radually drew off and all became quiet.
The square now moved off from the rocky knoll upon which they were
crowded, and the work of seeing who had fallen and of assisting the
wounded began. No less than nine officers had been killed and nine
wounded, the greater portion of them belonging to the Heavy Camel
Regiment. Two officers of the Naval Brigade were also among the killed.
Eighty of the rank and file were killed, and upwards of a hundred
wounded. Among the whites lay hundreds of dead Arabs, while arms of all
sorts--spears, javelins, muskets, clubs, hatchets, swords, and knives,
banners and banner-staffs--were everywhere scattered thickly.

Among the killed were Colonel Burnaby, Majors Gough, Carmichael, and
Atherton, Captain Darley, and Lieutenants Law and Wolfe--all belonging
to the Heavies.

To the survivors of those corps who had formed the rear face of the
square, the scene they had gone through seemed a wild and confused
dream. Sergeant Bowen and Edgar had been among those who rushed out and
hauled in the camels with the wounded just before the Arabs came up. As
they got them inside the ranks the roar of fire broke out and they fell
into their places. "Independent firing!" the officer shouted as the
first volley had been discharged, but scarcely had the roll of musketry
begun than through the smoke a dense mass of black figures appeared. A
storm of spears and javelins were poured in upon them, and in an instant
there was a crash as club, spear, and sword struck the muskets, and then
the Heavies were hurled back.

Edgar scarce knew what had happened, but the instant the square was
broken Sergeant Bowen threw himself beside him.

"Steady, lad, steady," he said, "don't throw away a shot; load and stand
ready to shoot the first man who falls on you. That is good!" he said as
Edgar shot a tall Arab who was rushing at him with uplifted spear; "load
again. Now it is my turn," and he brought down a man; and so firing
alternately, sometimes defending themselves with their bayonets, but
always keeping together, they fell back. Once Edgar stumbled and fell
over the body of one of his comrades, but the sergeant seized him by the
shoulder and jerked him on to his feet again, and the next moment ran an
Arab through who was rushing at them with uplifted hatchet. When they
were back among the crowd of camels the fighting became more even.
Stubbornly the men made a stand here, for the natives could no longer
attack them exc