They spent one Sunday on the deep, but the only record made of it, in the journal of the soldier from which most of our facts are gathered, is that they "had prayers in racing style--against time!" As if to cleanse themselves from the impropriety of this act the soldiers had a grand washing of clothes on the following day, and the day after that they arrived at Suakim. "It is what I call a dreary, dismal-looking town," said Miles to Armstrong, as they approached. "Might be worse," replied his friend. "Ye aye tak a cheery view o' things, Airmstrong." "An' what for no?" asked Sutherland. "You may well ask why not," said Sergeant Hardy. "I think it wisest to look always on the bright side of things." "Whether it's dreary or pleasant we'll have to make the best we can of it, boys," said Stevenson; "for this is to be our home for some time to come." "Horrible!" growled Simkin, whose spirit was essentially rebellious. "Ochone!" sighed Flynn, who, we need scarcely say, was essentially jolly. Further remark was cut short by the voice of Captain Lacey ordering the men to fall in, as the colonel in command was coming on board to inspect them. The night of the arrival of the 310th was dreadfully hot, insomuch that many of the men found it impossible to sleep. But in the silence of that night food for reflection was supplied to the wakeful, in the form of sounds that were new to many, but soon became familiar to all-- namely, the boom of big guns and the rattle of musketry. Osman Digna was making one of his customary attacks on the town, and the defenders were repelling him. Of course the sanguine among the new arrivals were much excited, and eager to join in the fray; but their services were not required that night. Osman and his dusky hordes were being repulsed as usual, and the reinforcements were obliged to content themselves with merely listening to the sounds of war. CHAPTER TWELVE. IN ACTION AT LAST. No time was lost in sending the newly-arrived troops to their sphere of duty. There was something appropriate in their landing on that day of gunpowdery memories, the 5th of November. It was four o'clock when they disembarked. By four-thirty they were drawn up and inspected by the General, and immediately thereafter marched off in detachments to their respective stations--to Sphinx Redoubt, Fort Commodore, Bulimba, and other points of defence. The detachment in which Miles Milton found himself was led by Captain Lacey to Sphinx Redoubt, where he was greatly pleased to find that his new friend, private Stevenson of the marines, was also stationed with some of his comrades.