ed. "Now I must say good-bye, for I don't
know what is to be done, and we are sure to be under arms directly."

The troops moved off in a few minutes after Easton returned to his
company, and after carefully examining the ground a small village named
Abu Kru, a few yards from the river on rising ground, entirely deserted
by the natives, was selected for a camp. The wounded were at once
carried up there and were left in charge of the Heavies, while the
Guards and Mounted Infantry started for the zareba, the Sussex being
sent out on the right to watch Metemmeh and keep the enemy in check
should they advance against the village. The water-skins and camel-tanks
were all filled, for but little water had been left at the zareba; and
the men, although they had scarcely eaten any food for the last
forty-eight hours, started in good spirits, perfectly ready for another
fight should the enemy try to stop them. But although large numbers of
them gathered on a hill near the town they abstained from any attack,
and the column reached the zareba, where they were received with hearty
cheers by its little garrison.

These had not been attacked during their absence, although a scattered
musketry fire had been kept up upon them until dark. To this they
replied vigorously, and the guns had done good service to the square
while on its march by keeping up a shell fire upon any bodies of the
enemy that could be made out on the eminences near it. The garrison had
suffered great suspense after the square had disappeared from their
sight, for they could see large bodies of men hurrying in that
direction, and their anxiety was great when the sudden outburst of
musketry told them that the square was attacked. What the issue of the
fight had been they knew not, but their hopes that the Arabs had been
defeated increased as time went on and no attack was made upon
themselves, for had the enemy been successful they would speedily have
poured down to the attack of the feebly-defended baggage.

As soon as the column arrived the work of pulling down the walls of
boxes and saddles, getting the camels to their feet and loading them,
began. So many of the camels had been killed that the number surviving
was insufficient to carry down the stores, therefore the smaller redoubt
was left untouched and a stronger garrison than before placed in it, and
the rest moved down to the river. The troops all partook of a hearty
meal before the start was made. Sir Herb