Nine of them would hide among the
sand-hills two or three miles away, and would there remain for
twenty-four hours so as to give time for the others to get up to the
wells. The sheik commanding the party had suggested that soon after
daybreak the defenders of the fort should sally out and advance in the
direction where the dervishes' camp was situated, as if intending to
make an attack. This would bring in all the enemy who might be scattered
among the sand-hills near the zareba. As soon as the engagement began
he, with his men, would fall upon the rear of the dervishes.

"Do you think that that is a good plan, Muley?"

"I think so, sheik. You see, if we merely wanted to defeat them one
would not wish them to rally into one body; but as our great object is
to prevent any from returning, it is much better to do as the sheik
suggests and let them get all together."

The day passed as usual, and the next morning shortly before sunrise the
defenders of the fort issued out. The assailants were on the watch, and
from four or five different points round the zareba shots were fired.
Taking advantage of every bush the Arabs advanced slowly under the
direction of their sheik. The dervishes, believing that the garrison
must have been driven from their defences by thirst, and that they were
now in their power, rapidly gathered their force and advanced to meet
their opponents. At first they did so carelessly, but they were checked
by the fall of one of their leaders by a ball from Edgar's rifle. They
then advanced a little more cautiously. Edgar kept close to the sheik.

"They will make a rush soon," he said; "tell the men not to fire till
they rise to their feet."

"Where are the others?" the sheik growled; "if they do not come we shall
be outnumbered."

"Not by much, sheik; one or two of their men are certainly away with the
camels, and we shall drop two or three more of them at least when they
make their rush; the others are sure to be up directly. There, look!
There they are on the top of the sand-hills the dervishes have been
firing from."

The enemy had now approached to within a hundred yards, and were just
preparing for a rush when a shout of welcome broke from the party in
front of them and was at once echoed from the rear. The dervishes sprang
to their feet in surprise and alarm, but one of their leaders exclaimed,
"There are but a few of them! Slay these in front first, then we will
destroy those in our rear!"