Nor was his interest in his men limited to merely secular matters. He was deeply impressed with the conviction that, carrying as the soldier did his life in his hand, there was no class of men who ought more to be prepared for death. And facing death, as he so often did himself, he {103} felt that the consolations of religion should be within the soldier's reach when needed. He was a staunch Presbyterian, loyal to his national religion, and ever ready to give the chaplain of his regiment his support and help. When the Nile Expedition had reached Korti it was resolved that none but fighting men should go further, and some of the chaplains were accordingly left behind as an unnecessary impediment. Just before starting, an officer of the staff came to the chaplain of the Black Watch, who happened at the time to be standing beside Colonel Wauchope, with the order that he was not to proceed further. The chaplain replied that there was nothing for him to do at Korti, if he were separated from the regiment; he urged that he had been sent from Cairo with the Gordons and the Black Watch, and that he would go with them where duty called. Wauchope at once said, 'Stick to that and I will back you up.' The chaplain without any further demur was allowed to proceed, and he was the only chaplain who got beyond the base to be in time to do duty in action. In this connection an instance of his strict military discrimination may be mentioned. A man of his company came and complained to him that he had been told off by the sergeant-major to remain at the base. A certain number of men of each corps had been so ordered, and naturally the best soldiers were not left behind. Wauchope replied to this man, 'You are a soldier who is often drunk, often late for parade, often absent, and we can't depend upon you. We prefer to take men we can trust.' The man, very much crestfallen, and evidently disappointed, said, 'Sir, if you will take me to the front, I promise you I'll never be brought before an officer again.' Wauchope said, 'Very well, I'll take you at your word, but if you don't keep it, I'll never do {104} anything more for you.' The man behaved perfectly well during the campaign, and loyally kept his word. 'It may be hoped,' says the friend from whom we have the story, 'that Wauchope's considerate action was the means of pulling up a man who was on the downward course, and the making of a good soldier out of a bad one.'