FIGHT FOR THE NILE.

73

When we got clear of the redoubt, we made for a gravel ridge on which a large force of the enemy was collected with their banners, and behind which we knew lay the Nile. We did not go straight, but zigzag, to keep as much as possible on the bare gravel patches, over which men and camels could march more freely than through the savas grass; and we went at a sauntering pace in consequence of the camels in the square.

The enemy's sharpshooters, who were well concealed in the long grass, and behind and beneath the trees and bushes, kept up a continuous fire on the square during its march. We could not send out skirmishers to reply to them, for fear of a sudden rush of spearmen as at Abu Klea; and the ground was much more dangerous, and likely to conceal large bodies of men, than that of the Abu Klea valley. All we could do was, when we got into a warm spot, to lie down and fire volleys at

the puffs of smoke in the long grass; then, when we had checked the fire a little, to rise and move on. It was curious to notice the degrees of intensity of fire we passed through. For a few minutes we would go on with nothing more than the weird soughing of the bullets overhead; then we would get to a spot where the bullets whistled sharp and clear, and occasional thuds told they had found a home.

One of the first to be hit was my native interpreter, Muhammed Effendi Ibrahim, who had behaved in a most plucky way at Abu Klea. Luckily it was only a fleshwound in the side, and he was soon hoisted on a camel, where he solaced himself with a cigarette, and surveyed the surrounding scene. His was a curious history. He was a friend of Arabi Pasha, and after Tel-elKebir escaped to Sheikh Senusi, in the desert south of Tripoli. After the amnesty, he returned to Cairo, and entered the secret

FIGHT FOR THE NILE.

75

police; he left them for some fancied slight from the English commandant, and became Webber's interpreter; then I heard of him, and secured his services. He was most useful at Dongola, as, being a Moslem, he could mix with the people and find out what was going on.

Later in the afternoon Lord Arthur Somerset was struck over the heart by a spent ball. He thought he was mortally wounded, but luckily, though the shock was great, the ball did not penetrate. There was, however, a dreadful bruise; and his chest was made so tender that he caught cold during the bivouac, and got congestion of the lungs and all sorts of complications afterwards. He also had a slight wound in the left arm, which had to be put in a sling. Count Gleichen was also hit; but the bullet turned, on some trinket I think, and he was not wounded.

What with halts to fire, and a zigzag

course, our progress was slow, and the sun was getting low when we got within about 600 yards of the ridge. Here we got into a very hot place: seven men were shot dead, and men fell so quickly that the cacolets and stretchers were filled. Things began to look ugly, and some of the officers told me afterwards that they thought we should have been obliged to turn back without reaching the Nile. That, however, we should never have done, as failure meant annihilation. I was walking just behind the Marines, and one poor fellow fell dead almost into my arms. The men were quite steady, with a set, determined look about their faces, and I knew they could be trusted.

All at once, as suddenly as at Abu Klea, the firing ceased, and the enemy's spearmen came running down the hill at a great pace, with several horsemen in front. It was a relief to know the crisis had come. The

FIGHT FOR THE NILE.

77

square was at once halted to receive the charge, and the men gave vent to their feelings in a wild spontaneous cheer. Then they set to work, firing as they would have done at an Aldershot field-day. At first the fire had little effect, and the bugle sounded "cease firing"-the men, much to my surprise, answering to the call. The momentary rest steadied them, and when the enemy got within about 300 yards, they responded to the call commence firing" with deadly effect. All the leaders with their fluttering banners went down, and no one got within 50 yards of the square. It only lasted a few minutes: the whole of the front ranks were swept away; and then we saw a backward movement, followed by the rapid disappearance of the Arabs in front of and all round us.

We had won, and gave three ringing cheers but we had still to reach the Nile 1:5

with our heavy train of wounded, and men