infuriated at their refusal, descended on their villages, killed every
male member of the tribe, burned the houses and destroyed the property
of the offenders, and carried their women off into slavery.

The British were horrified when they heard of these dreadful deeds, and
vow to take a summary vengeance on the cruel Mahdists when they catch
them.

It seems, however, as if they were going to have a good deal of
difficulty in catching them. As yet they have not been able to come up
with the enemy.

Osman Digna, the Mahdist general, steadily retreats before the British
and Egyptian troops. It is supposed that it is his intention to draw the
army as far as possible from its base of supplies, and then to give
battle, hoping to have it completely at his mercy.

If this is his hope, he will find himself very much mistaken.

We told you in a recent number about the railway that the troops were
laying across the desert. With the aid of the iron horse--as the
locomotive is often called--the dreaded desert can be crossed with ease,
and the invading army can have all the supplies it needs following it
wherever Osman Digna leads.

* * * * *

There is sad news from the Philippine Islands. A cyclone and tidal wave
have visited the island of Leyte, which is one of the Philippine group,
and have done a great deal of damage, sweeping over a vast tract of