f the force on shore,
and, sallying out with 600 men, captured the waterworks at Ramleh--an
important position between the sea and the canal, and facing the camp of
Arabi's army some four miles distant; here, for some time, artillery
duels from time to time went on between the guns of the two armies.

Captain Fisher of the Royal Navy took possession of a railway train and
made of it a moving battery. Its armament consisted of two heavy guns
and some gatlings; the trucks were protected by sand-bags, and the
battery was manned by sailors. This train did great service, as the
line of railway ran from Alexandria through the rebel camp, and when
reconnaissances were made the movable battery accompanied the troops,
and by its fire greatly facilitated the operation.

Until the end of July the principal part of the work of defending
Alexandria and checking the army of Arabi fell upon the Naval Brigade,
but by that time so large a number of troops had arrived that the
services of the sailors on shore were no longer required, and, with the
exception of those serving in Captain Fisher's battery, they returned to
their respective ships. The marines, however, remained on shore and
took part in a sharp engagement which took place on the 5th of August.
Sir Archibald Alison was desirous of discovering the exact position and
force of Arabi's advance line of defences, and a reconnaissance,
composed of six companies of the 60th Rifles, four companies of the
38th, and four of the 46th, were told off for the service; and seven
companies of marines under Colonel Tewson were ordered to advance along
the railway embankment in company with the ironclad train. The Rifles
were to march by the canal, and the two parties would join at the point
where the canal and railway approach closely to each other. The ground
between the line taken by the two columns consisted of fields and marshy
swamps.

No sooner had the advance begun than a movement was visible in the
enemy's lines, and the Egyptians were soon seen extending in skirmishing
order 1000 yards in front of the 60th. They took up their position in a
deep ditch which crossed the British line of advance, and behind which
was a thick jungle, and opened a heavy fire upon the Rifles. The troops
advanced steadily in skirmishing order, opening fire upon their almost
invisible foes, whose heads only could be seen when they raised them to
discharge their muskets. The Egyptians fired high, and a