At the evening voluntary meetings in the barracks, too, he frequently took a part with the chaplain in the religious services. His consistent manly conduct and the quiet, unobtrusive profession of his faith at this time, not only endeared him to many, but gave him a wonderful influence for good which it is difficult fully to estimate. [Sidenote: A Cairo mob] Every one has his own characteristic: Wauchope's was consideration for his men. 'Years ago,' says a friend, 'I was in the street in Cairo with him, when there approached us a bareheaded Highlander, running for his life, and pursued by a crowd of Arabs armed with sticks. Captain Wauchope halted the fugitive, turned about, ordered him to fall in in front, and thus we marched to the barracks, the mob howling behind. The Captain handed the man over to the sergeant of the guard, and notified his intention of giving evidence in the orderly-room next morning. A few days later I was to meet the Captain at the club and take a drive with him. On arrival there, I found a note directing me to come to the hospital. The orderly led me to a ward, but I could see no Captain. I interviewed the orderly again, and he told me to go to the far end and I would find him. There, on the bed of his colour-sergeant, retailing the day's news, sat the officer commanding his company. On my approach, with a cheery adieu and a promise to come back again on the morrow, Wauchope rose and went for his drive.' Mrs. Wauchope was sent home in the summer of 1883, as it was not considered safe for her to remain in Cairo, and she was joined by the Captain in November. They took up their residence at Niddrie for six weeks, afterwards going to Cambo on {88} a visit. Towards the end of January they proceeded to London, where Mrs. Wauchope gave birth to twins--both boys. The joy of this event was, however, speedily followed a few days after, on the 3rd February, by the death of Mrs. Wauchope. It was a terrible blow to the Captain, and though he bowed submissively to the will of God, he none the less felt his loss keenly, and for a time was inconsolable. The children were taken to Cambo, where, under the charge of Lady Erskine, they were tenderly nursed and cared for, while Wauchope himself sought in renewed activity to forget, if possible, the misery of his bereavement. When they were three years old both the children unfortunately caught scarlet fever. One, a specially promising child, died, and the other was left a hopeless invalid. {89} CHAPTER VI THE EASTERN SOUDAN--BATTLE OF EL-TEB--ATTEMPT TO RELIEVE GENERAL GORDON--ASCENT OF THE NILE--THE WHALE-BOATS--BATTLE OF KIRBEKAN--RETURN TO CAIRO--MALTA--GIBRALTAR.