
serve?' asked the baronet, in an off
hand tone
What reserve?" answered the officer,
somewhat haughtily, the shabby appear
ance of our travellers at close quarters
not being particularly calculated to reas-
sure him as to their status.
II allude. said Sir Bucephalus, Ito the
English army of relief expected by Cor
dom
81 am not aware of the existence of
such an army We are a detached corps
from Cairo of 200 men. quartered at
Assouan and Wadi Halfa"' His suspi-
cions gaining ground. the officer then
resumed, looking severely at Sir Blu
cephalus, why do you question me?
WHAT concern is it OF yours? Are you
an agent of the Mahdi? You look very
much like it. Where do you come from,
and where are your papers?"
My papers. I never had any" said
the baronet, fumbling in his pocket.
But here is my card"
"Humph. visiting card Not much
to be learned from that. However.
you must answer for yourself at head
quarters"
They were not long in reaching wadi
Halfa, miserable, overgrown village
at the head of the first cataract. The
English were engaged in fortifying it
with a view to the tardy expedition
of few months later
The travellers were conducted under
escort to the dilapidated old barrack
that constituted headquarters. and were
shut UP for two long hours in a large
room on the ground floor; so that they
had plenty of time to take counsel to-
gether
They all agreed with Sir BucephaIus
that il would be impossible TO own that
they came from the moon; and so, after
much elaboration, they settled to waive
this point, and just state the fact that.
besieged by the Mahdist army, they had
escaped in a balloon from the Peak of
TehbaH. This would be a sufficient an
bryc h1v
probable annoyance of inconyenient
questioning
At about Q o'clock in the morning a
picket of soldiers came for the suspect
ed spies. This was what Lieutenant
Brown has designated them when he
made his report TO his commanding Of
ficer. before whom they were now led
Major Wharton was a brave soldier
and a rigid disciplinarian. but he had
one fault which is often found in COM
manders of outposts-he was too sus-
picious. It Is true that Lieutenant Brown
had drawn up a highly colored report ,
| dwelling especially on the shabby ap-
pearance of the little band whom, he
said, he had found on the Nile bank,
minus cameIs, boats, or escort of any
| kind; not 10 speak of the torn garments
Of two among them IN. Mauny and Vir-
gil, whose coats bore traces of the hand
to hand struggle they were engaged in
just before leaving the NOON; added to
this, the evasive replies of the self
styled English baronet were not calcu-
| lated to disarm suspicion.
The major was, therefore, predisposed
against the party.
who are you, and whence come
you?" he asked the baronet, glaring at
/ him with his large blue eyes as fercely
as he could.