Page:H. D. Traill - From Cairo to the Soudan Frontier.djvu/210

 them as wide a berth as possible. The Khalifa's followers have had lessons in that wisdom since the severe one which they received at Toski in 1889. A year or two ago the country around Wady Haifa was alive with them, and though they never actually attacked our position, they had the audacity to threaten it. But since then they have been so effectually cleared out that this sudden excursion upon a Nubian village well to the north of the frontier which we defend was a peculiarly irritating surprise. It is the more so because, for political and other reasons, reprisals are out of the question.

"The watch-dog," observed one of our officers, with some bitterness, "is, unfortunately, tied. He is allowed to go only to the length of his chain, and then he is pulled up."

Obviously, therefore, if the thief can only get start enough to save his calves he gets off scot free. Yet, on the other hand,