as he could load, Edgar shouting
continuously "Steady! steady! take a good aim each time," and the sheik
re-echoing his words.

The Arabs, however, were too excited to obey, and the greater part of
their shots were thrown away. Several of the dervishes had fallen, but
the process of clearing away the hedge proceeded with alarming rapidity.
The work was, however, speedily abandoned at the face where Edgar was
stationed, for at each crack of his rifle a dervish fell. Leaving three
of the men to defend that face the rest joined the defenders at the
sides, the sheik taking the command on one side, Edgar on the other. The
fire now became more steady, the sheik enforcing his orders by vigorous
blows with the staff of his spear, while Edgar's rifle on his side more
than made up for his want of influence with the men.

In their fury several of the dervishes sprang boldly into the midst of
the thorns and strove to climb up, but they were met by the spears of
the defenders, and not one gained an entrance. It was less than ten
minutes after the first shot had been fired when the leader of the
dervishes, seeing how fast his men were falling and that they would soon
be no stronger than the defenders of the fort, called them off from the
attack. As they turned and ran the defenders leapt to their feet with
yells of triumph; but the dervishes, turning round, fired several shots.
The sheik received a ball in his shoulder and two of his companions fell
dead. The others at once took to their shelter again, and kept up their
fire until long after the last of the dervishes was out of range. The
moment the retreat began Edgar looked out for his man, of whom he had
not hitherto caught a glimpse in the heat of the conflict. He soon
caught sight of him, and taking a steady and careful aim with his rifle
on a stone, fired, and Hamish fell headlong forward, the ball having
struck him fair between the shoulders.

A yell of triumph rose from the Arabs. The traitor who had brought the
Mahdists down upon them was punished; the one man who could guide the
foe to the wady was killed. As soon as the enemy got out of reach of
shot they gathered in consultation. The defenders could see that the
discussion was excited and violent; they waved their arms, stamped, and
seemed on the point of coming to blows with each other. While they were
so engaged the garrison looked out at the field of battle round the
fort. No less than fifteen of the assailants had