eneral was about to
give the word to retire to the zareba where there was a little water
still left, when the Hussars fortunately hit upon the wells. The wounded
who were unable to walk were at once carried there, and the troops
followed and halted near them, and in a short time the thirst of all was
satisfied. Although the water was not to be compared with that at
Gakdul, being found in shallow pools one or two feet deep, and stirred
up by the Arabs till it was almost of the consistency of thin cream,
nevertheless it was water, and was enjoyable indeed.

CHAPTER XII.

METEMMEH.

As soon as the thirst of the men was satisfied the troops formed up for
the night on some rising ground near the wells, where it was probable
that the natives might renew their attack. Volunteers were called for,
and three hundred men from the various corps started to march back to
the zareba to bring in the baggage before daylight. It was a heavy duty
after such a day's work, but those who remained behind had reason almost
to envy those engaged in active work, for the night was terribly cold.
The men had left everything behind as they advanced prepared for action,
and had no blankets, and nothing but their shirts and their suits of
thin serge to protect them from the cold.

The surgeons were at work all night attending to the wounded. No alarm
was given by the outposts during the night, and as when morning broke
there were no signs of the enemy, the men were allowed to fall out. A
herd of lean cattle left by the Arabs was discovered not far off, and
the Hussars went out in pursuit of them; the tired horses were,
however, no match in point of speed for the cattle, but a few of them
were shot, cut up, and a supply of fresh meat for the day secured. At
seven o'clock the baggage train came up. The camels were quickly
unloaded, and the men set to work to prepare breakfast, having had
nothing to eat since the meal they had taken the previous morning under
fire in the zareba.

During the day the dead were buried, the arms left by the natives
collected and destroyed, and a stone inclosure commenced near the wells,
for here the wounded were to remain under the protection of a small
force of the Sussex. Both Edgar and the sergeant protested that they
were perfectly capable of continuing the march, and were permitted to
take their place in the ranks again. At four o'clock the force formed
up, and half an hour later set out. It was given out