eba was completed; but after a short rest
they took up their posts in readiness to repel an attack.

During the early part of the night all remained under arms. But
Commander Rolfe of the Royal Navy crept out at the rear of the camp,
gained the bushes, and crawled among them until he came within sight of
the enemy. He saw them in great numbers sitting round their fires or
stretched upon the ground, and returned to camp with the news that
whatever might be the case later on, certainly no attack was meditated
at present. The greater part of the troops were thereupon allowed to lie
down and get what sleep they could.

The cavalry felt much anxiety respecting those they had left behind
them; but the moon was sufficiently bright to permit signals to be
flashed to them from the camp, and they learnt to their satisfaction
that all was quiet.

Soon after one o'clock in the morning the stillness round the zareba was
suddenly broken. A roar of musketry burst from the bushes all round, and
it was evident that the enemy were assembled there in great force. The
troops were ordered to lie down; and fortunately here, as at El-Teb, the
Arab fire was far too high, and the storm of bullets swept for the most
part overhead. Many of the camels, mules, and horses were, however, hit,
but only one man was killed and an officer and two men wounded. Grasping
their rifles the troops lay ready to spring to their feet and repel the
attack should it be made; but the hours passed on slowly without the
expected movement taking place, and there was a general feeling of
relief when morning at last broke. As the Arabs continued their fire, a
nine-pounder and Gatling gun were brought into play upon the bushes, and
the fire of the enemy soon died out and they fell back to their camp.

The troops now had breakfast, and soon after they had finished the
cavalry arrived from the other zareba. At eight o'clock the Mounted
Infantry moved out, accompanied by a party of Abyssinian scouts. They
had gone but a short distance when a very heavy fire was opened upon
them, and the officer in command sent back to the general to say that
there was a broad ravine stretching across the country a few hundred
yards ahead, although hidden by the bushes from observation until
closely approached, and that this ravine was held by the enemy in great
force. The infantry now moved out from the zareba, formed in two
squares. The second brigade, composed of the Royal Highlanders,