PLAYING WITH FIRE

A STORY OF THE SOUDAN WAR

BY

JAMES GRANT

AUTHOR OF 'THE ROMANCE OF WAR,' 'DULCIE CARLYON,' 'ROYAL HIGHLANDERS,' ETC.

LONDON GEORGE ROUTLEDGE AND SONS, LIMITED BROADWAY, LUDGATE HILL MANCHESTER AND NEW YORK 1887

JAMES GRANT'S NOVELS.

The Romance of War The Aide-de-Camp The Scottish Cavalier Bothwell Jane Seton; or, The Queen's Advocate Philip Rollo The Black Watch Mary of Lorraine Oliver Ellis; or, The Fusileers Lucy Arden; or, Hollywood Hall Frank Hilton; or, The Queen's Own The Yellow Frigate Harry Ogilvie; or, The Black Dragoons Arthur Blane Laura Everingham; or, The Highlanders of Glenora The Captain of the Guard Letty Hyde's Lovers Cavaliers of Fortune Second to None The Constable of France The Phantom Regiment The King's Own Borderers The White Cockade First Love and Last Love Dick Rodney The Girl he Married Lady Wedderburn's Wish Jack Manly Only an Ensign Adventures of Rob Roy Under the Red Dragon The Queen's Cadet Shall I Win Her? Fairer than a Fairy One of the Six Hundred Morley Ashton Did She Love Him? The Ross-Shire Buffs Six Years Ago Vere of Ours The Lord Hermitage The Royal Regiment Duke of Albany's Own Highlanders The Cameronians The Scots Brigade Violet Jermyn Miss Cheyne of Essilmont Jack Chaloner The Royal Highlanders Colville of the Guards Dulcie Carlyon Playing with Fire Derval Hampton Love's Labour Won

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER

I. MERLWOOD II. HESTER MAULE III. KASHGATE—A RETROSPECT IV. PLAYING WITH FIRE V. THE COUSINS VI. ANNOT DRUMMOND VII. 'IS SHE NOT PASSING FAIR?' VIII. 'IT WAS NO DREAM' IX. THE OLD LOVE AND THE NEW X. ROLAND'S HOME-COMING XI. A COLD RECEPTION XII. MAUDE XIII. ROLAND'S VEXATION XIV. MAUDE'S SECRET XV. MR. HAWKEY SHARPE SEEKS COUNSEL XVI. FOOL'S PARADISE XVII. AT EARLSHAUGH XVIII. 'MY LOVE SHE'S BUT A LASSIE YET' XIX. HESTER RECEIVES A PROPOSAL XX. MR. SHARPE MAKES A MISTAKE XXI. MALCOLM SKENE XXII. A FATAL SHOT XXIII. THE CITY OF THE CALIPHS—OCTOBER IN THE LAND OF THE PHARAOHS! XXIV. JACK ELLIOT'S PERIL XXV. THE WILL XXVI. MOLOCH XXVII. ANNOT'S MISGIVINGS XXVIII. THE FIRST OF OCTOBER XXIX. ALARM AND ANXIETY XXX. THE KELPIE'S CLEUGH XXXI. 'ALL OVER NOW!' XXXII. PELION ON OSSA XXXIII. A TANGLED SKEIN XXXIV. THE PRESENTIMENT XXXV. LOST IN THE DESERT XXXVI. ALONE! XXXVII. THE FIRST QUARREL XXXVIII. THE CRISIS XXXIX. TURNING THE TABLES XL. THE NEW POSITION XLI. THE CAPTIVE XLII. THE ZEREBA OF SHEIKH MOUSSA XLIII. A MARRIAGE XLIV. THE TROOPSHIP XLV. THE DEATH WRESTLE XLVI. MAUDE'S VISITOR XLVII. THE RESULT XLVIII. 'INFIRM OF PURPOSE!' XLIX. CHRISTMAS DAY IN CAMP AT KORTI L. THE START FOR KHARTOUM LI. THE MARCH IN THE DESERT LII. THE PRESENTIMENT FULFILLED LIII. A HOMEWARD GLANCE LIV. THE LONG-SUSPENDED SWORD LV. WITH GENERAL EARLE's COLUMN LVI. THE BATTLE OF KIRBEKAN LVII. THE SICK CONVOY LVIII. IN THE SHOUBRAH GARDENS LIX. CONCLUSION

PLAYING WITH FIRE.